Japan begins testing its 248 mph next-gen bullet train
Japan’s next-generation bullet train, the Alfa-X, has gone into testing. The train, which will be built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi, is capable of hitting a maximum speed of 400 km/h (248 mph), but it’s expected to carry passengers at 360 km/h (224 mph) when it opens to the public in 2030. Before that happens, DesignBoom notes that the train has to go through years of testing, making nighttime runs between the cities of Aomori and Sendai.
To cope with the high speeds, the Alfa-X has a 72 foot-long aerodynamic nose, which is designed to minimize pressure and reduce the amount of noise that the train creates, particularly as it goes through tunnels. DesignBoom reports that a 52 foot-long nose is also due to be tested. The...