Recently, the maximum speed of commercial Shinkansen trains of JR group reaches 270 km/h, 275 km/h or 300 km/h. Under these high-speed circumstances, pantographs and overhead-line-equipment are seriously influenced by aerodynamic flow especially in tunnel. In these years, probably because of this high-speed or introduction of low noise pantograph, some minor troubles have been seen on the overhead catenary equipment in tunnel. So, field tests were carried out to clarify the flow distribution on the roof of train or that near the contact wire in tunnel on the Tohoku Shinkansen line 1999 October. This paper reports the test results.

Copyright (c) 2001 Railway Technical Research Institute