Japan: The operator has announced plans to commence operating the 16-car Shinkansen N700S, each with two such compartments, in 2026.
JR Central’s fleet will receive an additional 13 vehicles, bringing the total to 53, which have been built by Hitachi Rail and Nippon Sharyo since 2020.
The private compartments will feature one or two reclining seats with leg rests. According to local media, these will replace the space previously occupied by smoking rooms. At the beginning of the year, JR Central decided to remove the special smoking rooms and allotted special space for smokers.
Rendering of a private compartment in the future N700S Shinkansen. Source: JR Central
The concept of a private compartment is not a brand-new one for Japan. Between 1985 and 2003, JR Central operated the 100 Series trains with six types of compartments, one of which was a private compartment. Deutsche Bahn presented a similar concept last week.
