E3 Series Shinkansen

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox train

The Template:Nihongo 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 Template:RailGauge narrow-gauge line between Template:STN and Template:STN re-gauged to Template:RailGauge. 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

This shinkansen design was originally the 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.

E3kei step.JPGAn 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.

## 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.

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 Set R1 was withdrawn following its final revenue run on 20 July 2013.

 Numbering

E3 R1-E5 Coupling in omiya 20130320.jpgPre-series set R1 in service, March 2013
## E3 series "R" sets

 File:E3 R18-E5 Coupling in omiya 20130608.jpg   File:E3 series Shinkansen in Tokyo Station.jpg  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, Template:Nihongo, 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 were 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. 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

 Numbering
 Seating capacity

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

### Fleet history

 File:E3 R20 Omiya 20030309.JPG   File:EF6557 E3 series R24 Niiza 20050320.jpg   File:EF65-502 E3 R25 Nishi-Kokubunji 20050625.JPG  The build details are as shown below. Template:As of, the last of the original 26 sets (R22) was scrapped.

### Interior

E3 Green car 20070101.JPGGreen car interiorJReastE3 E326-26 inside.jpgInterior of standard-class car 12JReastE3 E322-17 inside.JPGInterior of standard-class car 16
## E3-1000 series

 File:JReastE3-1000 Omiya 20110416.jpg   File:E3-1000 L52 Max Yamabiko Tsubasa 115 Omiya 20060705.JPG  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. 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.

### 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.

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

### Interior

JReastE3-1000 inside.jpgStandard class car interior
### Fleet history

 File:E3-1000 L53 Zushi 20050712.JPG  The build details are as shown below.

### L54/L55 conversion details

 File:E3-1000 L54 Tsubasa 144 Kita-Yamagata 20150307.jpg  The former identities of the cars reformed into sets L54 and L55 are as shown below.

## E3-2000 series

 File:E3-2000 L67 Akayu Tsubasa 128 20150905.jpg   File:E3-2000-L67-of-Yamagata-Shinkansen.jpg  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-color LED destination indicators, and AC power outlets in all cars. 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

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

E311-2009.jpgE311-2009 (car 11)E326-2009.jpgE326-2009 (car 12)E329-2009.jpgE329-2009 (car 13)E326-2109.jpgE326-2109 (car 14)E328-2000.jpgE328-2009 (car 15)E325-2000.jpgE325-2009 (car 16)E322-2000.jpgE322-2009 (car 17)
### Fleet history

Template:As of, the E3-2000 series fleet is as follows.

### Interior

JReastE3-2000 inside.jpgStandard class car interior
### Repainting

#### Current livery

 File:E3 L64-E2 Coupling in omiya 20140517.jpg  From spring 2014, the entire fleet of 15 E3-1000 and E3-2000 series *Tsubasa* sets were gradually repainted into a new livery designed by industrial designer Ken Okuyama. The new livery consists of 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 repainted set is appeared 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 Logo Tsubasa-Omiya 20140517.jpgApple and rice motifE3 Logo Tsubasa omiya 20140517.jpgCherry and safflower motif
#### Original livery (2023 revision)

On 11 February 2023, set L65 was repainted into the original silver and green livery used at the time of introduction to *Tsubasa* services last seen in 2016. According to JR East, the repainting was done to promote the Yamagata Shinkansen.

## E3-700 series *Toreiyu* excursion set

 File:E3-700 R18 Akayu 9490M 20150905.jpg  This was a six-car set rebuilt from former Akita Shinkansen trainset R18 as an excursion train named Template:Nihongo for use on the Yamagata Shinkansen between Fukushima and Shinjo, which entered service from July 2014. The design work for the rebuilt train was overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama. The six-car set had a total seating capacity of 143 passengers. Car 11 was a standard-class car with reserved seating arranged 2+2 abreast, cars 12 to 14 featured Japanese-style *tatami* seating, car 15 was a lounge car with a bar counter, and car 16 was *ashiyu* foot baths. The name of the train is a portmanteau of the English word "train" and the French word "soleil" (sun). The train was normally used on special *Toreiyu Tsubasa* services running at weekends. The train was discontinued in March of 2022.

### Formation

The *Toreiyu* set was based at Yamagata Depot and formed as shown below, with car 11 at the Fukushima end.

 Numbering
 Facilities

E3-700 R18 Toreiyu car 11 20150307.JPGInterior of car 11 with conventional seatingE3-700 R18 Toreiyu car 14 20150307.JPGInterior of car 14 with Japanese-style *tatami* seatingE3-700 R18 Toreiyu car 15 20150307.JPGThe *tatami* lounge area in car 15E3-700 R18 Toreiyu car 15 bar 20150307.JPGThe bar counter in car 15E3-700 R18 Toreiyu car 16 entrance 20150307.JPGThe entrance to car 16E3-700 R18 Toreiyu car 16 ashiyu 20150307.JPGThe *ashiyu* foot baths at the end of car 16
## E3-700 series *Genbi Shinkansen* excursion set

 File:E3-700 R19 Genbi Shinkansen 20160910.jpg  The Template:Nihongo was a six-car set rebuilt from former Akita Shinkansen trainset R19 at Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe as an excursion train for use on the Joetsu Shinkansen between Template:STN and Template:STN. The train began operations on 29 April 2016, mostly on weekends and holidays. It was withdrawn from service on 19 December 2020.

The exterior livery was designed by photographer Mika Ninagawa. The first car of the six car set featured the art of Nao Matsumoto; a golden yellow motif based on harvests, festivals and light was present in the car. Window shades displayed art using a special dye as the train passes through tunnels. The second car featured stainless steel mirrors on the walls, the work of Yusuke Komuta. They reflect the landscape outside the train. The third car featured a children's area and a cafe. The children's area featured blue and white representations of toy trains by Art Unit Paramodel. The cafe section of the car was designed by Kentaro Kobuke and served sweet items featuring local products. The fourth car featured an alpine photography exhibition by Naoki Ishikawa. The fifth car featured an abstract flower artpiece by Haruka Koujin that vibrated with the motion of the train. The final car featured 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 was based at Niigata Depot and formed as shown below, with car 11 at the Tokyo end.

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

Genbi Shinkansen car 11 interior 20180106.jpgThe interior of reserved-seating car 11 in January 2018Genbi-car No.12.jpgThe interior of car 12 in January 2018 (mirror installation by Yusuke Komuta)E3-700 Genbi Shinkansen car13 cafe.jpgThe cafeteria counter in Car 13 in June 2017E3-700 Genbi Shinkansen car13 Children Playground.jpgThe children's play area in car 13 in June 2017Genbi-interior.jpgThe interior of car 14 in January 2018 (photographs by Naoki Ishikawa)

## External links

Template:Commons category

* E3 Series *Tsubasa/Yamabiko/Nasuno* Template:In lang

Template:Shinkansen Template:High-speed rail Template:JR East EMU

1. ↑ The Works of GK Design Group. GK Design Group Inc..
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