Development of Wayside Noise Reduction Techniques for Shinkansen High-Speed Trains Using Experimental Trains, 'FASTECH360'

摘要

With the aim of operating at a speed of 360km/h, we developed two high-speed test trains, FASTECH360S and FASTECH360Z, that feature several new types of equipment for reduction of wayside noise. Low-noise pantographs and noise insulation plates were used for reducing pantograph noise. To reduce noise from the lower part of cars, sound-absorbing panels were installed. We conducted running tests with the FASTECH360 trains to measure wayside noise at 25 meters from the center of the track and 1.2 meters above the ground. The results show that to operate at the same noise levels of current commercial trains (namely series E2 and E3 (coupled) running at 275km/h), FASTECH360S and FASTECH360Z (coupled) would run at approximately 330km/h, and FASTECH360S (alone) would run at approximately 340km/h. Although the goal of 360km/h is yet to be attained, it was confirmed that the countermeasures incorporated in FASTECH360 greatly reduce wayside noise.