Latest news with #MattRound
Newsweek
18 hours ago
- Business
- Newsweek
Japan's Iconic Bullet Trains Get a Makeover
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. New designs for a series of Japanese bullet trains have been unveiled and could be on the tracks by the end of the decade. The new E10 Shinkansen model will replace the current E2 and E5 bullet trains when they are retired in 2030, marking the first time a non-Japanese agency has designed Japan's signature mode of transport. Why It Matters The Shinkansen, meaning "bullet train" in Japanese, has forever changed transportation in Japan and in nearly two dozen countries around the world. Japan's nearly 2,000 miles of track connect major cities across three of the country's four main islands: Honshu, Kyushu, and Hokkaido. Shinkansen trains transport approximately 150 million passengers per year. Conceptual designs for the E10 Shinkansen, commissioned by East Japan Railway Company. Conceptual designs for the E10 Shinkansen, commissioned by East Japan Railway Company. Tangerine What To Know The new designs were commissioned by the East Japan Railway Company, also known as JR East, and were completed by design studio Tangerine, based in London and Seoul. The Shinkansen will operate on JR East's Tohoku route, connecting Tokyo to Aomori. Matt Round, Tangerine's chief creative officer, told Newsweek that incorporating the culture of Japan into the design was vital for the cross-continental collaboration. "There are so many different parties within the supply chain that you need to work with as a designer in order to bring your vision to life," Round said. "Those relationships are really important, and there's a team of us doing this together. We're bridging cultures, we're bridging technical expertise, and pulling the best teams together to deliver this." For the bullet train, Tangerine adopted a design philosophy called "thoughtful travel," which focused on how the train engaged with Japan's countryside and culture. One example the designers highlighted was the decision to shape the train in a way inspired by sakura flowers, the Japanese cherry blossom. The interior of new bullet train designs, for the East Japan Railway Company. The interior of new bullet train designs, for the East Japan Railway Company. Tangerine "We took inspiration from all of the scenery along the way, from the forests, the coasts, the cities, and used that kind of imagery to fuel the design," Round said. "It's a really great kind of source of inspiration to use, and it's been used many times." What People Are Saying Matt Round, Tangerine's chief creative officer, told Newsweek: "We took the spirit of thoughtfulness and used that to drive passenger preference; both the passengers at home and the passengers abroad. "We began to center all of our design around thoughtfulness, so that we could think really carefully about what we needed to do to satisfy the needs of different consumer groups and different stakeholders within the business. And we arrived at a design philosophy that we call thoughtful travel." What Happens Next The concepts are now moving into the design implementation phase. The first E10 bullet trains are expected to enter service in 2030.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- Business
- The Independent
British firm unveils designs for Japanese ultra-fast earthquake-proof trains
A new 'earthquake resistant', 200mph train set to take to the tracks in Japan was designed by a British firm in a bullet train first. The high-speed E10 Shinkansen train is set to enter service in 2030, replacing existing trains E2 and E5 on the Tohoku route. Studio Tangerine, a design consultancy company based in London, is the first-ever foreign firm to collaborate on the creation of a Japanese bullet train. East Japan Railway Company (JR East), a major passenger railway company in Japan, has unveiled sleek designs for the E10 train with sophisticated interiors across passenger classes. The E10 model will operate on the Tohoku route, which links Tokyo to Aomori in northern Japan in just over three hours. According to its British designer, the train's mid-green colour palette was intended to reflect the 'lush mountain forests and coastlines along the route', with shapes inspired by 'the silhouette of Sakura flowers'. It added that Tangerine's design philosophy for the E10 focused on hospitality inspired by Japanese aesthetic traditions and craftsmanship. Matt Round, chief creative officer at Tangerine, said: 'The E10 Shinkansen represents a milestone in UK-Japan collaboration within the rail sector, setting new benchmarks for hospitality-focused design and sustainable travel. 'With its blend of Japanese spirit, innovation, and user-centric design, the E10 Shinkansen is poised to redefine high-speed rail travel for decades to come.' In December, a new direct high-speed train launched, connecting two of Europe 's biggest cities. Germany and France launched the train between Berlin and Paris, a connection hailed as a symbol of a close friendship between the two countries. The move was sold as a sign of Europe's potential to attract more travellers to the rails. At about eight hours, the once-a-day service with German operator Deutsche Bahn 's ICE trains offers an increase in convenience rather than any major time saving compared with other indirect connections.
