View source for 500 Series Shinkansen

{{pp|small=yes}}
{{short description|Japanese high speed train type}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox train
| name = 500 series
| image = JRW-500-nozomi.jpg
| designer = [[Alexander Neumeister]]
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = 16-car 500 series on a ''Nozomi'' service, May 2008
| service = {{start date|df=yes|1997|03|22}} – present
| manufacturer = [[Hitachi]], [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries Rolling Stock Company|Kawasaki Heavy Industries]], [[Kinki Sharyo]], [[Nippon Sharyo]]
| replaced = [[0 Series Shinkansen|0 series]]
| family = 
| yearconstruction = 1995–1998
| yearservice = 1997
| refurbishment = 2008–2010
| yearscrapped = 
| numberbuilt = 144 vehicles (9 sets)
| numberservice = 48 vehicles (6 sets)
| numberpreserved = 2 vehicles
| numberscrapped = 78 vehicles
| formation = 8 (originally 16) cars per trainset
| fleetnumbers = {{Plainlist|
* As built: W1–W9
* As refurbished: V2–V9
}}
| capacity = {{Plainlist|
* 16-car W set: 1,324 (200 Green + 1,124 Standard)
* 8-car V set: 608
}}
| operator = [[JR-West]]
| depots = Hakata
| lines = [[Sanyo Shinkansen]], [[Hakata-Minami Line]], [[Tokaido Shinkansen]] (1997–2010)
| carbody = Aluminium alloy, Honeycomb structure
| carlength = {{Plainlist|
* {{Convert|25|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (intermediate cars)
* {{Convert|27|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (end cars)
}}
| width = {{Convert|3380|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| height = {{Convert|3690|mm|ftin|abbr=on}}
| doors = Two [[plug door]]s per side (intermediate cars)<br />One plug door per side (end cars)
| maxspeed = {{Plainlist|
* '''W set:''' {{Convert|270|km/h|0|abbr=on}} (Tōkaidō)<br />{{Convert|300|km/h|0|abbr=on}} (Sanyō)
* '''V set:''' {{Convert|285|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
* '''Design speed:''' {{Convert|320|km/h|0|abbr=on}}
}}
| weight = 
| acceleration = {{cvt|1.6|km/h/s}}<ref name="journal200709">{{cite journal| title =none | journal = Railway Journal |pages=36| date = September 2007}}</ref>
<br />{{cvt|1.92|km/h/s}} (High acceleration mode)<ref name="journal200709"/>
| deceleration = {{cvt|2.7|km/h/s}}
| traction = (AC) WMT204 64 × {{Convert|285|kW|abbr=on}} (set W1)/{{Convert|275|kW|abbr=on}} (set W2 onward)<ref name="journal200805">{{cite journal| title =none | journal = Railway Journal |pages=46| location = Japan| date = May 2008}}</ref>
| poweroutput = {{Convert|18.24|MW|abbr=on}} (set W1), {{Convert|17.60|MW|abbr=on}} (set W2 onward)
| aux = 
| hvac = 
| powersupply = 
| electricsystem = 25 kV AC, 60 Hz [[overhead catenary]]
| collectionmethod = {{Plainlist|
* '''W set:''' "T"-style current collector
* '''V set:''' [[Pantograph (rail)|Pantograph]]
}}
| bogies = 
| brakes = 
| safety = [[ATC-NS]]
| coupling = 
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1435 mm|allk=on}}
| notes = {{Blue Ribbon Award (railway)|1998|41st}}
}}

The {{Nihongo|'''500 series'''|500系|Go-hyaku-kei}} is a [[Shinkansen]] [[High-speed rail|high-speed train]] type operated by [[West Japan Railway Company]] (JR-West) in Japan on the [[Tōkaidō Shinkansen]] line from 1997 until 2010, and the [[San'yō Shinkansen]] line since 1997. They were designed to be capable of {{convert|320|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} but operated at {{convert|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}, until they were retired from the primary ''[[Nozomi (train)|Nozomi]]'' service in 2010. The trainsets were then refurbished and downgraded to the all-stations ''[[Kodama (train)|Kodama]]'' service between {{STN|Shin-Ōsaka|x}} and {{STN|Hakata|x}}.

==Overview==
The general design concept was overseen by German industrial designer [[Alexander Neumeister]].<ref name="shinkansen2011">{{cite book | title = 新幹線 車両大全 |trans-title= Shinkansen Cars Encyclopedia | publisher = Ikaros Publications Ltd.| date = November 2011 | location = Tokyo, Japan | pages = 96–121| isbn = 978-4-86320-526-0}}</ref> The running gear utilizes computer-controlled [[active suspension]]<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Sasaki |first1=Kimiaki |title=Semi-Active Suspension System |journal=Railway Technology Avalanche |date=1 January 2003 |page=5 |url=https://www.rtri.or.jp/eng/publish/newsletter/pdf/01/RTA-01-05.pdf}}</ref> for a smoother, safer ride, and [[Yaw damper (railroad)|yaw dampers]] are fitted between cars for improved stability. All sixteen cars in each original trainset were powered, giving a maximum of {{convert|18.24|MW|hp|abbr=on}}. Each train cost an estimated 5 billion yen, and only nine were built. It used [[biomimicry]] to reduce energy consumption by 15%, increase speeds by 10% and reduce noise levels while increasing passenger comfort. This was done by designing the train's front to mimic the shape of a [[kingfisher]]'s beak.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://medium.com/design-voices/looking-deeper-into-biomimicry-how-nature-inspires-design-55c6f881241d|title=Looking deeper into biomimicry: how nature inspires design|first=Skipper Chong|last=Warson|date=2 January 2018|website=Medium}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=March 2025}}

==6-car 500-900 WIN350 set==
{{Expand section|date=October 2022}}
{{main|WIN350}}

This was a prototype for the Series 500.

==16-car W sets==
First announced by JR-West in September 1994,<ref name="semmens1997">{{cite book | last=Semmens | first=Peter | title=High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway | publisher=Platform 5 Publishing | year=1997 | location=Sheffield, UK | isbn=1-872524-88-5}}</ref> the first set was delivered for testing in 1995, entering passenger service in March 1997. The entire fleet of nine sets was delivered by 1998. It was the first Shinkansen train in Japan to operate at a maximum speed of {{convert|300|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}} in regular passenger service. Besides the premium ''[[Nozomi (train)|Nozomi]]'' services, 16-car trains were also used on ''[[Hikari (train)|Hikari Rail Star]]'' services during the busy holiday periods.

With the steady increase in the number of [[N700 Series Shinkansen]] since 2007, the 500 series were gradually retired from the ''Nozomi'' services. The last 500 series ''Nozomi'' run took place on 28 February 2010.<ref>{{cite news | title=Train fans bid farewell to Nozomi bullet train service | url=http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/train-fans-bid-farewell-to-nozomi-bullet-train | work= Japan Today | date=1 March 2010 | access-date=2 March 2010}}</ref>

===Formation===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Car No.
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 8
! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 9
! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 10
! 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
! 16
|-
! Designation
| Mc
| M1
| Mp
| M2
| M'
| M1
| Mp
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| Ms2
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| Ms
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| M1s
| Mpkh
| M2
| M'
| M1
| Mp
| M2c
|-
! Numbering 
| 521-xx
| 526-xx
| 527-xx
| 528-xx
| 525-xx
| 526-xx
| 527-4xx
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| 518-xx
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| 515-xx
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| 516-xx
| 527-7xx
| 528-7xx
| 525-xx
| 526-xx
| 527-xx
| 522-xx
|-
! Seating capacity
| 53
| 100
| 90
| 100
| 95
| 100
| 75
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| 68
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| 64
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| 68
| 63
| 100
| 95
| 100
| 90
| 63
|}

Cars 8 to 10 were "Green" (first class) cars. Cars 5 and 13 each had one "T"-style current collector.<ref name="jrr2010">{{cite book |script-title=ja: JR電車編成表 2010夏 | trans-title = JR EMU Formations - Summer 2010 | publisher = Kotsu Shimbunsha| date = May 2010 | location = Japan | isbn = 978-4-330-14310-1}}</ref>

===Interior===
<gallery>
File:500 Series Shinkansen inside.jpg|Standard-class car interior view
File:Blue Seat of JR 500.JPG|Standard-class seating
File:Green Car's Seat of JR 500.JPG|Green car seating
</gallery>

{{Clear}}

==8-car V sets (500-7000 series)==
[[File:JRW-500 V2 inHimeji.jpg|thumb|An 8-car 500 series ''Kodama'' set at [[Himeji Station]] in August 2009]]
Eight of the original nine 500 series sets were modified and shortened to eight cars between 2008 and 2010, and were cascaded to Sanyo Shinkansen ''[[Kodama (train)|Kodama]]'' workings, replacing the earlier [[0 Series Shinkansen|0 series]] sets (V2 to V9).<ref>"Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō" magazine February 2008 issue, p74</ref> The first reformed eight-car set was unveiled to the press on 28 March 2008, and the trains entered service on twelve daily ''Kodama'' runs from 1 December 2008.<ref>{{cite web| script-title=ja:平成20年度【冬】の臨時列車の運転について| trans-title=Winter 2008 additional train services| url=http://www.westjr.co.jp/ICSFiles/afieldfile/2008/10/17/20081017_fuyurin.pdf| language=ja| publisher=West Japan Railway| date=17 October 2008| access-date=19 March 2009| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090317225418/http://www.westjr.co.jp/ICSFiles/afieldfile/2008/10/17/20081017_fuyurin.pdf| archive-date=17 March 2009| url-status=dead}}</ref>

The maximum operating speed of these trains has been reduced to {{convert|285|km/h|mph|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="odekake">{{cite web | script-title=ja:新幹線こだま 500系 |trans-title= Kodama Shinkansen 500 serie | url=http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/kodama_500/index.html | publisher=West Japan Railway | language=ja | year=2009 | access-date=19 March 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090305030540/http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/kodama_500/index.html| archive-date= 5 March 2009 <!--DASHBot-->| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Formation===
{{As of|2023|03|27}}, the fleet consists of six eight-car sets (V2–V4, V7–V9) formed as follows, with car 1 at the Hakata end.<ref>{{Cite web |title=山陽新幹線500系7000番台編成表 - JR編成表、配置表 |url=https://sirasagi683kei.wiki.fc2.com/wiki/%E5%B1%B1%E9%99%BD%E6%96%B0%E5%B9%B9%E7%B7%9A500%E7%B3%BB7000%E7%95%AA%E5%8F%B0%E7%B7%A8%E6%88%90%E8%A1%A8 |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=sirasagi683kei.wiki.fc2.com}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=June 2023|certain=y|reason=Self-published source from FC2 (free web host)}}

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No.
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
|-
! Designation
| Mc
| M1
| Mp
| M2
| M
| M1
| Mpkh
| M2c
|-
! Numbering 
| 521-70xx
| 526-70xx
| 527-70xx
| 528-70xx
| 525-70xx
| 526-72xx
| 527-77xx
| 522-70xx
|-
! Formerly
| 521 (car 1)
| 526 (car 2)
| 527 (car 3)
| 528 (car 4)
| 525 (car 13)
| 516 (car 10)
| 527-700 (car 11)
| 522 (car 16)
|-
! Seating capacity
| 53
| 100
| 78
| 100
| 95
| 68
| 51
| 63
|}

Cars 2 and 7 each have one single-arm pantograph.<ref name="jrr2016_summer">{{cite book |date=20 May 2016 |publisher=Kotsu Shimbunsha |isbn=978-4-330-68216-7 |location=Japan |page=133 |language=ja |script-title=ja: JR電車編成表 2016夏 |trans-title=JR EMU Formations - Summer 2016}}</ref>

===Interior===
Passenger accommodation consists of 3+2 abreast unidirectional seating, with 2+2 abreast seating in car 6 (former Green car). Between October and December 2013, cars 4 and 5 are also scheduled to have the original seating removed and replaced with new 2+2 abreast seating, the same as used in the ''Hikari Rail Star'' 700 series trainsets.<ref name="yomiuri20130826">{{cite web |url= http://osaka.yomiuri.co.jp/e-news/20130826-OYO1T00769.htm|script-title=ja:ＪＲ西５００系こだま ゆったり|trans-title= JR-West 500 series ''Kodama'' to become roomier|date= 26 August 2013|work= Yomiuri Online|publisher= The Yomiuri Shimbun|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 4 September 2013}}{{Dead link|date=January 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="jrwest20131122">{{cite web |url= http://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/2013/11/page_4839.html|script-title=ja:500系こだま号の4列シート車両の拡充について|trans-title= Increase in number of 4-abreast seating cars on 500 series Kodama trains|date= 22 November 2013|work= Press Release|publisher= West Japan Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 18 January 2014}}</ref>

All passenger saloons on the 8-car 500 series trains are no-smoking, with new smoking compartments installed in cars 3 and 7.<ref name="jrr2016_summer"/> Cars 1, 3, 5, and 7 are equipped with toilets.<ref name="jrr2016_summer"/>

<gallery>
File:JRW series500 ordinarycar-inside (Non-Reserved seat).JPG|Non-reserved seating car in May 2012
File:JRW series500 ordinarycar-inside (Reserved seat).JPG|Reserved seating car (car 6) in May 2012
File:JRW series500 smokingroom.JPG|Smoking compartment in car 7 in May 2012
File:JR West 500 giziuntendai2.jpg|Mock-up of the driver's cab in an 8-car 500 series trainset
</gallery>

=== Future plans ===
In announcement made on 14 February 2024, JR West outlined plans to retire four of the six remaining 500 series sets from revenue service by the end of 2026.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=14 February 2024 |title=JR西日本、N700系16両編成を8両編成化 - 500系は4編成を用途廃止に |url=https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20240214-2883131/ |access-date=14 February 2024 |website=MyNavi Corporation |language=ja}}</ref> The plan is to shorten four existing 16-car N700 series sets into eight-car sets to replace the 500 series sets.<ref name=":2" /> On 24 July 2024, JR West announced plans to retire the last two 500 series sets by 2027.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUF195CD0Z10C24A7000000/|title=JR西日本、新幹線500系が27年引退へ 車両の共通化進む|date=24 July 2024|publisher=The Nikkei|access-date=24 July 2024|language=ja}}</ref>

==Special liveries==
[[File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA in Himeji.jpg|thumb|Set V2 in the special "500 Type Eva" livery in March 2016]]

=== 500 Type Eva ===
Since 7 November 2015, set V2 runs in a special "500 Type Eva" livery as part of the "Shinkansen:Evangelion Project" tie-up project to mark the 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen and the 20th anniversary of ''[[Neon Genesis Evangelion]]''.<ref name="railfan20151108">{{cite web |url=http://railf.jp/news/2015/11/08/203000.html |script-title=ja:山陽新幹線で「500 TYPE EVA」の運転開始|trans-title= "500 Type Eva" runs on Sanyo Shinkansen|date= 8 November 2015|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205546/http://railf.jp/news/2015/11/08/203000.html|archive-date= 4 March 2016|url-status=live|access-date= 16 September 2016}}</ref> Initially planned to operate until March 2017, this livery was extended until 13 May 2018.<ref name="mynavi20160916">{{cite web |url= http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/09/16/520/ |script-title=ja: JR西日本「500 TYPE EVA」好評で運行期間延長 - 渚カヲルの車内自動放送も|trans-title= JR-West "500 Type Eva" to be extended due to popular demand|first= Yasuhiro|last= Sasaki |date= 16 September 2016|work= Mynavi News|publisher= Mynavi Corporation|location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160916232641/http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2016/09/16/520/|archive-date= 16 September 2016|url-status=live |access-date= 16 September 2016}}</ref><ref name="hobidas20180119">{{cite web |url= http://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/500_type_eva5.html |script-title=ja: "500 TYPE EVA"5月に運行終了 |trans-title= "500 Type Eva" operations to end in May |date= 19 January 2018 |work= Tetsudo Hobidas |publisher= Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. |location= Japan|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180119075803/http://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/500_type_eva5.html|archive-date= 19 January 2018 |url-status=live |access-date= 19 January 2018}}</ref> Set V2 was then transformed to the Hello Kitty Shinkansen in June 2018.

From 24 February until 7 May 2018, the 500 series car preserved at the Kyoto Railway Museum was exhibited in the "500 Type Eva" livery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-03-23 |title= |script-title=ja:京都鉄道博物館で500系新幹線に「500 TYPE EVA」仕様ラッピング |trans-title=Kyoto Transport Museum 500 series Shinkansen car wrapped in "500 Type Eva" livery |url=https://railf.jp/news/2018/03/23/180000.html |access-date=2023-06-22 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |language=ja |publication-place=Japan}}</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=June 2023|reason=Citation only supports start of livery usage.}}<gallery mode="nolines">
File:EVA521-7002.JPG|521-7002 (Car 1)
File:EVA526-7002.JPG|526-7004 (Car 2)
File:EVA527-7002.JPG|527-7003 (Car 3)
File:EVA528-7002.JPG|528-7002 (Car 4)
File:EVA525-7002.JPG|525-7004 (Car 5)
File:EVA526-7202.JPG|526-7202 (Car 6)
File:EVA527-7702.JPG|527-7702 (Car 7)
File:EVA522-7002.JPG|522-7002 (Car 8)
</gallery>

==== Interior ====
<gallery>
File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 526-7004 inside.jpg|The interior of car 2 in March 2016
File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 526-7004 waitingseat.jpg|Seats in car 2 designated for passengers waiting to use car 1
File:JRW-500 V2 20160320 TYPE EVA 521-7002 inside Evangelion cockpit.jpg|The Evangelion cockpit mockup in car 1
</gallery>

=== Hello Kitty ===
[[File:JRW-500 V2 20180701 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|thumb|Set V2 in "Hello Kitty" livery in July 2018]]In March 2018, JR West announced the launch of a special "Hello Kitty" themed 500 series train on Sanyo Shinkansen ''Kodama'' services.<ref name="japantimes201803">{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=15 March 2018 |title=Hello Kitty bullet train to debut on Sanyo Line this summer |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/03/15/business/hello-kitty-bullet-train-debut-sanyo-line-summer/#.WqzC1TVl2Hc |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317232055/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/03/15/business/hello-kitty-bullet-train-debut-sanyo-line-summer/ |archive-date=17 March 2018 |access-date=17 March 2018 |website=japantimes.co.jp |publisher=The Japan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=18 May 2018 |title=Hello Kitty bullet train to debut in Japan on June 30 |url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/05/18/national/hello-kitty-bullet-train-debut-japan-june-30/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913114212/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/05/18/national/hello-kitty-bullet-train-debut-japan-june-30/ |archive-date=13 September 2019 |access-date=21 May 2018 |website=japantimes.co.jp |publisher=The Japan Times}}</ref> The train, set V2 which formerly ran in the "500 Type Eva" livery, entered service on 30 June 2018.<ref name="LM52019">{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 2019 |title=Süße Katzen auf Erfolgsschiene |trans-title=Cute cats on track to success |magazine=Lok Magazin |language=de |publisher=Geramond Verlag |volume=5/2019 |issue=452 |page=34 |issn=0458-1822}}</ref><gallery mode="nolines">
File:JRW-500 V2 521-7002 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|521-7002 (Car 1)
JRW-500 V2 525-7004 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|526-7004 (Car 2)
JRW-500 V2 527-7003 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|527-7003 (Car 3)
JRW-500 V2 528-7002 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|528-7002 (Car 4)
JRW-500 V2 525-7004 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|525-7004 (Car 5)
JRW-500 V2 526-7202 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|526-7202 (Car 6)
JRW-500 V2 527-7702 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|527-7702 (Car 7)
JRW-500 V2 522-7002 HelloKitty Shinkansen in Himeji.jpg|522-7002 (Car 8)
</gallery>

==Preserved examples==
[[File:Shinkansen Series 500 car 521-1 at the Kyoto Railway Museum.jpg|thumb|Car 521–1 at the Kyoto Railway Museum in August 2018]]

[[File:Shinkansen Series 500 522-1 in Hitachi.jpg|thumb|Car 522–1 at the Hitachi Kasado factory]]

As of 2023, two 500 Series cars have been preserved, both from the same set. Car 521–1, formerly the front car of set W1, is preserved at the [[Kyoto Railway Museum]], which opened in April 2016.<ref name="railfan662">{{cite magazine|script-title=ja: 京都鉄道博物館 |trans-title= Kyoto Railway Museum |magazine = [[Japan Railfan Magazine]] |volume = 56|issue = 662 |page = 61 |publisher = Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location = Japan |language = ja |date = June 2016}}</ref> This car was exhibited in the "500 Type Eva" livery between 24 February and 7 May 2018.<ref name="asahi201802">{{cite web |last=Abe |first=Ryutaro |date=19 February 2018 |title=Evangelion bullet train to go on show in Kyoto rail museum |url=http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201802190049.html |access-date=17 March 2018 |website=Asahi Shimbun |publisher=The Asahi Shimbun |archive-date=27 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727083751/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201802190049.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Car 522–1, formerly the end car of set W1, is preserved at the [[Hitachi#Hitachi Rail|Hitachi Rail]] Kasado factory in [[Kudamatsu]], [[Yamaguchi Prefecture|Yamaguchi]], in Autumn 2015.

== In popular culture ==
The 500 Series Shinkansen served as basis for Liner Gao in Japanese mecha anime series ''[[The King of Braves GaoGaiGar]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gaogaigar.net/TV/mecha/05.html |title=MECHANICS |date=6 June 2023 |language=ja }}</ref>

The ''[[Shinkansen Henkei Robo Shinkalion]]'' franchise would feature the 500 series as one of its many titular mecha. In addition to the standard livery, the ''Evangelion'' and ''Hello Kitty''-wrapped versions also appeared in both the toyline and anime.

The anime [[Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2000 TV series)|Transformers: Robots in Disguise]] features the Autobot character Railspike, who transforms into a 500 Series Shinkansen.

==See also==
* [[List of high speed trains]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=JR全車両ハンドブック2006 |trans-title=JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006 | publisher=Neko Publishing | year=2006 | location=Japan }}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/kodama_500/index.html JR-West 500 series ''Kodama''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305030540/http://www.jr-odekake.net/train/kodama_500/index.html |date=5 March 2009 }} {{in lang|ja}}
* [http://www.n-sharyo.co.jp/business/tetsudo/pages/jrw500.htm Nippon Sharyo information] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Shinkansen}}
{{High-speed rail}}
{{JR-West rolling stock}}

[[Category:Shinkansen train series]]
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[[Category:Train-related introductions in 1997]]
[[Category:Passenger trains running at least at 300 km/h in commercial operations]]
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[[Category:Kawasaki multiple units]]
[[Category:Nippon Sharyo multiple units]]
[[Category:Kinki Sharyo multiple units]]
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