JR West will change the exterior design of its N700 Series 6000 subseries trains, which operate as Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama services. The new design is scheduled to be introduced gradually from this winter.
The design concept is “YURARI: Enjoying Change at Your Leisure.” Focusing on the all-stations-stop service and relaxed travel unique to the Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama, the design takes inspiration from the waves and shimmering surface of Japan’s Seto Inland Sea.
The train body will feature “Sanyo Blue,” a color inspired by the Seto Inland Sea. The shade can also appear emerald green in sunlight, reflecting the calm image of a still, windless sea.
The lines on the train body use undulating dot shapes and line gradients to express leisurely scenery and the passage of time. The wave shapes formed between the dot patterns are intended to be discovered by passengers by chance during their relaxed journey, like an unexpected encounter. The lines are designed to stand out while the train is in motion, while the wave pattern can be recognized when it is stopped.
The logo translates the ideas of “yurari” and “change” into gently rolling waves. Its undulating shapes modeled after dots, three wave forms, and changing colors represent gentle waves and transitions, while motifs of the prefectures along the Sanyo Shinkansen route are incorporated.
The train design was developed through joint research with the Product Design Planning Laboratory at Kyoto Institute of Technology. It is the first JR West train exterior design to be created and realized through industry-academia collaboration. The joint research covered everything from establishing and developing the basic concept to considering and finalizing the train body and logo designs. The parties repeatedly made adjustments, studying the culture, traditions, and nature along the route and inspecting actual trains at a train depot.
The trains will operate between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations, as well as between Hakata and Hakata-Minami stations. Their maximum speed is 285 kilometers per hour, and they have a seating capacity of 578 passengers.
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