3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Shinkansen S100 K57 Kodama 610 Hiroshima 20030720: ロリ· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. Shinkansen100: Sui-setz· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 3. 100 series G49 Tokyo 20030916: DAJF· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The 100 series (100系, Hyaku-kei) was a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed electric multiple unit which operated between 1985 and 2012 on the Tokaido Shinkansen and Sanyo Shinkansen high-speed lines. They were introduced after the 200 series trains, but their numbering is such because in the days of Japanese National Railways (JNR), Shinkansen types running east of Tokyo were given even numbers and those west of Tokyo odd numbers, hence they were given the next odd number in line after 0, 100. The last remaining examples of the type were withdrawn from service following the last runs on 16 March 2012.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 41 years ago, in 1985.
- Top speed is 1.8× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- At full speed it would cover Amsterdam–Utrecht (≈ 40 km) in 10 minutes.
- 25 m long: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
- Seats 2,116: 42 full city buses (~50 seats each).
- Served for 27 years (1985–2012).
high-speed train: Built for 200–350 km/h on dedicated lines, like the TGV, ICE or Shinkansen.
spec sheet
- built
- 1985
- in service from
- 1985
- retired
- 2012
- status
- retired
- number built
- 1,056
- kind
- high-speed train
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Japan Transport Engineering Company
- operators
- Japanese National Railways, Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 230 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- 25 kV AC, 60 Hz, overhead catenary
- formation
- 4, 6, 12 or 16 cars per trainset
- length
- 25 m
- capacity
- 2,116 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q1087869, Wikipedia: 100 Series Shinkansen (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.