JR Central unveiled the new “M10” intermediate car for the improved L0 series. The car incorporates various design features, including the elimination of seat reclining, revised seat layout and body design, and increased legroom.
The improved L0 series new intermediate car “M10” was unveiled at a ride experience event for members of the press on the Yamanashi Maglev Line. The interior eliminates the reclining function, uses thinner backrests to reduce seat weight, and incorporates a design intended to reduce environmental impact.
The seats have a 980 mm pitch and are arranged 2-by-2, with a width of 477 mm. Although the distance between the front and rear of the seats is narrower than on Shinkansen trains, the seat width is roughly equivalent to that of a Green Car, and the design emphasizes a spacious feel around the feet. The seat structure has been simplified in place of reclining.
The exterior uses “riblet film,” a fine-groove structure modeled on sharkskin. The shape around the bogies has been optimized to reduce air resistance and lower power consumption. The exterior has a new unpainted silver design with gold lines.
The interior includes various features intended to improve comfort, such as small windows, membrane-covered walls, orange seats and a design that minimizes overhead luggage racks. Projection displays on the ceiling provide visual effects intended to reduce the sense of enclosure.
The ride experience included speeds of up to 500 km/h during running tests. On the Yamanashi Maglev Line, the target is to achieve daily running distances of more than 1,000 km, and cost reductions and improvements in comfort are expected to continue ahead of its future opening.