Chief Engineer, Vehicle Engineer Div., Maglev System Development Dept.
The construction of the priority Section of Yamanashi Test Line (Fig.1) has expedited in order to make it possible for test runs to start in the spring of 1997. For example, installation of ground coils has been started on the guideways. The train depot has been completed, where the first train set of test vehicles is now undergoing final overall adjustments (Fig.2). In the power conversion station, adjustments of power supply equipment has begun. This train set is composed of 3 car units, i.e., two head-cars, one middle-car and four articulated bogies. Fabrications of these cars and bogies were started nearly two years ago at several companies. Most of them were completed this March, except for one head-car whose completion had to be put off until May, in the wake of a big earthquake which hit Kobe. After the completion of the train depot, these three cars and four bogies were delivered by several factories in middle of July, and coupled into a train set for the first time. This train set is 77.6mm in length and required adjustments and test operations are being carried out, in order to check every function in normal conditions. At the end of this November, such test operations will finish and the train set will be complete as a whole. There is still time before whole completion of the Test Line. In the same meantime, test operations of on-board facilities such as on-board refrigerators, aerodynamic brakes, landing gears, so on, are planned in order to remove initial defects and assess their durability. Main features of the test vehicles are listed in Table 1.