About 1,000 train enthusiasts gathered on the platform at Tokyo Station at 10:47 on Friday morning to see off the last 300 series shinkansen service for Shin-Osaka. The 300 series, which debuted in 1992 under the Nozomi name, were considered revolutionary when they were introduced. Their top speed was 270 kilometers per hour, meaning they could cover the distance bewtween Tokyo and Shin-Osaka in 150 minutes.
Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai), the operator of the Tokaido Shinkansen Line spanning between Tokyo and Osaka said the 300 series trains will be retired and replaced with more energy-efficient models for the Tokaido and Sanyo lines. Tickets for the last service went on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 16. All 1,323 seats were sold off in about one minute.
