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2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Shinkansen200: Sui-setz· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. JR East Shinkansen 200(renewal): Sui-setz· Public domain
what is it?
The 200 series (Japanese: 200系) was a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1982 for use on the newly opened Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen lines, the first Shinkansen routes built east of Tokyo. Externally, the design was derived from the original 0 series, but were lighter and more powerful to handle the steeper gradients and mountainous terrain on these lines, and incorporated features for winter operation. A total of 700 vehicles, arranged into 66 sets, were built between 1980 and 1991 by Hitachi, Kawasaki, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, and the Tokyu Car Corporation.
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 46 years ago, in 1980.
- Top speed is 2.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- At full speed it would cover Amsterdam–Utrecht (≈ 40 km) in 9 minutes.
- 25 m long: about 6 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 31 years (1982–2013).
high-speed train: Built for 200–350 km/h on dedicated lines, like the TGV, ICE or Shinkansen.
spec sheet
- built
- 1980
- in service from
- 1982
- retired
- 2013
- status
- retired
- number built
- 700
- 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, East Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 275 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,435 mm standard gauge
- electric system
- Overhead line:, 3, 3 (Set F80)
- formation
- 8, 10, 12, 13 or 16 cars per set
- length
- 25 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q1088167, Wikipedia: 200 Series Shinkansen (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.