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Evangelion Bullet Train Collaboration

The 500 Series Bullet Train [Neon Genesis Evangelion](/otapedia/anime/neon_genesis_evangelion/) debuted in November 2015 and made its final run in May 2018. The train was a themed version of the popular 500 Series Bullet Train. Its Evangelion theme was present on both the exterior and interior of the train and was designed to resemble Evangelion Unit 01 piloted by Shinji Ikari . 500 TYPE EVA as it is known in its bullet train version. This attention to detail made it a fan favorite, attracting visitors from all over the world to the Sanyo Shinkansen line on which the train operated.

Design features

The Evangelion Bullet Train was designed to mark the 20th anniversary of the first Neon Genesis Evangelion series airing in 1995. It also coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Sanyo Shinkansen line, which began operating in 1975.

The train featured a variety of iconic features:

The train's exterior was designed to resemble [Evangelion Unit 01](/otapedia/anime/neon_genesis_evangelion/unit_01), meaning it featured a bold color scheme of purple, black, silver, and acid green. It also featured sharp geometric lines that gave the train a futuristic look, which was a perfect complement to the mecha aesthetic.
The exterior appearance also included features from the iconic 500 series high-speed train, including its striking 15-meter nose allowing an impressive top speed of 320 km/h.
Inside, the carriages and seats were designed to mimic the corridors of NERV. The purple and green color scheme, so prevalent on the train's exterior, was also carried over to the interior of the carriages.
The Evangelion theme was present throughout, including cutouts and decals of the characters Ritsuko Akagi and Ryoji Kaji with cigarettes inside the smoking area.
Its most popular feature was found in the lead car which simulated the cockpit of an Evangelion unit, allowing lucky lottery winners to undertake an Angel attack drill.
The elaborate theme continued in other areas, including staff uniforms and train tickets.

Public reception

The Evangelion Bullet Train was a huge hit with fans not only in Japan but around the world. The train quickly became a must-see tourist attraction both domestically and internationally. Die-hard Evangelion fans hoped to win the ultimate prize: a seat in the cockpit, awarded by random draw when ordering on the train lines' website, while others were content with the immersive theme.

The train was originally planned to operate for only one year to commemorate the respective anniversaries of the line and Neon Genesis. However, the immense popularity of the high-speed train meant that 500 TYPE EVAs remained in service for nearly two and a half years, more than double the planned duration.

Technical information

The 500 TYPE EVA was a 500 series bullet train, consisting of 16 cars and capable of carrying a maximum of 1,324 passengers. The maximum speed of a 500 series is 320 km/h and is achieved thanks to a 15 m "long nose" at the front of the train which helps to reduce wind resistance. The Evangelion bullet train operated on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Shin-Osaka and Hakata. The 500 TYPE EVA served as Kodama 730 which departed Hakata at 6:36 and reached Shin-Osaka at 11:14, as well as Kodama 741 which departed Shin-Osaka at 11:32 and returned to Hakata at 16:07.

Closing ceremony

On Sunday, May 13, the Evangelion bullet train began its final journey from Shin-Osaka to an audience of approximately 1,200 fans and local residents and arrived in Hakata to an audience of over 500 well-wishers. Ticket holders were treated to wine from Misato Katsurugi and heard announcements from Kaworu Nagisa. Special ticket holders were also given access to the Eva's cockpit to carry out the Angel attack mission for the final time.

Fans, commuters and local residents have been vocal in their sadness at the end of the much-loved high-speed rail service and, as the trains were being decommissioned, have been calling for the service to be reinstated.

From 2018

Following its closing ceremony, the TYPE 500 EVA was immortalized in the children's science fiction series "Shinkalion." The origins of this collaboration reportedly came from a fan request, a young boy who wrote to the Shinkalion staff to comment on the similarities between the two series. [Hideaki Anno]
(/otapedia/anime/neon_genesis_evangelion/hideaki_anno), [The director of Neon Genesis Evangelions](/otapedia/anime/neon_genesis_evangelion/) welcomed the collaboration, and the bullet train was featured as a cameo in a 2019 episode of the series. The episode featured the retired 500 TYPE Evangelion Unit 01 bullet train as a transforming mecha robot fighting "King Shitoel," a mascot character based on the angel "Sachiel." The episode also featured the voice cast of the original series, Megumi Hayashibara, None Yuko Miyamura, None Megumi Ogata , and Junko Iwao.

The Evangelion Bullet Train also continues to exist in toy form, with Tomy releasing a TYPE EVA 500 model train as part of its Shinkalion toy series, released in 2018 to recognize the collaboration.