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.
thumb|An extended gap filler on an E3 series Komachi set
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.
Before the S8 set was converted to the R1 set, the bogies were bolsterless DT207 (motor car) and TR7005 (trailer car), and the basic structure was the same as that of the 400 series. The wheel diameter was 860 mm, the wheelbase was 2,250 mm, and the axle box support was a support plate type. From the mass-produced cars 2nd generation and onwards, the suffixes are DT207A (motor bogie) and TR7005A (trailer bogie). However, the motor bogies of the 0 (R sets) and 1000 series 5th to 7th series and the 2000 series are DT207B, and the trailer bogies of the 0 and 1000 series 5th to 7th series are TR7005B. The gear ratio is 3.04.
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. 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 (set S8 before conversion) (first generation)
- The front shape of the leading car differs from that of mass-produced cars, being closer to that of the 400 series.
- There are headlights and rear marker lights 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 cars were equipped with three cross-pantographs, with the E326-1 and E325-1 equipped with the PS9034 type for the Shinkansen section and the E329-1 equipped with the PS204X type for conventional lines. These were replaced with single-arm pantographs during the mass production conversion.
- On June 24, 1995, a prototype pantograph was installed on the E326-1 and test runs were conducted. At a Shinkansen event held in Sendai on July 23 of the same year, the E325-1's pantograph had been replaced with a PS206 single-arm pantograph.
- The pantograph covers of the E326-1 and E325-1 are equipped with air cylinders that move up and down. When running on conventional lines, the covers are lowered to avoid violating the vehicle clearance, and when running on Shinkansen lines, the covers are raised 200 mm.
- With the introduction of the E6 series, this set ceased commercial operation on July 20, 2013 and was scrapped.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Car No.
! style="background: #E6FFE6"| 11
! 12
! 13
! 14
! 15
|-
! Designation
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| M1sc
| M2
| T
| M1
| M2c
|-
! Numbering
| style="background: #F5FFF5"| E311-1
| E326-1
| E329-1
| E325-1
| E322-1
|}
<gallery>
File:E3 R1-E5 Coupling in omiya 20130320.jpg|Pre-series set R1 in service, March 2013
</gallery>
E3 series "R" sets
thumb|Set R18 coupled to an E5 series set on a Hayate/Komachi service in June 2013
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, , a third-sector company jointly owned by JR East and Akita Prefecture.
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 generation)
These mass-produced sets were completed before the opening of the line in March 1997. They were originally five-car sets, but were converted to a six-car set by coupling the E328 series (third generation) between October and December of the following year. Therefore, at the coupling between the E329 and E328 series (cars 13 and 14), there is a "gauge cover" (the name was changed from pantograph cover on mass-produced cars) without a pantograph (the same applies to set R1, as shown in the second picture above).
- The nose shape of the lead cars was changed to counter tunnel micro-pressure waves and reduce noise (as mentioned above). Because the Akita Shinkansen trains run for long periods of time, a trash compressor is installed to compress the general garbage every 15 minutes to prevent it from overflowing.
- The E328 (T2) trailer car, which was added in 1998, is similar to the conventional E329 (T1) trailer car, but in order to compensate for the loss of axle weight caused by not having an auxiliary power unit, the floor plate was changed from aluminum honeycomb material to steel plate and additional deadweight was added.
Set R17 (3rd generation)
Additional set completed in 1998. It was added to increase transportation capacity following the timetable revision at the end of the same year. Sets completed after this have always been six-car formations.
- The insulator cover that was located at the coupling between the E329 and E328 series (cars 13 and 14) was omitted, and the number of insulator covers was changed to two.
- There are two wipers at the front of the driver's cab, including an auxiliary wiper.
Sets R18 - R23 (5th generation)
- These additional sets were added between 2002 and 2003 to increase transportation capacity and replace the later-manufactured 200 series Shinkansen that had not been updated.
- The main differences from set R17 are listed below. In terms of specifications, the fourth generation (1000 series L51 and L52 sets) for the Yamagata Shinkansen was manufactured between the third and fifth generation, and the improvements made to the fourth generation (1000 series L51 and L52 sets) are also reflected.
- The dynamic dampers used in the trailer cars of the fourth series were abolished and replaced with underfloor deadweights and vibration-damping materials on the roof to improve ride comfort.
- The seat design had been changed to one with a sliding seat function.
- Some materials used had been changed to improve fire prevention measures.
- The support posts for the luggage racks located between every three seats were omitted. , the last of the original 26 sets (R22) was scrapped.
{| class="wikitable"
! Set
! Delivered
! 6th car added
! 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
| rowspan="15"| Built as 5-car sets
|-
| R3
| 14 October 1996
| 4 November 1998
| 17 February 2014
|-
| R20
| 24 March 2003
| 17 December 2015
|
|-
| R21
| 16 September 2003
| 13 September 2021
|
|-
| R22
| 27 October 2003
| 25 November 2021
|
|-
| R23
| 1 December 2003
| 25 May 2014
| Converted 2014 to become Set L55
|-
| R24
| 4 April 2005
| 4 December 2013