East Japan Railway Co. will build two prototype bullet trains capable of a top speed of 400 kph and test them from 2005 to 2008 in northeastern Japan, the railway operator said Tuesday.

It aims to launch the trains by 2013 and run them at a maximum speed of 360 kph, which it says would be the fastest in the world for commercial trains.

Under the plan, the travel time between Tokyo and Aomori would be within three hours, JR East President Mutsutake Otsuka told a news conference.

While Central Japan Railway Co. (JR Tokai) opted to develop magnetically levitated trains and set a world speed record of 581 kph during a manned test in December, JR East has emphasized making bullet trains faster, which it considers more cost-effective.

According to JR East officials, the prototype trains will be equipped with newly developed high-powered motors that are small and light.

Their noses look like pencils and will be about 16 meters long to lessen shocks on entering tunnels.

One of the prototypes will have eight cars and the other six.

One is designed to run on dedicated bullet-train lines, while the other would also use old lines.

The company will place an order with manufacturers by March for the trains to be completed in summer 2005 and spring 2006.