E3 Series Shinkansen


The E3 series is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built for Komachi services which commenced on 3 June 1997, coinciding with the opening of the new Akita Shinkansen "mini-shinkansen" line, a regular narrow-gauge line between and re-gauged to. Later versions of the E3 series were also introduced for use on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services. Both "mini-shinkansen" lines join the Tohoku Shinkansen, providing services to and from Tokyo.

Design

The design of the original Akita Shinkansen E3 series trains was overseen by industrial designer Kenji Ekuan. Like the 400 Series Shinkansen, these trains are built to a smaller loading gauge than mainline Shinkansen trains—the width and length of each car is reduced to fit on the narrower clearances of the "mini-shinkansen". Doorway steps fold out to bridge the gap between the narrow body and the platform at regular shinkansen stations.

Variants

A pre-series 5-car set, numbered S8, was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries to Sendai Depot in March 1995 for extensive testing. It was modified to full-production specifications in March 1997 ahead of the start of Akita Shinkansen services.
Until it was augmented to six cars in 1998, the pre-series was formed as follows, with scissors-type pantographs on cars 12, 13, and 14. Set R1 was withdrawn following its final revenue run on 20 July 2013.
Car No.1112131415
DesignationM1scM2TM1M2c
NumberingE311-1E326-1E329-1E325-1E322-1

E3 series "R" sets

The full-production trainsets built from 1996 for the Akita Shinkansen were 5-car sets, but sixth cars were added by the end of 1998. A total of 26 Akita Shinkansen sets were in service by the end of 2005. Sets R1 to R16 were leased by East Japan Railway Company from the owning company, Akita Shinkansen Sharyō Hoyū, a third-sector company jointly owned by JR East and Akita Prefecture. This lease ended on 21 March 2010 with the dissolution of Akita Shinkansen Sharyō Hoyū.
The E3 series sets are scheduled to be phased out following the introduction of new E6 series sets from March 2013, with 19 sets scheduled to be withdrawn during fiscal 2013.
From the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision, E3 series trainsets were no longer used on Akita Shinkansen Komachi services. Two sets remained in service, used on Yamabiko and Nasuno services.

Formation

Cars 12 and 15 are equipped with PS206 single-arm pantographs.

Fleet history

The build details are as shown below., two of the original 26 sets are in operation.
Set No.Date deliveredCar 14 build dateDate withdrawnRemarks
R128 March 199529 October 199826 August 2013Pre-series set S8
R29 October 19961 November 199813 December 2013Built as 5-car sets
R314 October 19964 November 199817 February 2014Built as 5-car sets
R422 October 19966 November 19989 January 2014Built as 5-car sets
R528 October 19969 November 199826 April 2013Built as 5-car sets
R66 November 199612 November 199812 April 2013Built as 5-car sets
R711 November 199622 November 199817 May 2013Built as 5-car sets
R815 November 199624 November 199824 May 2013Built as 5-car sets
R922 November 199626 November 19987 June 2013Built as 5-car sets
R102 December 199628 November 199827 August 2013Built as 5-car sets
R1112 December 199630 October 199813 September 2013Built as 5-car sets
R1221 December 199617 November 199827 November 2013Built as 5-car sets
R1320 January 19975 December 199819 October 2013Built as 5-car sets
R1430 January 199714 November 19981 December 2013Built as 5-car sets
R157 February 199716 November 199828 January 2014Built as 5-car sets
R1617 February 199719 November 19988 March 2014Built as 5-car sets
R1730 September 1998n/a
26 July 2013
R1823 October 2002n/a
Converted 2014 to E3-700 series Toreiyu
R1918 November 2002n/a
Converted 2016 to E3-700 series Genbi Shinkansen
R2024 March 2003n/a
17 December 2015
R2116 September 2003n/a
R2227 October 2003n/a
R231 December 2003n/a
-Converted 2014 to become Set L55
R244 April 2005n/a
4 December 2013Converted 2014 to become Set L54
R2511 July 2005n/a
18 December 2013Converted 2014 to become Set L54
R2625 July 2005n/a
-Converted 2014 to become Set L55

Interior

E3-1000 series

Three 7-car E3-1000 sets were built between 1999 and 2005 for use on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services from 4 December 1999 to augment the 400 series fleet following with the extension of the line to Shinjo. From 2014, a further two sets were introduced, reformed from withdrawn Akita Shinkansen E3-0 series "R" sets, to replace the two older sets L51 and L52.

Formation

The sets are formed as shown below, with five motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars, and car 11 at the Tokyo end.
Car No.11121314151617
DesignationM1scM2T1M2T2M1M2c
NumberingE311-1000E326-1000E329-1000E326-1100E328-1000E325-1000E322-1000
Seating capacity23676068646456

Cars 12 and 14 are equipped with PS206 single-arm pantographs.

Interior

Fleet history

The build details are as shown below.
Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredDate reliveriedDate withdrawnRemarks
L51Tokyu Car11 August 1999-5 September 2014
L52Kawasaki Heavy Industries11 September 1999-4 February 2015
L53Tokyu Car17 August 200524 November 2015
L54Kawasaki Heavy Industries30 July 201430 July 2014Rebuilt from sets R24+R25
L55J-TREC13 January 201513 January 2015Rebuilt from sets R23+R26

L54/L55 conversion details

The former identities of the cars reformed into sets L54 and L55 are as shown below.
Set No.Car No.Running No.Former set No.Former car No.Former running No.
L5411E311-1004R2511E311-25
L5412E326-1004R2512E326-25
L5413E329-1004R2513E329-25
L5414E326-1104R2412E326-24
L5415E328-1004R2413E329-24
L5416E325-1004R2515E325-25
L5417E322-1004R2516E322-25
L5511E311-1005R2611E311-25
L5512E326-1005R2612E326-25
L5513E329-1005R2613E329-26
L5514E326-1105R2312E326-23
L5515E328-1005R2313E329-23
L5516E325-1005R2615E325-26
L5517E322-1005R2616E322-26

E3-2000 series

The first of a fleet of twelve new E3-2000 series 7-car sets entered service on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services on 20 December 2008. The new fleet totally replaced the older 400 series trains by summer 2009. The new trains incorporate design improvements, including active suspension, full-colour LED destination indicators, and AC power outlets in all cars. Seating capacity in cars 16 and 17 has been reduced by 4 compared with the E3-1000 series to provide uniform seating pitch in all cars.

Formation

Cars 12 and 14 are equipped with PS206 single-arm pantographs.

Fleet history

, the E3-2000 series fleet is as follows.
Set No.ManufacturerDate deliveredDate reliveried
L61Kawasaki HI9 October 20086 July 2016
L62Kawasaki HI9 December 2008
L63Kawasaki HI7 January 200924 November 2015
L64Kawasaki HI17 February 200925 April 2014
L65Kawasaki HI3 March 20096 June 2014
L66Kawasaki HI25 March 200922 October 2014
L67Tokyu Car28 March 200912 November 2014
L68Kawasaki HI14 April 20095 December 2014
L69Kawasaki HI19 May 200923 February 2015
L70Kawasaki HI30 June 20096 April 2016
L71Kawasaki HI22 July 200924 April 2016
L72Kawasaki HI25 March 201018 September 2015

Interior

Reliverying

From spring 2014, the entire fleet of 15 E3-1000 and E3-2000 series Tsubasa sets is scheduled to be reliveried in a new colour scheme designed by industrial designer Ken Okuyama. The new colour scheme uses white, evoking the snow of Mount Zaō, deep purple inspired by the Mandarin duck, the prefectural bird for Yamagata Prefecture, together with yellow and red for the safflower, the prefectural flower of Yamagata Prefecture. The first reliveried set is scheduled to appear in late April. Three sets were repainted by June 2014, and the rest of the fleet of 15 sets was repainted by mid 2016.

E3-700 series ''Toreiyu'' excursion set

This is a six-car set rebuilt from former Akita Shinkansen trainset R18 as an excursion train named for use on the Yamagata Shinkansen between Fukushima and Shinjo, entering service from July 2014. The design work for the rebuilt train was overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama. The six-car set has a total seating capacity of 143 passengers. Car 11 is a standard-class car with reserved seating arranged 2+2 abreast, cars 12 to 14 feature Japanese-style tatami seating, car 15 is a lounge car with a bar counter, and car 16 has ashiyu foot baths. The name of the train is a portmanteau of the English word "train" and the French word "soleil". The train is normally used on special Toreiyu Tsubasa services running at weekends.

Formation

The Toreiyu set is based at Yamagata Depot and formed as shown below, with car 11 at the Fukushima end.
Car No.111213141516
DesignationM1cM2T1T2M1M2c
NumberingE321-701E326-701E329-701E328-701E325-701E322-701
Facilities2+2 seatingJapanese-style seatingJapanese-style seatingJapanese-style seatingLounge + bar counterAshiyu foot baths

E3-700 series ''Genbi Shinkansen'' excursion set

This is a six-car set rebuilt from former Akita Shinkansen trainset R19 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe as an excursion train named for use on the Joetsu Shinkansen between and, mostly at weekends, entering service from 29 April 2016. The exterior livery was designed by photographer Mika Ninagawa. The first car of the six car set features the art of Nao Matsumoto; a golden yellow motif based on harvests, festivals and light is present in the car. Window shades display art using a special dye as the train passes through tunnels. The second car feature stainless steel mirrors on the walls, the work of Yusuke Komuta. They reflect the landscape outside the train. The third car features a children's area and a cafe. The children's area features blue and white representations of toy trains by Art Unit Paramodel. The cafe section of the car is designed by Kentaro Kobuke and serves sweet items featuring local products. The fourth car features an alpine photography exhibition by Naoki Ishikawa. The fifth car features an abstract flower artpiece by Haruka Koujin that vibrates with the motion of the train. The final car features a short film by Brian Alfred, depicting the scenery of Niigata. The trainset was shown off to the media on 12 January 2016.

Formation

The Genbi Shinkansen set is based at Niigata Depot and formed as shown below, with car 11 at the Tokyo end.
Car No.111213141516
DesignationM1cM2T1T2M1M2c
NumberingE321-702E326-702E329-702E328-702E325-702E322-702
Former numberE311-19E326-19E329-19E328-19E325-19E322-19
Facilities2+2 seatingArt gallery spaceCafe + children's play areaArt gallery spaceArt gallery spaceArt gallery space

Cars 12 and 15 each have one single-arm pantograph.