E3 Series Shinkansen

The E3 series (E3系) 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 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita re-gauged to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge. 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.

E3 series
An E3 series set on an Akita Shinkansen Komachi service in March 2008
In service	1997–present
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation
Family name	Mini-shinkansen
Replaced	400 series
Constructed	1995–2009
Scrapped	2013–
Number built	261 vehicles (41 sets)
Number in service	129 vehicles (19 sets) (as of 1 October 2016)
Number scrapped	132 vehicles
Successor	E6 series, E8 series
Formation	6 or 7 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	R1–R26, L51–L55, L61–L72
Capacity	6-car R sets: 338 (23 Green + 315 Standard) 7-car L50 sets (E3-1000): 402 (23 Green + 379 Standard) 7-car L60 sets (E3-2000): 394 (23 Green + 371 Standard)
Operator(s)	JR East
Depot(s)	Akita, Yamagata
Line(s) served	Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	20,050 to 23,070 mm (65 ft 9 in to 75 ft 8 in)
Width	2,945 mm (9 ft 8 in)
Doors	1 per side
Maximum speed	275 km/h (171 mph) (Tohoku Shinkansen), 130 km/h (81 mph) (Akita/Yamagata Shinkansen)
Traction system	GTO or IGBT-VVVF (6-car sets: 16 x 300 kW, 7-car sets: 20 x 300 kW)
Power output	6-car sets: 4.8 MW (6,440 hp), 7-car sets: 6 MW (8,050 hp)
Acceleration	1.6 km/h/s
Electric system(s)	20/25 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary
Current collection method	Pantograph
Safety system(s)	ATC-2, DS-ATC, ATS-P
Multiple working	200 series, E2 series, E4 series, E5 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ^1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Design

The design of the original Akita Shinkansen E3 series trains was overseen by industrial designer Kenji Ekuan.[1] 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.

• 
  An extended doorway step on an E3 series Komachi set

Variants

• E3 series "R" sets: 26 x 6-car sets used on Akita Shinkansen Komachi services since 3 June 1997
• E3-1000 series "LR" sets: 3 x 7-car sets used on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services since 4 December 1999
• E3-2000 series "LR" sets: 12 x 7-car sets used on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services since 20 December 2008
• E3-700 series Toreiyu: 6-car excursion trainset used on Yamagata Shinkansen from July 2014
• E3-700 series Genbi Shinkansen: 6-car excursion trainset used on Joetsu Shinkansen from 29 April 2016 to December 2020.[2]

Pre-series set

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.[3]

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.[3] Set R1 was withdrawn following its final revenue run on 20 July 2013.[4]

Car No.	11	12	13	14	15
Designation	M1sc	M2	T	M1	M2c
Numbering	E311-1	E326-1	E329-1	E325-1	E322-1

• 
  Pre-series set R1 in service, March 2013

E3 series "R" sets

Set R18 coupled to an E5 series set in June 2013

Set R22 in May 2017 with its "Komachi" logos removed

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 (JR East) from the owning company, Akita Shinkansen Sharyō Hoyū (秋田新幹線車両保有(株)), a third-sector company jointly owned by JR East and Akita Prefecture.[5] This lease ended on 21 March 2010 with the dissolution of Akita Shinkansen Sharyō Hoyū.[6]

The E3 series sets are scheduled to be phased out following the introduction of new E6 series sets from March 2013, with 19 sets (114 vehicles) scheduled to be withdrawn during fiscal 2013.[7]

From the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision, E3 series trainsets were no longer used on Akita Shinkansen Komachi services.[8] Two sets remained in service, used on Yamabiko and Nasuno services.[8]

Formation

Car No.	11	12	13	14	15	16
Designation	M1sc	M2	T1	T2	M1	M2c
Numbering	E311	E326	E329	E328	E325	E322
Seating capacity	23	67	60	68	64	56

Cars 12 and 15 are equipped with PS206 single-arm pantographs.[5]

Fleet history

Set R20 being hauled through Omiya Station on delivery in March 2003

Set R24 being delivered in March 2005

Set R25 being hauled by JNR Class EF65 through Nishi-Kokubunji Station on delivery in June 2005

The build details are as shown below.[9] As of 1 October 2016, two (sets R21 and R22) of the original 26 sets are in operation.[10]

Set No.	Date delivered	Car 14 build date	Date withdrawn	Remarks
R1	28 March 1995	29 October 1998	26 August 2013	Pre-series set S8 (originally 5 cars with 3 pantographs)
R2	9 October 1996	1 November 1998	13 December 2013[11]	Built as 5-car sets
R3	14 October 1996	4 November 1998	17 February 2014[11]
R4	22 October 1996	6 November 1998	9 January 2014[11]
R5	28 October 1996	9 November 1998	26 April 2013
R6	6 November 1996	12 November 1998	12 April 2013
R7	11 November 1996	22 November 1998	17 May 2013
R8	15 November 1996	24 November 1998	24 May 2013
R9	22 November 1996	26 November 1998	7 June 2013
R10	2 December 1996	28 November 1998	27 August 2013
R11	12 December 1996	30 October 1998	13 September 2013
R12	21 December 1996	17 November 1998	27 November 2013[11]
R13	20 January 1997	5 December 1998	19 October 2013[11]
R14	30 January 1997	14 November 1998	1 December 2013[11]
R15	7 February 1997	16 November 1998	28 January 2014[11]
R16	17 February 1997	19 November 1998	8 March 2014[11]
R17	30 September 1998	n/a (6-car sets from new)	26 July 2013
R18	23 October 2002			Converted 2014 to E3-700 series Toreiyu[12]
R19	18 November 2002			Converted 2016 to E3-700 series Genbi Shinkansen[13]
R20	24 March 2003		17 December 2015[14]
R21	16 September 2003
R22	27 October 2003
R23	1 December 2003		-	Converted 2014 to become Set L55
R24	4 April 2005		4 December 2013[Note 1]	Converted 2014 to become Set L54
R25	11 July 2005		18 December 2013[Note 2]	Converted 2014 to become Set L54
R26	25 July 2005		-	Converted 2014 to become Set L55

Notes

1. Cars 11 and 14-16[11]
2. Car 14[11]

Interior

• 
  Green car interior
• 
  Interior of standard-class car 12
• 
  Interior of standard-class car 16

E3-1000 series

E3-1000 series set L51 on a Tsubasa service in April 2011

E3-1000 series set L52 on a Tsubasa service in July 2006

Three 7-car E3-1000 sets (numbered L51 – L53) 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.[15] From 2014, a further two sets (L54 and L55) were introduced, reformed from withdrawn Akita Shinkansen E3-0 series "R" sets, to replace the two older sets L51 and L52.[16]

Formation

The sets are formed as shown below, with five motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 11 at the Tokyo end.

Car No.	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Designation	M1sc	M2	T1	M2	T2	M1	M2c
Numbering	E311-1000	E326-1000	E329-1000	E326-1100	E328-1000	E325-1000	E322-1000
Seating capacity	23	67	60	68	64	64	56

Cars 12 and 14 are equipped with PS206 single-arm pantographs.[5]

Interior

• 
  Standard class car interior

Fleet history

E3-1000 series set L53 on delivery from Tokyu Car in July 2005

The build details are as shown below.[11]

Set No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered	Date reliveried	Date withdrawn	Remarks
L51	Tokyu Car	11 August 1999	-	5 September 2014[17]
L52	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	11 September 1999	-	4 February 2015[18]
L53	Tokyu Car	17 August 2005	24 November 2015[10]
L54	Kawasaki Heavy Industries[18]	30 July 2014[18]	30 July 2014[18]		Rebuilt from sets R24+R25
L55	J-TREC[18]	13 January 2015[18]	13 January 2015[18]		Rebuilt from sets R23+R26

L54/L55 conversion details

E3-1000 series set L54 in March 2015

The former identities of the cars reformed into sets L54 and L55 are as shown below.[16]

Set No.	Car No.	Running No.	Former set No.	Former car No.	Former running No.
L54	11	E311-1004	R25	11	E311-25
	12	E326-1004	R25	12	E326-25
	13	E329-1004	R25	13	E329-25
	14	E326-1104	R24	12	E326-24
	15	E328-1004	R24	13	E329-24
	16	E325-1004	R25	15	E325-25
	17	E322-1004	R25	16	E322-25
L55	11	E311-1005	R26	11	E311-25
	12	E326-1005	R26	12	E326-25
	13	E329-1005	R26	13	E329-26
	14	E326-1105	R23	12	E326-23
	15	E328-1005	R23	13	E329-23
	16	E325-1005	R26	15	E325-26
	17	E322-1005	R26	16	E322-26

E3-2000 series

Reliveried E3-2000 series set L67 on a Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa service in September 2015

E3-2000 series set L67 in original livery in May 2009

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.[19] 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.[20] Seating capacity in cars 16 and 17 has been reduced by 4 (one row of seats) compared with the E3-1000 series to provide uniform seating pitch in all cars (seat pitch was previously reduced in non-reserved cars).

Formation

Car No.	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Designation	M1sc	M2	T1	M2	T2	M1	M2c
Numbering	E311-2000	E326-2000	E329-2000	E326-2100	E328-2000	E325-2000	E322-2000
Seating capacity	23	67	60	68	64	60	52

Cars 12 and 14 are equipped with PS206 single-arm pantographs.[5]

• 
  E311-2009 (car 11)
• 
  E326-2009 (car 12)
• 
  E329-2009 (car 13)
• 
  E326-2109 (car 14)
• 
  E328-2009 (car 15)
• 
  E325-2009 (car 16)
• 
  E322-2009 (car 17)

Fleet history

As of 1 October 2016, the E3-2000 series fleet is as follows.[10]

Set No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered	Date reliveried
L61	Kawasaki HI	9 October 2008	6 July 2016
L62	Kawasaki HI	9 December 2008
L63	Kawasaki HI	7 January 2009	24 November 2015
L64	Kawasaki HI	17 February 2009	25 April 2014
L65	Kawasaki HI	3 March 2009	6 June 2014
L66	Kawasaki HI	25 March 2009	22 October 2014
L67	Tokyu Car	28 March 2009	12 November 2014
L68	Kawasaki HI	14 April 2009	5 December 2014
L69	Kawasaki HI	19 May 2009	23 February 2015
L70	Kawasaki HI	30 June 2009	6 April 2016
L71	Kawasaki HI	22 July 2009	24 April 2016
L72	Kawasaki HI	25 March 2010	18 September 2015

Interior

• 
  Standard class car interior

Reliverying

The first reliveried set, L64, May 2014

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.[21] 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.[22] The first reliveried set is scheduled to appear in late April.[22] Three sets were repainted by June 2014, and the rest of the fleet of 15 sets was repainted by mid 2016.[21]

• 
  Apple and rice motif
• 
  Cherry and safflower motif

E3-700 series Toreiyu excursion set

E3-700 series Toreiyu set R18 in September 2015

This is a six-car set rebuilt from former Akita Shinkansen trainset R18[12] as an excursion train named Toreiyu (とれいゆ) for use on the Yamagata Shinkansen between Fukushima and Shinjo, entering service from July 2014.[23] The design work for the rebuilt train was overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama.[24] The six-car set has a total seating capacity of 143 passengers.[23] 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.[23] The name of the train is a portmanteau of the English word "train" and the French word "soleil" (sun).[23] The train is normally used on special Toreiyu Tsubasa services running at weekends.[23]

Formation

The Toreiyu set is based at Yamagata Depot and formed as shown below, with car 11 at the Fukushima end.[12]

Car No.	11	12	13	14	15	16
Designation	M1c	M2	T1	T2	M1	M2c
Numbering	E321-701	E326-701	E329-701	E328-701	E325-701	E322-701
Facilities	2+2 seating	Japanese-style seating	Japanese-style seating	Japanese-style seating	Lounge + bar counter	Ashiyu foot baths

• 
  Interior of car 11 with conventional seating
• 
  Interior of car 14 with Japanese-style tatami seating
• 
  The tatami lounge area in car 15
• 
  The bar counter in car 15
• 
  The entrance to car 16
• 
  The ashiyu foot baths at the end of car 16

E3-700 series Genbi Shinkansen excursion set

E3-700 series Genbi Shinkansen set R19 in September 2016

This is a six-car set rebuilt from former Akita Shinkansen trainset R19 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe as an excursion train named Genbi Shinkansen (現美新幹線, "contemporary art shinkansen") for use on the Joetsu Shinkansen between Echigo-Yuzawa and Niigata, mostly at weekends, entering service from 29 April 2016.[25] The exterior livery was designed by photographer Mika Ninagawa.[13] 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.[26] The trainset was shown off to the media on 12 January 2016.[13]

Formation

The Genbi Shinkansen set is based at Niigata Depot and formed as shown below, with car 11 at the Tokyo end.[25]

Car No.	11	12	13	14	15	16
Designation	M1c	M2	T1	T2	M1	M2c
Numbering	E321-702	E326-702	E329-702	E328-702	E325-702	E322-702
Former number	E311-19	E326-19	E329-19	E328-19	E325-19	E322-19
Facilities	2+2 seating	Art gallery space	Cafe + children's play area	Art gallery space	Art gallery space	Art gallery space

Cars 12 and 15 each have one single-arm pantograph.[25]

• 
  The interior of reserved-seating car 11 in January 2018
• 
  The interior of car 12 in January 2018 (mirror installation by Yusuke Komuta)
• 
  The cafeteria counter in Car 13 in June 2017
• 
  The children's play area in car 13 in June 2017
• 
  The interior of car 14 in January 2018 (photographs by Naoki Ishikawa)

See also

• List of high-speed trains

References

1. "The Works of GK Design Group". GK Design Group Inc. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
2. https://tetsudo-shimbun.com/headline/entry-2823.html
3. 新幹線電車データブック2011 [Shinkansen Databook 2011]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. March 2011. ISBN 978-4-330-19811-8.
4. JR東日本E3系R1編成引退 [JR East E3 series set R1 retired]. The Railway Pictorial (in Japanese). Japan: Denkisha Kenkyūkai. 63 (880): 92. October 2013.
5. JR電車編成表 2009夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2009]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. June 2009. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8.
6. 県に出資金１１５億円返還へ　秋田新幹線車両保有会社. Akita Sakigake Shimpo (in Japanese). Japan. 22 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2010.
7. 2013年度総合車両センター関係業務改善が提案される [Work Improvements Proposed for General Rolling Stock Center in Fiscal 2013] (PDF). Danketsu (in Japanese). Japan: National Railway Workers' Union. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
8. 3月15日ダイヤ改正と各地の話題　 [15 March timetable revision and topics from around the regions]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 43 no. 361. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. May 2014. p. 13.
9. JR電車編成表 2013夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2013. p. 20. ISBN 978-4-330-37313-3.
10. JR電車編成表 2017冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 16 November 2016. p. 118. ISBN 978-4-330-73716-4.
11. JR電車編成表 2014夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2014]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 May 2014. pp. 20–24, 356. ISBN 978-4-330-46614-9.
12. Shiraishi, Hiroyuki (August 2014). 平成26年3月15日ダイヤ改正にともなうＪＲ東日本車両の動き [JR East fleet changes following 15 March 2014 timetable revision]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 54 no. 640. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. p. 73.
13. E3系改造"GENBI SHINKANSEN"を報道公開 [Rebuilt E3 series "Genbi Shinkansen" shown off to the press]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45 no. 383. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. March 2016. p. 4.
14. JR車両のうごき [JR rolling stock changes]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45 no. 383. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. March 2016. p. 127.
15. JR電車編成表 2013冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. November 2012. p. 24. ISBN 978-4-330-33112-6.
16. E3系 山形新幹線転用車両 [E3 series trains reallocated to Yamagata Shinkansen]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 54 no. 642. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. October 2014. pp. 86–87.
17. JR電車編成表 2015冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 21 November 2014. pp. 26, 357. ISBN 978-4-330-51614-1.
18. JR電車編成表 2015夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 20 May 2015. pp. 23, 26, 358. ISBN 978-4-330-56915-4.
19. "山形新幹線に新型車両" (New Trains for Yamagata Shinkansen). (20 December 2008) Archived 13 July 2012 at Archive.today. Retrieved on 20 December 2008. (in Japanese)
20. 山形新幹線「つばさ」用車両の新造について (PDF) (Press release) (in Japanese). JR East. 3 July 2007. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
21. 山形新幹線　「つばさ」塗装リニューアル [Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa trains to be repainted]. Kahoku Online Network (in Japanese). Japan: Kahoku Shimpo Publishing. 29 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
22. "山形新幹線E3系のエクステリアデザインを変更" [Exterior design change for Yamagata Shinkansen E3 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
23. "山形エリアにE3系改造車「とれいゆ」を導入" [Rebuilt E3 series Toreiyu to be introduced in Yamagata area]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
24. 山形新幹線に新たな魅力が誕生します！ [A new allure born on the Yamagata Shinkansen] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
25. E3系「GENBI SHINKANSEN」 [E3 series Genbi Shinkansen]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56 no. 661. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. May 2016. pp. 72–73.
26. Japan Railway Journal. Prepaid E-money Cards: The Smart Way to Travel in Japan. NHK World. 3 August 2017. Event occurs at 22:40. Archived from the original on 5 August 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2017.

External links

• E3 Series Tsubasa/Yamabiko/Nasuno (in Japanese)