Editing Shinkansen (section)

=== Gauge Change Train ===
{{Main|Gauge Change Train}}

This is the name for the concept of using a single train that is designed to travel on both {{RailGauge|1067mm}} narrow-gauge railway lines and the {{RailGauge|1435mm}} standard gauge used by Shinkansen train services in Japan. The trucks/bogies of the Gauge Change Train (GCT) allow the wheels to be unlocked from the axles, narrowed or widened as necessary, and then relocked. This allows a GCT to traverse both standard-gauge and narrow-gauge tracks without the expense of regauging lines.

Three test trains were constructed, with the second set having completed reliability trials on the [[Yosan Line]] east of [[Matsuyama, Ehime|Matsuyama]] (in [[Shikoku]]) in September 2013. The third set was undertaking gauge changing trials at [[Shin-Yatsushiro Station]] (on [[Kyushu]]), commencing in 2014 for a proposed three-year period, however testing was suspended in December 2014 after accumulating approximating {{convert|33,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}, following the discovery of defective thrust bearing oil seals on the bogies.<ref name="mynavi20141224">{{cite web |date=24 December 2014 |title= |script-title=ja:九州新幹線のフリーゲージトレイン、欠損が見つかり耐久走行試験を一時休止 |trans-title=Kyushu Shinkansen Free Gauge Train endurance testing suspended following discovery of defects |url=http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2014/12/24/335/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227101301/https://news.mynavi.jp/article/20141224-a335/ |archive-date=27 December 2021 |access-date=11 July 2022 |work=Mynavi News |publisher=Mynavi Corporation |location=Japan |language=ja}}</ref> The train was being trialled between [[Kumamoto]], travelling on the narrow-gauge line to Shin-Yatsushiro, where a gauge changer was installed, so the GCT could be trialled on the Shinkansen line to [[Kagoshima]]. It was anticipated the train would travel approximately {{convert|600,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} over the three-year trial.

A new "full standard" Shinkansen line was opened in 2022 from Takeo Onsen to {{STN|Nagasaki|x}}, with the Shin-Tosu – Takeo Onsen section of the [[Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen]] remaining narrow gauge. GCTs were proposed to provide Shinkansen service from the line's opening, however with the GCT being cancelled, JR Kyushu announced it would provide an interim [[Kamome (train)#Nishi Kyushu Shinkansen|'relay']] service.<ref name="ReferenceB" />

There are currently no further proposals for use of the GCT, nor any development work on it.