Railway bearings have a direct impact on the safe operation of trains and mobility. High reliability is key, as is the ability to support high-speed operation, improve energy efficiency and reduce maintenance requirements.

NSK’s high-performance bearings are in use in the N700S Shinkansen (bullet train), which entered service on the Shinkansen between Tokyo and Osaka on July 1, 2020, supporting the train’s uncompromising focus on safety, stability, comfort and environmental performance. NSK’s high-performance bearings are used in the gearbox, axle and traction motor components in the N700S.

The N700S is the first to replace helical gears with herringbone gears in the gearbox, thereby improving reliability and reducing noise. Gearbox bearings are subject to strong shocks and vibrations, so maintaining a long service life under these conditions is a top priority. NSK has been supplying tapered roller bearings for the helical gears of bullet trains for decades. NSK has designed a special flanged cylindrical roller bearing for the N700S’s herringbone gears, which has a longer service life, lower heat generation, and less maintenance, resulting in improved reliability and reduced noise. NSK has been supplying tapered roller bearings for the bullet train’s helical gears, which have a longer service life, lower heat generation, and less maintenance. High-strength machined brass cages optimized with NSK’s proprietary R-groove technology reduce internal stress in the cage structure.

For axles, the NSK bearings used in the Shinkansen have been further improved for higher reliability and lower maintenance costs. Lower heat generation and longer service life.

For the N700S’s traction motors, NSK cylindrical roller bearings and deep groove ball bearings have a plasma-sprayed ceramic coating on their outer rings. This coating prevents electrolytic corrosion, thereby improving reliability.

NSK has been supporting the development of the global railway industry, and NSK’s bearings are trusted for their world-class safety, high-speed performance, high reliability and high efficiency.

NSK railway bearing models: