The is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built for Komachi services introduced on 3 June 1997, coinciding with the opening of the new Akita Shinkansen, a so-called "mini-Shinkansen" line formed by regauging the narrow-gauge line between and to . Later variants of the E3 series were introduced for Tsubasa services on the Yamagata Shinkansen. Both mini-Shinkansen routes connect with the Tōhoku Shinkansen, providing through services to and from Tokyo.
Design The design of the E3 series was overseen by industrial designer Kenji Ekuan.
Like the earlier 400 series, the E3 series was built to a smaller loading gauge than standard Shinkansen trains. Although the track gauge on the mini-Shinkansen routes was converted to standard gauge, platform positions were not altered, resulting in tighter clearances that restrict the width and length of each car. To compensate for the narrower car bodies, the trains are fitted with retractable gap fillers that flip up at standard Shinkansen stations to bridge the gap between the train and the platform.
The E3 series uses DT207 bolsterless bogies for motor cars and TR7005 bolsterless bogies for trailer cars, with their design being based on those used on the 400 Series. The wheel diameter is 860 mm, the wheelbase (distance between the two axles of a bogie) is 2,250 mm, and the axlebox suspension uses a support-plate system.
Starting with the production trains (2nd batch onward), the bogies were designated DT207A (motor bogie) and TR7005A (trailer bogie), reflecting revisions to the original designs. However, the motor bogies on the 0 and 1000 series 5th through 7th production batches, as well as on the 2000 series, were designated DT207B, while the trailer bogies on the 0 and 1000 series fifth through seventh production batches were designated TR7005B.
From spring 2014 to mid 2016 the remaining fleet of 15 E3-1000 and E3-2000 series sets used on Tsubasa services were gradually repainted into a new livery designed by industrial designer and Yamagata native Ken Okuyama, intended to reflect the landscape and cultural identity of Yamagata Prefecture. The body is finished in white, symbolising the snow of Mount Zaō; deep purple, inspired by the Mandarin duck, the prefectural bird of Yamagata; and accents of red and yellow derived from the safflower, the prefectural flower. This same livery was applied to the later E8 series which is slated to replace the E3. On 11 February 2023, as the E3 series neared retirement, one set was repainted as a heritage unit in the original silver and green livery.
Variants E3-0 series "R" sets: 26 × 6-car sets (R1–R16 initially delivered as 5-car sets) used on Akita Shinkansen Komachi services from 3 June 1997 to 14 March 2014. E3-1000 series "LR" sets: 3 × 7-car sets used on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services from 4 December 1999. Two E3-1000 sets L51 and L52 were withdrawn in 2014 and E3-0 sets R23–R26 were converted into L54 and L55 and entered service as replacements. E3-2000 series "LR" sets: 12 × 7-car sets used on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services since 20 December 2008. All sets were repainted between 2014 and 2016. E3-700 series Toreiyu: 6-car excursion set used on the Yamagata Shinkansen from July 2014 to March 2022. E3-700 series Genbi Shinkansen: 6-car excursion set used on the Jōetsu 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.
Set R1 (set S8 before conversion) (1st batch) The front end of the lead car differs from that of mass-produced trains and resembles the design of the 400 Series. The headlights and rear marker lights are located above the cab window, and two auxiliary lights (high intensity discharge lamps) under the cab window. The auxiliary lights (HID lights) were adopted on a trial basis after drivers of the previous 400 series pointed out the need for improved illumination on conventional lines. At the time of completion, the trains were equipped with three lower-frame cross-type pantographs: the E326-1 and E325-1 were fitted with the PS9034 type for Shinkansen sections, while the E329-1 was fitted with the PS204X type for conventional-line sections. These were replaced with single-arm pantographs during modifications for mass production. On June 24, 1995, test runs were conducted with E326-1 equipped with a prototype pantograph that featured an additional arm attached to a single-arm pantograph. At a Shinkansen event held in Sendai on July 23 of the same year, E325-1 was displayed with its pantograph replaced from the prototype design to a PS206-type single-arm pantograph The pantograph covers on the E326-1 and E325-1 are equipped with a pneumatic cylinder-driven mechanism that allows them to move up and down. This allows the covers to be lowered during operation on conventional-line sections to avoid interfering with the vehicle clearance limits, and raised by 200 mm during operation on Shinkansen sections. The E329-1 has a fixed cover because it is a pantograph for conventional lines. Since E329-1 is equipped with a pantograph designed for conventional rail sections, its cover is fixed. The toilets in the men's restrooms are installed at an angle. The logo at the time of delivery was “Series E3” (later changed to the same logo as the mass-produced sets). The size of the static electricity antenna on Car 11 (E311-1) differs from that of the mass-produced sets. At the time of completion, the plan was to first transport the units manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries to Zushi via special transport and then deliver them together with those manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation, however, due to delays in the Kawasaki Heavy Industries units caused by the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the units manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation were delivered first. Test runs were conducted on the Yamagata Shinkansen prior to the modifications for mass production. With the introduction of the E6 series, this set ceased commercial operation on July 20, 2013 and was scrapped.
Car No. 11 12 13 14 15 Designation M1sc M2 T M1 M2c Numbering E311-1 E326-1 E329-1 E325-1 E322-1
E3 series "R" sets
The full-production trainsets built from 1996 for the Akita Shinkansen were 5-car sets, but a sixth car 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, , 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 (R21 and R22) were used on Yamabiko and Nasuno services coupled to the E5/H5 series in their original "Komachi" colors before being retired on 31 October 2020. This is believed to have happened due to the decrease in passengers caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sets R2 - R16 (2nd batch) These mass-produced sets were completed before the opening of the Akita Shinkansen in March 1997. They were originally five-car sets, but were lengthened to six cars by coupling new E328 series (3rd generation) cars between October and December of the following year. As a result, an insulator cover (renamed from "pantograph cover" on the production sets) without a pantograph is located at the connection between the E329 and E328 cars (Cars 13 and 14). (The same applies to R1; it is the second cover shown in the photo above).
To counteract micro-pressure waves in tunnels and reduce noise, the front end design of the lead car was modified. The headlights and rear marker lights were grouped together below the driver's cab window. The high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps had been experimentally installed on the pre-production set, but they were officially adopted starting with the production vehicles. The passenger compartment is nearly identical to that of the pre-production set, but in the production sets, the side window curtains feature a woven design inspired by the Akita Kanto Festival. The trash bins installed on each deck were divided into three categories: bottles and cans, newspapers and magazines, and general waste. Since the Akita Shinkansen trains operate for long periods, a garbage compactor was added to compress the general waste every 15 minutes to prevent waste from overflowing. While the Green Cars on the pre-production set were equipped with spot air conditioning (individual climate control) above the seats, this feature was omitted in the production sets. The layout of the equipment in the driver’s cab was significantly revised. A newly developed, low-noise PS206-type single-arm pantograph was adopted. Since the pantograph itself was designed to be low noise, the vertically adjustable pantograph cover found on the pre-production set was removed, and a new, sloped “insulator cover” was installed to protect the insulators and cable heads from airflow. Since the 2nd batch trainsets were completed before the opening of the Akita Shinkansen, they underwent test runs on the Yamagata Shinkansen. The E328 type (T2) cars, which were added in 1998, are trailer (non-powered) cars generally based on the earlier E329 type (T1). However, because they do not carry an auxiliary power supply unit, which reduced their axle load, their floor panels were made of steel instead of aluminum honeycomb material, and additional deadweight (ballast) was installed to compensate.
Set R17 (3rd batch) Additional set completed in 1998. This set was added to increase transportation capacity following the timetable revision at the end of the same year. Sets completed after and including set R17 were built as six-car formations. The terminal covers located at the coupling points between the E329 and E328 series (Cars 13 and 14) were omitted, reducing the total number of terminal covers to two. The driver's cab is equipped with 2 wipers, which includes an auxiliary wiper. Up to and including this trainset, the VVVF inverter control system used GTO thyristors. Among the trainsets completetd after R17 which incorporated these changes, this set was the only one to retain its GTO thyristors. During the summer holiday season in 2008, as part of a collaboration project with All Nippon Airways (ANA), the set was wrapped in a "Pokémon Pika-Nori Summer" design along with the set R21.
Sets R18 - R23 (5th batch) These additional sets were delivered between 2002 (Heisei 14) and 2003 (Heisei 15) to increase transport capacity and replace the later production batches of the unmodified 200 Series trains. The main differences from Sets R17 and earlier are listed below. In terms of specifications, the 4th batch sets (1000-series L51 and L52 sets) for the Yamagata Shinkansen were manufactured between the 3rd and 5th batch sets, and the improvements made to those sets were also incorporated. The dynamic dampers used in the trailing cars of the 4th batch trains were omitted, and ride comfort was improved through the use of underfloor dead weight and roof-mounted vibration-damping materials. The material of the inter-car curtains was changed from polyurethane to synthetic rubber. Footrests were installed in front of the seats in standard-class cars.