Why do superfast trains (maglev) have extra long noses even though the already look like airplanes (i.e. long tubes)?
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All Japanese high-speed trainsets have elongated noses, whereas Europeans trainsets don’t, even though they travel at the same speeds. The reason you would obviously think about is aerodynamics, but there are some significant engineering differences regarding tunnels between Japan and European countries.
In Japan the tunnels have one tunnel for both directions, the tunnels are quite narrow (small loading gauge) and the entrances are almost flat.
In France, there are actually two tunnels (one for each direction), the loading gauge is larger, the entrance angles are steeper.
In Germany, there is one tunnel for both directions, but the loading gauge is larger, and the entrance angles are very steep.
All these reasons make the tunnel boom much less a problem in Europe than in Japan, hence the much less elongated noses.
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