In the second year of vehicle-running tests on the Yamanashi Maglev Test Line, tests involving two trains were performed with the addition of the second train set, by using both the northern and southern lines. Furthermore, the cars of the two train sets were rearranged to compose a five-car train set. Vehicle-running tests were performed by using this long train set, and the characteristics of vehicle dynamics were confirmed on the intermediate car that was connected on both ends to other intermediate cars (not connected to any leading cars). In these tests, a maximum speed of 552 km/h was attained in a manned vehicle run.
Reported here are mainly the characteristics of vehicle dynamics obtained from vehicle-running tests at constant speed of 500 km/h, vehicle dynamics of two trains passing each other, vehicle dynamics of the five-car train set, and new control technique applied recently for improvement of ride comfort.