JR Central and JR West released the train schedule for this autumn from October 1, 2010 through November 31.

According to them, many extra trains will run during busy days and hours. They said up to nine Nozomi services per hour on Tokaido Shinkansen and five direct services to Sanyo Shinkansen will be available in Friday evenings and three-day weekends. The number of direct Nozomi services scheduled is 106 a day on average during this autumn and 117 during three-day weekends.

Additionally more Series N700, most comfortable and energy saving vehicles on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, will go into the service and 132 Nozomi trains by Series N700 will run a day at the end of this November. The number of Hikari and Kodama trains of Series 700 is also increased.

Westbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700

• Nozomi 207, changed from Series 700 to Series N700 on November 01 (Tokyo 08:00 → Shin-Osaka 10:36)
• Nozomi 241, changed from Series 700 to Series N700 on November 01 (Tokyo 16:40 → Shin-Osaka 19:16)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700

• Nozomi 226, changed from Series 700 to Series N700 on November 01 (Shin-Osaka 10:47 → Tokyo 13:23)
• Nozomi 252, changed from Series 700 to Series N700 on November 01 (Shin-Osaka 18:07 → Tokyo 20:43)

Westbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700

• Hikari 467, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 01 (Tokyo 10:03 → Okayama 14:17)
• Kodama 647, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 02 (Tokyo 10:26 → Nagoya 13:16)
• Kodama 655, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 01 (Tokyo 12:26 → Nagoya 15:16)
• Hikari 527, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 02 (Tokyo 19:33 → Shin-Osaka 22:30)

Eastbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700

• Kodama 810, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 02 (Mishima 08:49 → Tokyo 09:47)
• Hikari 460, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 02 (Okayama 06:03 → Tokyo 10:10)
• Hikari 510, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 01 (Shin-Osaka 09:13 → Tokyo 12:10)
• Kodama 668, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 02 (Nagoya 16:28 → Tokyo 19:17)
• Kodama 676, changed from Series 300 to Series 700 on November 01 (Nagoya 18:28 → Tokyo 21:17)

JR Central announced the Shinkansen's depot in Hamamatsu will be opened to the public on July 24 and 25, 2010.

On the days, visitors can see many Shinkansen cars, demonstaration of car hanging work and stepping into the cockpit. This annual depot tour is very popular, attracting 10-20 thousand people each year. It appeals to famlies with setting of like conductor's work experience for elementary school pupils.

No advanced reservation is required. But advanced applications are needed for visiting the cockpit and conductor's work experience. The entry must arrive by June 21. To ensure stepping into the cockpit, JR Tokai Tours sells depot visiting tour including the ingress. And participants talk about necessity of prepare for the hotness on their blog.

Overview of the Hamamatsu depot tour

• Date and Hour: July 24 and 25, 2010, 10:00 to 15:00
  ※ Last admission at 14:30
  ※ Rain or shine, but may canceled due to heavy weather
• Location: Hamamatsu Shinkansen's Depot in Hamamatsu city
• Events:
  • Flying 0 Series Vehicle by a Crane
  • Visiting Cockpits of N700, 700 and 300 Series [Advanced Application Required]
  • Conductor's Work Experience for Elementary School Pupils [Advanced Application Required]
  • Display of Various Shinkansen Cars like Inspection Trains Called "Doctor Yellow" and 100 Series, etc
• Access: about 15 min. from Hamamatsu Station by complimentary shuttle service
• Admission Fee: free
• Tips:
  • Comfortable shoes and cooler clothes are necessary.
  • Frozen bottled drinks will good for the heat.
  • Join the stamp rally and questionnaire and get specialty items.
  And more, see Hamanyako Blog.

JR Kyushu announced the Kyushu Shinkansen's depot in Kumamoto will be opened to the public on August 21 and 22, 2010.

On the days, depot's facilities and vehicles of 8-car set of N700 series for Sakura services between Shin-Osaka and Kagoshima-Chuo, and new 800 series for Tsubame services between Hakata and Kagoshima-Chuo. No admission fee is required, but advanced reservations required. 6,000 people chosen by lottery will participate in this event.

Overview of Kumamoto depot tour

• Date and Hour:
  • August 21, 2010, 13:30 to 17:30
  • August 22, 2010, 09:30 to 16:30
  ※ Rain or shine, but may canceled due to heavy weather
• Location: Kumamoto Shinkansen's Depot in Kumamoto city
• Events:
  • Exhibition of Depot's Facilities
  • Display of Shinkansen Car's Interior and Exterior for Sakura and Tsubame
  • Exhibition of the Products from Kumamoto, etc.
• Access: by complimentary shuttle service from Uto Station
• Admission Fee: free
• Registration: Application must be posted or sent online by June 13.

The internet access service through wireless LAN is available in Tokaido Shinkansen's N700 series cars and stations between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka. JR Central said this service is opened up for FLET'S SPOT users from June 1, 2010.

As of June 1, 2010, passengers of using wireless LAN service shown below can gain access to the Internet in N700 trains and stations of Tokaido Shinkansen.

• HOT SPOT by NTT Communications
• mopera U and Mzone by NTT DoCoMo
• BB Mobile Point by SoftBank Telecom
• UQ Wi-Fi by UQ Communications
• FLET'S SPOT by NTT East

Also, in Eki LAN Spots of JR West, HOT SPOT, Mzone, BB Mobile Point and FLET'S SPOT users can access the Internet.

JR Central and JR West released the train schedule for this summer from July 1, 2010 through September 30.

According to them, many extra trains will run during busy days and hours. They said up to 9 Nozomi services per hour on Tokaido Shinkansen and 5 direct services to Sanyo Shinkansen will be available in Friday evenings, three-day weekends and Bon holiday period. The number of direct Nozomi services scheduled is 109 a day on average during this summer and 130 a day on average during Bon holiday period.

Additinally more N700 series, most comfortable and energy saving vehicles on Tokaido Shinkansen, will go into the service and 128 Nozomi trains in N700 series will run a day at the end of September. The number of Hikari and Kodama trains of 300 series is also increased. On Sanyo Shinkansen, some Kodama trains of four-car or six-car 100 series will start to be in service of six-car 100 series or eight-car 500 series.

Westbound Nozomi Trains newly using N700 series

• Nozomi 221, changed from 700 Series to N700 Series on June 25 (Tokyo 10:00 → Shin-Osaka 12:36)
• Nozomi 263, changed from 700 Series to N700 Series on June 25 (Tokyo 20:20 → Shin-Osaka 22:56)
• Nozomi 237, changed from 700 Series to N700 Series on August 01 (Tokyo 16:00 → Shin-Osaka 18:36)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using N700 series

• Nozomi 228, changed from 700 Series to N700 Series on June 25 (Shin-Osaka 11:47 → Tokyo 14:23)
• Nozomi 254, changed from 700 Series to N700 Series on June 25 (Shin-Osaka 18:47 → Tokyo 21:23)
• Nozomi 222, changed from 700 Series to N700 Series on August 02 (Shin-Osaka 09:47 → Tokyo 12:23)

Westbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using 700 and other series

• Kodama 747, changed from 100 Series of four-car set to 100 Series of six-car set on June 30 (Okayama 13:51 → Hakata 17:22)
• Kodama 771, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on June 30 (Shin-Osaka 20:22 → Shin-Yamaguchi 23:51)
• Kodama 853, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on July 01 (Shin-Yamaguchi 06:00 → Hakata 07:17)
• Kodama 721, changed from 100 Series of four-car set to 100 Series of six-car set on July 01 (Okayama 06:00 → Hiroshima 07:04)
• Kodama 863, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on July 01 (Kokura 08:49 → Hakata 09:09)
• Kodama 831, changed from 100 Series of four-car set to 100 Series of six-car set on July 01 (Hiroshima 18:49 → Hakata 20:57)
• Kodama 761, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on July 01 (Shin-Osaka 17:38 → Hakata 22:50)
• Kodama 639, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 01 (Tokyo 08:26 → Nagoya 11:16)
• Hikari 523, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 01 (Tokyo 17:33 → Shin-Osaka 20:30)
• Hikari 511, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 02 (Tokyo 11:33 → Shin-Osaka 14:30)

Eastbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using 700 and other series

• Kodama 736, changed from 100 Series of four-car set to 100 Series of six-car set on June 30 (Hakata 07:18 → Okayama 10:53)
• Kodama 752, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on June 30 (Hakata 14:51 → Shin-Osaka 20:05)
• Kodama 764, changed from 100 Series of four-car set to 100 Series of six-car set on June 30 (Hakata 18:17 → Okayama 21:35)
• Kodama 856, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on July 01 (Hakata 08:14 → Kokura 08:35)
• Kodama 746, changed from 100 Series of six-car set to 500 Series of eight-car set on July 01 (Hakata 12:21 → Shin-Osaka 17:05)
• Kodama 660, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 01 (Nagoya 14:28 → Tokyo 17:17)
• Kodama 696, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 01 (Shin-Osaka 22:03 → Nagoya 23:05)
• Kodama 636, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 02 (Nagoya 08:28 → Tokyo 11:17)
• Hikari 522, changed from 300 Series to 700 Series on August 02 (Shin-Osaka 15:13 → Tokyo 18:10)

JR Central and JR West released the outlines of train schedule for this spring, from March 1, 2010 through June 30.

According to them, many extra trains will run during busy days and hours. They said up to 9 Nozomi services per hour on Tokaido Shinkansen and 5 direct services to Sanyo Shinkansen will be available in Friday evenings, three-day weekends and Golden Week holidays. The number of direct Nozomi services scheduled is 107 a day on average during the spring and 121 a day on average during Golden Week holidays.

Additionally more N700 series, most comfortable and energy saving vehicles on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, will go into the service and 126 Nozomi trains in N700 series will run a day at the end of June. The number of Kodama trains of 700 series is also increased.

On March 1, Nozomi 29 and 6, the last Nozomi services of 500 series, will start to run in N700 series. This means regular Nozomi service in 500 will be finished at the end of February.

Westbound Nozomi Trains newly using N700 series

• Nozomi 29, changed from 500 series to N700 on March 1 (Tokyo 12:30 → Hakata 17:44)
• Nozomi 249※, changed from 700 series to N700 on April 15 (Tokyo 18:00 → Shin-osaka 20:36)
• Nozomi 221※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Tokyo 10:00 → Shin-osaka 12:36)
• Nozomi 263※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Tokyo 20:20 → Shin-osaka 22:56)

※ Nozomi 249, 221 and 263 are on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using N700 series

• Nozomi 6, changed from 500 series to N700 on March 1 (Hakata 07:00 → Tokyo 12:13)
• Nozomi 220※, changed from 700 series to N700 on April 15 (Shin-osaka 09:07 → Tokyo 11:43)
• Nozomi 228※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Shin-osaka 11:47 → Tokyo 14:23)
• Nozomi 254※, changed from 700 series to N700 on June 25 (Shin-osaka 18:47 → Tokyo 21:23)

※ Nozomi 220, 228 and 254 are on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Westbound Kodama Trains newly using 700 series

• Kodama 679※, changed from 300 series to 700 on April 15 (Tokyo 18:26 → Nagoya 21:16)

※ Kodama 679 is on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Eastbound Kodama Trains newly using 700 series

• Kodama 644※, changed from 300 series to 700 on April 16 (Nagoya 10:28 → Tokyo 13:17)

※ Kodama 644 is on new schedule reviced on March 13.

Westbound Nozomi Trains using 500 series in February

• Nozomi 29 runs in 500 series daily until February 28 (Tokyo 12:30 → Hakata 17:44)
• Nozomi 193 runs in 500 series on February 5 and 10 (Tokyo 18:13 → Hakata 23:31)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains using 500 series in February

• Nozomi runs in 500 series daily until February 286 (Hakata 07:00 → Tokyo 12:13)
• Nozomi 152 runs in 500 series on February 5 and 10 (Hakata 07:12 → Tokyo 12:30)

JR Central and West released new schedule's outline of Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen which will be revised on March 13, 2010. The points of new schedule are expansion of opportunity for getting series N700 new model cars, boosting convenience of early-morning eastbound Nozomi service and growing in frequency of direct Nozomi service between Tokyo and Hakata.

All direct Nozomi services between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen are in series N700!

The procurement of late model Shinkansen series N700 cars which are comfortable and enhancing energy conservation is now going in gear. With the new schedule, all of 101 direct Nozomi services between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen will be in series N700. Between Tokyo and Shin-osaka, about 70% of Nozomi trains will be in series N700.

Early-morning eastbound Nozomi service gets more convenient!

In weekday early-morning, 6 Nozomi trains in row leaving Shin-osaka and Kyoto and 7 leaving Nagoya will be in series N700. The travel time of some train will be reduced and operation intervals equalized. Nozomi 298 from Nagoya will be in series N700 and its departure time of Nagoya put off by 5 minutes without change of its arrival time for Shin-yokohama, Shinagawa and Tokyo. Also Nozomi 100 from Nishi-akashi will be in series N700 and it will arrive at Tokyo 7 minutes earlier than before. It means passengers from Nishi-akashi and Shin-kobe can arrive Tokyo before 9:00 with the new schedule.

3 Nozomi services an hour between Tokyo and Hakata is aveilable in more hours!

In addition to two Nozomi services an hour between Tokyo and Hakata, some Nozomi train will be expanded its travel reach to/from Hakata. The number of Nozomi trains between Tokyo and Hakata is 57 a day and it will be 65. In more hours of morning and evening, three Nozomi services an hour between Tokyo and Hakata is available. And some Nozomi train's travel span will be shortened because it will run shortly before/after the travel range expanded Nozomi.

Revision of Hikari and Kodama services

One Kodama train between Tokyo and Shin-osaka will finish its travel at Nagoya and the following Hikari train will stop at Gifu-hashima and Maibara. The daily service of Hikari Rail Star in off season will be reduced by 5 round trips. Three Kodama trains between Okayama and Hiroshima, one between Hiroshima and Hakata and three between Kokura and Hakata will be omitted.

JR Central and JR West released the train schedule for this winter (December 1, 2009 through February 28, 2010).

According to them, 2,204 extra train will run for weekends, three-day weekends and winter holidays. They said up to 9 Nozomi services per hour on Tokaido Shinkansen and average of 125, regularly 108, direct Nozomi services between Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen a day will be available during the winter holidays (December 25 through January 5).

Additionally more N700 cars, most comfortable and energy saving vehicles on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen, will go into the service. 100 Nozomi trains of series N700 cars runs a day at end of November and they said 107 of N700 Nozomi will run at the end of February, 2010. The number of Hikari and Kodama trains of series 700 cars is also increased.

Westbound Nozomi and Hikari Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 5, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 24 (Tokyo 06:30 → Hakata 11:44)
• Nozomi 9, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on January 22 (Tokyo 07:30 → Hakata 12:44)
• Nozomi 55, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 14 (Tokyo 18:50 → Hakata 23:57)
• Hikari 531, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 14 (Tokyo 21:30 → Nagoya 23:25)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 224, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 15 (Shin-Osaka 09:47 → Tokyo 12:23)
• Nozomi 10, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 15 (Hakata 07:50 → Tokyo 13:03)
• Nozomi 44, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on January 22 (Hakata 15:50 → Tokyo 21:03)
• Nozomi 50, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on December 24 (Hakata 17:00 → Tokyo 22:13)

Westbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Kodama 693, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Shizuoka 06:05 → Shin-Osaka 08:13)
• Hikari 475, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Tokyo 14:03 → Okayama 18:17)
• Kodama 675, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 16 (Tokyo 17:26 → Nagoya 20:16)
• Kodama 785, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Okayama 23:20 → Mihara 23:59)
• Kodama 705, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 14 (Tokyo 22:10 → Shizuoka 23:27)

Eastbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Hikari 462, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 16 (Mihara 06:22 → Tokyo 11:10)
• Kodama 644, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 17 (Nagoya 10:28 → Tokyo 13:17)
• Kodama 646, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on December 15 (Shin-Osaka 09:50 → Tokyo 13:47)

JR Central and JR West released the train schedule for October and November. According to them, 1,515 extra train on Tokaido Shinkansen and 400 on Sanyo Shinkansen will run for weekends and three-day weekends during the period. 91 Nozomi trains of series N700 cars runs a day at the end of September and they said 100 of N700 Nozomi will run at the end of November. The number of Hikari and Kodama trains of series 700 cars is also increased.

Nozomi trains of fighter jet-like series 500 cars are making 2 round trips everyday between Tokyo and Hakata. It will be one round trip a day after November 10, because Nozomi 51 for Hakata and Nozomi 28 for Tokyo will be changed to N700 on that day.

Westbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 215, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on October 02 (Tokyo 09:00 → Shin-Osaka 11:36)
• Nozomi 219, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on November 24 (Tokyo 09:40 → Shin-Osaka 12:16)
• Nozomi 51, changed from series 500 cars to N700 on November 10 (Tokyo 17:30 → Hakata 22:44)
• Nozomi 255, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on October 01 (Tokyo 18:40 → Shin-Osaka 21:16)
• Nozomi 263, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on October 02 (Tokyo 20:00 → Shin-Osaka 22:36)

Westbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Kodama 695, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 02 (Shizuoka 06:38 → Shin-Osaka 09:03)
• Kodama 641, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 01 (Tokyo 08:56 → Shin-Osaka 12:56)
• Kodama 665, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 02 (Tokyo 14:56 → Shin-Osaka 18:53)
• Kodama 667, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 01 (Tokyo 15:26 → Nagoya 18:16)
• Hikari 483, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 01 (Tokyo 18:03 → Okayama 22:11)

Eastbound Nozomi and Hikari Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Hikari 502, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on October 02 (Nagoya 06:38 → Tokyo 08:40)
• Nozomi 232, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on November 24 (Shin-Osaka 14:07 → Tokyo 16:43)
• Nozomi 28, changed from series 500 cars to N700 on November 10 (Hakata 12:00 → Tokyo 17:13)
• Nozomi 242, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on October 01 (Shin-Osaka 15:47 → Tokyo 18:23)
• Nozomi 250, changed from series 700 cars to N700 on October 02 (Shin-Osaka 17:07 → Tokyo 19:43)

Eastbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Kodama 802, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 02 (Mishima 06:56 → Tokyo 07:50)
• Hikari 470, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 02 (Okayama 10:26 → Tokyo 14:40)
• Kodama 662, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 01 (Shin-Osaka 13:50 → Tokyo 17:47)
• Kodama 690, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 02 (Shin-Osaka 19:50 → Mishima 22:44)
• Hikari 532, changed from series 300 cars to 700 on November 02 (Shin-Osaka 20:23 → Tokyo 23:10)

Nozomi Trains of Series 500 Cars Between Tokyo and Hakata After November 10

• Nozomi 29 (Tokyo 12:30 → Hakata 17:44)
• Nozomi 6 (Hakata 07:00 → Tokyo 12:13)

According to the schedule released recently, 6 Nozomi trains will be changed from series 700 cars to comfortable and energy-saving N700 by the end of September. And so 14 of Hikari and Kodama trains will also be changed from series 300 cars to 700.

All regular operated Nozomi trains will be shifted to series N700 cars by March, 2012 and 21 set (16 of JR Central and 5 of West) of N700 trains are thrown in the operation on Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen within fiscal 2009.

Westbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 211, changed from Series 700 cars to N700 on August 07 (Tokyo 08:23 → Shin-Osaka11:16)
• Nozomi 235, changed from Series 700 cars to N700 on July 01 (Tokyo 15:00 → Shin-Osaka 17:36)
• Nozomi 247, changed from Series 700 cars to N700 on August 07 (Tokyo 17:47 → Shin-Osaka20:23)

Westbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Hikari 507, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Tokyo 09:33 → Shin-Osaka12:30)
• Hikari 467, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Tokyo 10:03 → Okayama 14:17)
• Hikari 515, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 02 (Tokyo 13:33 → Shin-Osaka16:30)
• Hikari 517, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 03 (Tokyo 14:33 → Shin-Osaka17:30)
• Kodama 671, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Tokyo 16:26 → Nagoya 19:16)
• Kodama 687, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 02 (Tokyo 20:26 → Nagoya 23:11)
• Kodama 807, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Tokyo 20:56 → Mishima 21:51)

Eastbound Nozomi Trains newly using Series N700 cars

• Nozomi 212, changed from Series 700 cars to N700 on August 07 (Shin-Osaka07:47 → Tokyo 10:23)
• Nozomi 228, changed from Series 700 cars to N700 on July 01 (Shin-Osaka12:07 → Tokyo 14:43)
• Nozomi 254, changed from Series 700 cars to N700 on August 07 (Shin-Osaka18:07 → Tokyo 20:43)

Eastbound Hikari and Kodama Trains newly using Series 700 cars

• Kodama 630, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 02 (Nagoya 06:46 → Tokyo 09:26)
• Kodama 810, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Mishima 08:49 → Tokyo 09:47)
• Kodama 648, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 03 (Nagoya 11:28 → Tokyo 14:17)
• Hikari 518, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Shin-Osaka13:13 → Tokyo 16:10)
• Hikari 526, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 02 (Shin-Osaka17:13 → Tokyo 20:10)
• Hikari 482, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 01 (Okayama 16:28 → Tokyo 20:40)
• Hikari 528, changed from Series 300 cars to 700 on August 03 (Shin-Osaka18:13 → Tokyo 21:10)

The internet access by wireless LAN service has been provided in the cabin of series N700 cars running on Tokaido Shinkansen between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

Passengers having wireless LAN terminals like laptop and subscribing a Wi-Fi service can access the internet in the running Shinkansen trains with no influence of its speed or moving through tunnels.

The following providers provide the internet access service in N700 cabins.

• HOTSPOT by NTT Communications and its partner providers
• Mzone or mopera U (Wi-Fi option required) by NTT DoCoMo
• BB MobilePoint by SoftBank Telecom and its partner providers
• UQ Wi-Fi by UQ Communications (due to begin this autumn)
  

Passengers with HOTSPOT, Mzone, or BB MobilePoint are also provided the internet access at Station-LAN-SPOT (エキLANスポット) in major stations along Sanyo Shinkansen.

JR Central said that the maximum traffic speed is 2 Mbps per a train and it may deteriorate when some train runs in its proximity and shares a band of 2 Mbps with the others. GIGAZINE reported that the traffic speed was supposed to be limited to 110 kB (880 kbps) per a cabin or an access point. And they said the connection was hard-to-break even if the speed was considerably-degraded rarely while their travel.

Since the schedule revision for Shinkansen trains on March 14, 2009, 2 Nozomi trains of N700 run in an hour and the number of N700 trains will be increased continuously. It is nice for laptop computers to be free from being out of charge in series N700 cars, because all green-car seats and some standard-cabin seats are equipped outlets. And the wireless LAN internet access service at all 17 Shinkansen stations between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka will be available by the end of this March. It will be easier to access the internet during the travel by Shinkansen.

By the way, this internet access service is provided by using LCX (leaky coaxial cable) along the rail track for the train radio system. With the radio system of Tokaido Shinkansen going digital, LCX was available for the internet access service in the cabin. Unfortunately, the internet access between Shin-Osaka and Hakata will not release for a while, because the train radio system of Sanyo Shinkansen will go on analog.

JR Central announced that they would start an internet-access service on Tokaido Shinkansen trains from March, 2009.

You will always be able to access the internet with your notebook on running series N700 trains of Tokaido Shinkansen. According to the announcement, you need to sign on with one of the following services previously.

The maximum line speed is 2 Mbps per a train. JR Central said it was enough high for reading and composing mails, but impossible to watch on-line videos. Though there is concern that the line speed is not enough for nice internet browsing, to be able to connect the internet may be major advantage against airplane.

• 
  Hot Spot (NTT Communications)
• 
  mopera U or M Zone (NTT DoCoMo)
• 
  BB Mobile Point (Softbank Telecom)
• 
  UQ Wi-Fi (UQ Communications)

Wi-Fi is available in only 6 stations of Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shin-Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka now. Until the end of March 2009, it will be expanded to every station between Tokyo and Shin-Osaka.

JR Central and JR West released their service schedules during the winter season from December to February. As of the end of February 2009, 8 Nozomi trains bound for the east and west will be newly-operated with series N700 cars. JR Central said 71 Nozomis, equivalent to about 40 % of all Nozomis, will run in a day on Tokaido Shinkansen.

The new N700 Nozomis are shown below:

• Nozomi 109, from Tokyo to Shin-osaka, running with series N700 cars since 26 December
• Nozomi 148, from Shin-osaka to Tokyo, since 26 December
• Nozomi 67, from Tokyo to Hiroshima, since 2 January
• Nozomi 96, from Hiroshima to Tokyo, since 2 January
• Nozomi 69, from Tokyo to Hiroshima, since 5 February
• Nozomi 98, from Hiroshima to Tokyo, since 5 February
• Nozomi 153, from Tokyo to Shin-osaka, since 23 February
• Nozomi 136, from Shin-osaka to Tokyo, since 23 February

This site "Shinkansen Timetable" will be updated around 28 October with train schedules and running vehicle information of the period until December.

On 10 June, Club Tourism International Inc. started to offer for joining their tours bidding farewell to shinkansen series 0 cars which would finish running in this November. Series 0 cars have run since 1964 when Tokaido Shinkansen was started its operation, and loved as symbol of high economic growth period. The future of those tours is not only traveling around Chugoku area, like Miyajima, Hagi, Tsuwano, and Seto-uchi, but taking series 0 cars which will finish their running soon. If you join those tours, you can enjoy taking both old series 0 cars running since 1964 and new series N700 cars since 2007.

For more information, please check the site of Club Tourism International Inc. [written in Japanese].