新幹線「５００系」引退　２７年めど―ＪＲ西

　ＪＲ西日本は２４日、山陽新幹線の「５００系」の営業運転を２０２７年をめどに終了すると発表した。１９９７年に「のぞみ」として運行を開始。時速３００キロでの営業運転はギネス世界記録にも認定された。人気アニメ「ハローキティ」や「新世紀エヴァンゲリオン」のデザインを取り入れるなどして幅広い世代に愛されたが、車両の老朽化を理由に引退を決めた。
　現在、５００系は「こだま」として運行している。長谷川一明社長は記者会見で「名車であり、一つの時代を築き上げた」と述べ、３０年間の労をねぎらった。ＪＲ西は今後、「Ｎ７００Ｓ」を追加投入する。（2024/07/24-20:26）

West Japan Railway Co., or JR West, said Wednesday that its 500 series Shinkansen bullet trains, which were once among the fastest trains in the world, will be retired in 2027 due to their aging.
   The 500 series debuted in March 1997 on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, linking its two terminals, Shin-Osaka Station in Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, and Hakata Station in Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, as "Nozomi" trains.
   It was later introduced also to the Tokaido Shinkansen line, which connects Tokyo Station and Shin-Osaka, to offer seamless services between Tokyo and Hakata. Trains from the series traveled at a maximum speed of 300 kilometers per hour at the time.
   In 1997, the 500 series was recognized by Guinness World Records for "fastest train journey" between two neighboring stops, traveling between Hiroshima and Kokura stations on the Sanyo Shinkansen line at an average speed of 261.8 kph.
   The 500 series was withdrawn from service as Nozomi at the end of February 2010. Currently, the 500 series, still popular among train enthusiasts partly for its stylish exterior, including a very long nose, is operated as "Kodama" trains, which stop at every station, on the Sanyo Shinkansen line.