Faster Shinkansen unveiled

RIFU, Miyagi Prefecture--East Japan Railway Co. unveiled the nation's fastest Shinkansen on Wednesday. The E5 series is to be introduced in March 2011 on the Tohoku Shinkansen Line.

The E5 series will initially run at 300 kph, but will reach a top speed of 320 kph, the same as France's TGV, by spring 2013, officials said.

The train will link Tokyo and Shin-Aomori in 3 hours and 5 minutes.

Featuring a long nose, the train's upper half will be painted "Tokiwa green," a shade inspired by evergreen trees, JR East officials said.(IHT/Asahi: June 18,2009)