JR Central introduces Supreme Class luxury service on Tokaido Shinkansen

JR Central is introducing a new premium service called ‘Supreme Class’ on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen lines. The service features two distinct luxury options: ‘Cabin’, which offers private rooms for one or two passengers, and ‘Seat’, which provides semi-private, high-end seating. The ‘Cabin’ service is scheduled to launch on October 1, 2024, on select N700S train sets. The semi-private ‘Seat’ option, featuring large reclining chairs with privacy shells and electronic locks, is expected to become available within the 2027 fiscal year.

In a separate initiative to enhance the passenger experience, JR Central is partnering with VR MODE to launch an entertainment tour on the Tokaido Shinkansen. This project utilizes chartered train packages to host immersive VR content featuring the artist group 7ORDER. The tour aims to transform travel time into an entertainment experience by using synchronized VR playback systems and spatial audio technology within the train cars.