A short train with its own brake design
Six cars mean fewer braking axles. JR Kyūshū explicitly considered wheel-slide stopping-distance growth and followed the eight-car R-series approach rather than simply copying the sixteen-car train.
Shinkansen
N700S · Nishi Kyūshū · Kamome
Look closer
Which colours should I compare?
車体色
Six-car Kamome uses a vermilion lower body.
Compare · N700S · Tōkaidō · San’yō
JR九州 · 西九州新幹線Six-car Kamome uses a vermilion lower body.
Propulsion and equipment
N700S-8000 Y · 6両 · Documented specification 2022-07-14
The six-car Kamome has its own traction arrangement. Its battery system supports emergency movement when overhead power is lost.
| Powered formation | 6 powered cars (6M) |
|---|---|
| Traction unit | Two units of 3 cars |
| Traction motor | 6-pole motors |
| Traction control | Silicon-carbide (SiC) power devices |
| Traction converter cooling | Train-draft cooling without a blower |
| Gear form | Double-helical gears |
| Emergency self-propulsion | Lithium-ion battery system for movement to an evacuation location after a power failure |
| Braking system | Electrically commanded air braking with regenerative braking |
Technical sources · Checked 2026-11-07
[1] N700S「かもめ」と西九州新幹線 · 九州旅客鉄道株式会社 · 2022-07-14 · slides 6–8 and 18, formation, comparison, performance and drive system
Inside the engineering
N700S-8000 six-car Kamome · operator briefing, July 2022
| Axlebox support | Wing type; changed from R-series axle-beam type |
|---|---|
| Normal traction setting | Reduced output setting uses the all-powered formation’s reserve |
| One motor car isolated | Raised current limit restores the stated sixteen-car N700S performance level |
| Earthquake brake trigger | Overhead power-loss detection; stronger deceleration than emergency braking |
Technical sources and page references
- N700S「かもめ」と西九州新幹線
JR九州 · 2022-07-14 · Slides 7–9; configuration, changes and performance
Inside the train
Travelling as a pair? Cars 1–3 have pairs on both sides of the aisle. Cars 4–6 have a pair on one side and three seats on the other. JR Kyushu specifies power at every seat. Check the reservation status for your departure, as the number of reserved cars can change.
- Car 1–3
- 2 + 2
- Car 4–6
- 2 + 3
Sources and updates
Checked 2026-11-07