The long noses on Shinkansen are for noise reduction. Because flat land is in short supply the Shinkansen lines often run very close to housing, so there is a regulation meaning the trains can not be louder then [x]dB measured [y] metres from the line. So the long noses, wings around the pantographs, the seals between cars, shrouds around the bogies etc etc are all to allow the trains to run faster while remaining within noise limits. IIRC the wings alongside the pantograph knock about 4dB off the noise level when measured at the regulation distance. The ALFA-X is comparing designs between a new 16m nose profile, or a 22m nose based on the E5. The car length is 26m so that's 4m left for passengers! The goal for JR East and JR Hokkaido is to raise speeds to 360km/h on the Tohuku and Hokkaido lines in the long term. JR Central meanwhile is working on the Maglev.
I think a lot of more conservative enthusiasts don't like them for being so radical in design compared to more traditional designs (even if imported) - jacobs bogies, low floors with level boarding, the power pack etc are all new things for UK regional stock. It's just a shame that now Stadler have shown it's possible to do level boarding that high floor stock is still being ordered.
I certainly assumed that there are trains that are ugly, but I did not think that there are such a large number of them Reading your comments
Those Danish MUs are meant to be really nice inside The rubber ring provides a wide walkway between units without making the drivers cab cramped. It's a clever but not exactly pretty bit of design.
Front and back (middle is similar but a Jacobs bogie so can't be split) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IC3
I figured- I just wanted to make a bum joke... I can sort of see the point if it's coupled, I guess the cushion works in lieu of buffers and the seal it forms smooths the airflow at speed, but for the front it looks about as aerodynamic as a garden shed and optimally designed to collect snow and falling leaves.
The APT-E certainly ain't going to win any pretty prizes but the final APT-P looked quite good I thought has a sort of droop nose akin to Concorde's.
No buffers on a Scharfenberg coupler anyway, the diaphragm is purely for sealing the gangway joint when multiple units (they are a fixed 3-car set but usually joined up for intercity consists). Given that intercity travel in Denmark would never really hit high speeds the frontal aero probably isn't of too much concern, and given the climate and the long time they've been operating (30+ years now) I assume if there was a snow buildup issue it would have been solved a long time ago.
I certainly assumed that there are trains that are ugly, but I did not think that there are such a large number of them Reading your comments
According to the Wiki page you linked to (thank you) snow build up was a problem that required attention.
This one is so cool! Looks like a rocket. I would definitely enjoy a trip on this train. By the way, trains are way more cost-effective than other means of transport, and I would always choose to travel by train rather than by plane. It is incredibly scenic and relaxing for me. The last time when I traveled by train, I bought my ticket right from dbauskunft's site, and I was astonished about their new features. Now you can check train timetables whenever you want, and you can always know when your train's late. Am I the only railfan here? Lol.
Correct and the perfect match and wrote for it should be Cathcart Circle if it's capable of making the trip without overheating
Sunrail's MP32PH-Qs. Which have an MPI cab, but a hood unit carbody (As they were rebuilt from ex MARC GP40WH-2s)
The “Voiture Chartet” build by the SNCF to test the pendular system in the 50’s it was futuristic looking back in the days but jeez it looks so weird even though it was a prototype: