[JP] JR Central Unveils New M10 Maglev Train

[Miss Maglev]

JR Central Unveils New M10 Maglev Train, Begins High-Speed Test Runs
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2025-07-26_MSN Screenshot

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Source:
Info based on: https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/money/other/% ... r-AA1JjP6o Accessed 26-07-2025

Yamanashi, Japan – July 25, 2025 – Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) has launched its next-generation maglev prototype, the M10, at a departure ceremony held at the Tsuru Maintenance Base in Yamanashi Prefecture. Company President Shunsuke Niwa and Yamanashi Governor Kotaro Nagasaki attended the event and celebrated the milestone with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Following the event, the M10 commenced high-speed test runs on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, reaching speeds of up to 500 km/h.

The M10 introduces a completely redesigned exterior and incorporates multiple innovations to reduce environmental impact. Its unpainted aluminum body eliminates the need for energy-intensive paint-drying processes during manufacturing. Additionally, the train’s surface is covered with a film featuring micro-grooves inspired by shark skin, significantly reducing air resistance during operation.

Another breakthrough is the implementation of high-temperature superconducting magnets, which require cooling to only minus 255°C, compared to the previous standard of minus 269°C. This advancement eliminates the need for liquid helium tanks and simplifies the internal magnet structure, further improving energy efficiency.

Info based on: https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/money/other/% ... r-AA1JjP6o Accessed 26-07-2025

[Miss Maglev]

リニア新車両「M10」走行開始 無塗装、簡素化で空気抵抗を削減
JR Central Unveils New “M10” Maglev Test Train – Sleek, Unpainted Design Cuts Costs and Drag


Info based on Kyodo News, Japan https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/money/other/% ... r-AA1Jh1EG Accessed 2025.08-19
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2025-08-19_Kyodo News, Japan

. Photo: https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/money/other/% ... r-AA1Jh1EG Accessed 2025.08-19

JR Central has launched trial runs of its new “M10” test train for the Chuo Shinkansen maglev line, holding a departure ceremony on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Track in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture, on the 25th. Among the guests were Governor Kotaro Nagasaki and local kindergarten children.

To the children’s cheers, the silver-bodied train made its debut. Unlike the previous all-white models, the M10 sports an unpainted metallic finish accented with a gold stripe. Designed as a middle car to run between the front and rear vehicles, it can be combined with existing L0 series test trains.

The M10’s simplified equipment layout lowers manufacturing costs, while redesigned bogie structures reduce air resistance. Forgoing the painting process also avoids around nine tons of CO2 emissions per car.

JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa pledged to push ahead with the project, saying: “We will ensure safety and move forward with the understanding of local communities, doing everything we can to achieve an early opening.” Governor Nagasaki added: “We are committed to contributing as much as possible so the line can open without delay.”


Info based on Kyodo News, Japan https://www.msn.com/ja-jp/money/other/% ... r-AA1Jh1EG Accessed 2025.08-19

[Miss Maglev]

Linear Chuo Shinkansen: JR Central Unveils the New Energy-Efficient “M10” Test Train

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central / JR Tokai) has introduced its newest maglev test vehicle, the M10, marking the latest step toward the commercialization of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen — Japan’s next-generation high-speed rail line that will eventually connect Tokyo and Nagoya (and later Osaka) using superconducting maglev technology.

The M10 incorporates advanced design and engineering features aimed at improving energy efficiency, environmental performance, and overall lifecycle cost. The train was showcased to the media at JR Central’s Yamanashi Maglev Test Center in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture, where it reached speeds of up to 500 km/h (310 mph) during test runs.

Key Technical Features

Aerodynamic and Exterior Design
The M10 uses an unpainted silver body to reduce both vehicle weight and energy consumption during manufacturing. A newly developed riblet-film surface, inspired by shark skin microstructures, reduces aerodynamic drag by roughly 1% across the full trainset — a notable gain at extreme speeds.

Energy-Saving Systems
JR Central continues to apply its broader experience from the N700S Shinkansen, integrating technologies such as lightweight car bodies, silicon-carbide (SiC) semiconductor drive systems, optimized air-conditioning controls, and minimized running resistance. Collectively, these measures have achieved up to 32% lower energy consumption compared with 1990s-era trains.


Interior and Noise Control
The cabin features upgraded seating, improved space utilization, and a redesigned ceiling structure that enhances noise insulation. Some interior surfaces can double as projection panels for passenger information and entertainment.


Environmental and Maintenance Focus
JR Central President Shunsuke Niwa emphasized that the M10 was developed with a focus on reducing maintenance labor, operating costs, and the environmental footprint of maglev operations. Efficiency and long-term sustainability now take priority over record-setting speed alone.

Context and Significance

The Linear Chuo Shinkansen is envisioned as a new national artery, drastically reducing travel time between Japan’s major economic regions. Because much of the route will pass through long underground tunnels, minimizing aerodynamic resistance, power demand, and thermal loss is critical.

With the introduction of the M10, JR Central is shifting from pure technological demonstration to the refinement phase — optimizing energy efficiency, environmental compatibility, and operational practicality before final commercial design decisions are made.

Info based on:
* “New ‘M10’ Maglev Car Begins Testing” — News On Japan: [https://www.newsonjapan.com/article/144962.php](https://www.newsonjapan.com/article/144962.php) ([newsonjapan.com])
* “Production of the New L0 Series Improved Test Vehicle (Superconducting Maglev)” — Japan-Transportation.com: [https://japan-transportation.com/archives/7675](https://japan-transportation.com/archives/7675) ([Airline Express])
* “Improved maglev prototype starts test running” — Railway Gazette International: [https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction ... 98.article](https://www.railwaygazette.com/traction ... 98.article) ([railwaygazette.com])

[latestnews]

JR Central’s New “M10” Maglev Test Car: Leaner, Lighter, and Faster

JR Central has unveiled the new M10 maglev test car on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, a segment that will become part of the future Chuo Shinkansen. Built by Hitachi, Ltd., the M10 entered testing in July 2025 and represents a major evolution of the earlier L0 series vehicles.

1. Exterior Design and Aerodynamics

- Unpainted aluminum body: reduces vehicle weight and simplifies maintenance.
- “Riblet film” surface: a micro-grooved coating modeled after shark skin to reduce air drag.
- Revised underfloor layout: improves weight balance and energy efficiency at top speed.
- Lightweight components used throughout the structure for enhanced performance and reduced power demand.

2. Cabin Design and Passenger Space

The interior differs sharply from that of current Shinkansen trains:

- Fixed-back seats with a 15° tilt, removing the recline mechanism to save weight and increase durability.
- Seating materials made from recycled polyester and bio-based fibers partially derived from sugarcane residue.
- Compact, aircraft-style windows (approx. 12" × 8") to reduce weight and improve cabin rigidity.
- Color scheme: bold orange and black tones, replacing the traditional sky-blue Shinkansen look.
The seating design provides a firm, stable posture, improving passenger comfort during acceleration and levitation at high speeds.

3. Interior Systems and Comfort

Engineers also tested a range of systems designed to improve the onboard environment:
- Enhanced sound insulation and new floor structures to minimize noise and vibration.
- LED lighting with softer, more natural illumination.
- Updated air-conditioning that distributes air evenly throughout the cabin, reducing temperature differences between seats.

4. Purpose and Outlook

According to JR Central engineers, the M10 serves as both a technological test platform and a prototype for future passenger service.
Data from the Yamanashi test runs will inform the final production model for the Chuo Shinkansen, targeted for operation in the 2030s.
The M10 demonstrates how lightweight engineering, aerodynamic refinement, and sustainable materials can come together to advance the world’s fastest commercial rail system.

Info based on: https://trafficnews.jp/post/603082 Accessed 2025-11-06

[Parrahub1]

Many people think TEST car is still experimental where the SC maglev was proven between 1997 and 2011, it is just improved.

[maglev]

Riding the New Linear Maglev “M10”: Environmental Design and Cost Reduction from a Technical Perspective

Abstract

Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) has presented its latest linear motor car, the intermediate type “M10”, during a demonstration at the Yamanashi Maglev Test Center. The vehicle introduces significant advances in aerodynamic efficiency, manufacturing economy, and environmental sustainability, and will serve as the baseline design for future production units of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen.

1. Introduction

On October 30, 2025, JR Central conducted a press preview and demonstration run of the new intermediate vehicle “M10” on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line in Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
Public trial rides were organized on November 6 and 7. A total of 360 seats were offered, attracting strong demand—175 applications per available seat—demonstrating continued public interest in the Linear Chuo Shinkansen project.

2. Vehicle Overview

The designation “M10” indicates that the car is the tenth intermediate unit constructed within the ongoing series of prototype vehicles for the Linear Chuo Shinkansen. The M10 functions as a reference vehicle for mass production when the commercial service begins.

Compared with earlier prototypes featuring a white-painted body with blue stripes, the M10 adopts a natural aluminum finish with gold accent lines, eliminating the conventional painting process to achieve both cost savings and energy reduction during manufacturing.

3. Structural and Aerodynamic Design

| Feature | Description | Objective |
| --------------------- | ----------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Body Material** | Unpainted aluminum alloy | Cost reduction; simplification of production and maintenance |
| **Surface Treatment** | Microgrooved film with shark-skin texture | Air resistance reduction; energy efficiency improvement |
| **Exterior Color** | Metallic silver with gold line | Retains natural material color; eliminates paint process |
| **Windows** | Compact dimensions | Vehicle mass reduction; energy efficiency |


A microtextured film inspired by the dermal structure of shark skin is applied to the carbody surface.
The microscopic grooves generate boundary-layer control effects that reduce aerodynamic drag during high-speed operation, contributing to energy efficiency and improved performance.

4. Interior Arrangement

| Parameter | Specification |
| -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| **Seating Capacity** | 60 passengers |
| **Seating Layout** | 2+2 configuration |
| **Ceiling Height** | Reduced profile for aerodynamic optimization |
| **Passenger Information System** | Ceiling-mounted projection display |


5. Environmental and Economic Considerations

The M10 embodies JR Central’s strategy for a sustainable and cost-effective high-speed rail system. Key measures include:

• Elimination of painting processes, reducing chemical waste and production energy.

• Application of aerodynamic film, reducing air resistance and energy use during operation.

• Lightweight structural design, improving overall system performance.

These improvements collectively contribute to reduced lifecycle costs and environmental impact.

6. Role in the Linear Chuo Shinkansen Project

The M10 will serve as the base model for intermediate cars in the future Linear Chuo Shinkansen fleet, the next-generation maglev line connecting Tokyo and Nagoya. The design reflects JR Central’s ongoing efforts to combine advanced engineering, environmental responsibility, and economic efficiency in the development of commercial maglev technology.

7. Conclusion

The new M10 intermediate car represents an evolutionary step in the Linear Chuo Shinkansen program.
Its unpainted aluminum body, microgrooved aerodynamic film, and lightweight, efficient design demonstrate JR Central’s commitment to sustainable innovation in high-speed rail transport. The M10 establishes the technical foundation for the forthcoming production phase of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen system.

Keywords: Linear Chuo Shinkansen, JR Central, M10, maglev, aerodynamic optimization, aluminum carbody, environmental efficiency, Yamanashi Test Line

Source: Asahi Shimbun, November 7, 2025 https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASTC62Q6 ... B001M.html Accessed 2025-11-07
Author: Kenichiro Saito
Location: Yamanashi Maglev Test Center, Tsuru City, Yamanashi Prefecture

[Parrahub1]

If they want to sell it to bigger countries it must take overnight containers in single guideways between passing stations at cities with twice the size tunnel driven with TBM technology that can see in front to avoid a pilot tunnel.

This earns sufficient to keep the daytime fares below planes.