More then 20 years after the first run, for me still one of the best looking highspeed trains ever, the 500 series Shinkansen of JR West for 300 km p.h (design speed 320). Designed by the german industrial designer Alexander Neumeister, 9 of this 16-car trains were built from 1995 for the Tokaido and San-Yo shinkansen through service from Tokyo to Hakata with "Nozomi"services. From 2008 relegated to Kodama services, stopping at all stations, shortend to 8 cars and only 8 sets in service with 285 km p.h. max speed. Set V2 is departing from Aioi (Hyogo) as Kodama 753 from Shin-Osaka to Hakata (622 km).
