JR West to retire 500-series shinkansen, "Doctor Yellow" in Jan. 2027

West Japan Railway Co. said Monday it will retire its 500-series shinkansen bullet trains, once among the world's fastest, from regular service on Jan. 13, 2027, three decades after their debut.JR West also announced the retirement of its iconic "Doctor Yellow" train used to diagnose faults on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines in January 2027.Known for its blue outline and its iconic "long nose" with a sharp point, the 500-series entered service in 1997 with a record-tying operational speed of 300 kilometers per hour.JR West plans to use the 500-series for special services before they …READ FULL ARTICLE