Nipponica

East Japan Railway, or JR East, said Tuesday that it will introduce a successor to its East-i inspection train for shinkansen lines in fiscal 2029. The next-generation model's design will be finalized around next summer after ideas are sought from employees across JR East group companies.

Launched in 2002, the East-i inspects the tracks and other facilities of the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Yamagata and Akita Shinkansen lines while traveling. While the East-i travels at speeds of up to 275 kilometers per hour, the maximum speed of its successor will be 320 kph, the same as that for trains on the Tohoku Shinkansen line.

Doctor Yellow, a similar inspection train for the Tokaido Shinkansen line of Central Japan Railway, or JR Central, and the Sanyo Shinkansen line of West Japan Railway, or JR West, is slated to be retired, and a regular shinkansen for passenger transportation is expected to take over its role after being equipped with inspection devices.

We need our own Doctor Yellow up north.