The is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on the Tohoku Shinkansen high-speed lines in Japan since 1997. They are formed in 8- and 10-car sets. The 8-car sets were used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and the 10-car sets are on Tohoku Shinkansen services. The 10-car sets can be coupled to E3 series sets using couplers hidden behind retracting nose doors.
They operate at a maximum speed of on the Tohoku Shinkansen.
A total of 502 vehicles (14 8-car "N" sets and 39 10-car "J" sets) were built between 1997 and 2010, with the first withdrawals commencing in late 2013.
Operations
Tohoku Shinkansen
- Yamabiko
- Nasuno
Past operations
Tohoku Shinkansen
- Hayate (1 December 2002 - 16 March 2019)
Hokuriku Shinkansen
- Asama (1 October 1997 - 31 March 2017)
Joetsu Shinkansen
- Asahi
- Toki
- Tanigawa
Variants
- E2 series 8-car "N" sets
- E2' series 10-car "J" sets
- E2-1000 series 10-car "J" sets
8-car "N" sets
thumb|8-car set N11 on an Asama service in June 2002
The fleet of thirteen "N" sets was constructed for the new Asama services on the newly constructed Nagano Shinkansen (present-day Hokuriku Shinkansen) to Nagano from 1 October 1997, and are classified simply "E2 series". Units N2 onwards were delivered from March 1997 to September 1997. These sets are compatible with both the 50 Hz supply used by JR East and the 60 Hz supply used west of Karuizawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and are limited to a maximum speed of . Tohoku Shinkansen set J1 was transferred to Nagano depot in October 2002 and renumbered as set N21.
The fleet of "N" sets underwent a programme of life-extension refurbishment from fiscal 2013.
Withdrawals of E2 series "N" sets commenced in April 2014, with the withdrawal of sets N4 and N12. The remaining E2 series sets were removed from regularly scheduled Hokuriku Shinkansen Asama services from 25 December 2015, with the last E2 series Asama run taking place on 31 March 2017.
Formation
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No.
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! style="background: #E6FFE6" | 7
! 8
|-
! Designation
| T1c
| M2
| M1
| M2
| M1k
| M2
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | M1s
| T2c
|-
! Numbering
| E223
| E226-100
| E225
| E226-200
| E225-400
| E226-300
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | E215
| E224
|-
! Seating capacity
| 55
| 100
| 85
| 100
| 75
| 100
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | 51
| 64
|}
Cars 4 and 6 are equipped with PS205 scissors-type pantographs.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Set number
! Manufacturer
! Date delivered
! Date withdrawn
! Remarks
|-
| N1
|
| 6 June 1995
| 9 July 2014
| Pre-series set S6
|-
| N2
| Kawasaki HI
| 25 March 1997
| 1 September 2014
|
|-
| N4
| Kawasaki HI
| 25 April 1997
| 23 April 2014
|
|-
| N11
| Hitachi
| 8 August 1997
| 1 August 2014
Formation
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No.
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
! 7
! 8
! style="background: #E6FFE6" | 9
! 10
|-
! Designation
| T1c
| M2
| M1
| M2
| M1k
| M2
| M1
| M2
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | M1s
| T2c
|-
! Numbering
| E223-1000
| E226-1100
| E225-1000
| E226-1200
| E225-1400
| E226-1300
| E225-1100
| E226-1400
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | E215-1000
| E224-1100
|-
! Seating capacity
| 54
| 100
| 85
| 100
| 75
| 100
| 85
| 100
| style="background: #F5FFF5" | 51
| 64
|}
Cars 4 and 6 are equipped with PS207 single-arm pantographs. Car 1 of set No. J51 is numbered E223-1101.
Interior
Seating is 2+3 in standard class with a seat pitch of , and 2+2 in green class with a seat pitch of .<gallery>
File:JRE E2 E226-301 inside.jpg|Standard seating with a 3+2 configuration
File:JRE E2 N1 E215 inside.jpg|Inside a Green Car carriage with 2+2 configuration
</gallery>
Test running
An E2-1000 series train (J56) broke the Japanese rail speed record for a production train (i.e. not a dedicated test train) in April 2003 when it reached a speed of during a series of late-night high-speed test runs between Urasa and Niigata on the Joetsu Shinkansen. This train was modified to allow high speed operation, such as changes to the gear ratio and ATC. Also, the effectiveness of new pantograph covers and sound-absorbing bogie covers was tested.
Special liveries
thumb|Set J66 painted in the commemorative livery, June 2022
To celebrate 150 years of rail transport in Japan, JR East announced plans in 2022 to repaint a set into a livery similar to that of the 200 series when they first entered service in 1982. The special livery was painted on set J66 and introduced on 8 June 2022. Set J66 was retired on 15 March 2024, a day before the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2024.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Tokyo Disney Resort, set J69 was wrapped with a Disney-themed wrap, featuring artworks of Disney characters. Set J69 with the special wrap, nicknamed the Magical Dream Shinkansen, was introduced on 22 December 2023. of former set J10 was moved from Sendai Depot to Sanwa Tekki Corporation in Utsunomiya, Tochigi, in February 2017, where it is preserved.
Car E223-1101 is used as a training facility at the Shinkansen Education and Training Center, a training facility of JR East.
Car E224-127 of former set J14 was moved from Sendai Depot to the Hirosawa City theme park in Chikusei, Ibaraki, in November 2018, where it is preserved.
See also
- List of high speed trains
References
External links
- E2 Series Yamabiko/Nasuno