E7 Series Shinkansen


The E7 series is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by East Japan Railway Company on the Hokuriku Shinkansen since 15 March 2014. It also operates on the Jōetsu Shinkansen following the March 2019 timetable revision.
Jointly developed alongside the similar JR West W7 series, the first E7 series trains were delivered in late 2013.

Design

Based on the earlier E2 series trains, the E7 series trains are designed with a "Japanese" theme inside and out, combining futuristic styling with traditional design elements overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama together with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Externally, the roof is finished in a "sky blue" colour, and the bodysides are "ivory white" with "copper" and "sky blue" lining. The bodyside logos consist of a number "7" in silver stylized as an arrowhead, and include the lettering "East Japan Railway Company".
Manufacture of the E7 series sets was shared between Hitachi in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi, J-TREC in Yokohama, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe.
The trains have a maximum design speed of, but operate at a maximum speed of on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, limited to on the Jōetsu Shinkansen tracks between Omiya and Takasaki, and to on the Tohoku Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Omiya. Increased power output enables the trains to maintain speeds of at least on the steep gradients of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Car 12 is equipped with full active suspension, and the other cars are equipped with semi-active suspension.

Operations

The trains entered regular passenger service from the start of the revised JR East timetable on 15 March 2014, with three trainsets introduced on Asama services on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Nagano. Initially, E7 series trainsets operated seven return Asama services daily, with a further four return workings added from 19 April 2014.
Since 14 March 2015, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa, E7 series trainsets are also used on Hakutaka, Kagayaki, and Tsurugi services alongside the similar design JR West W7 series trains.

Formations

The 12-car sets are numbered "F1" onward, and consist of 10 motored intermediate cars with non-powered end cars. Car 11 provides Green car accommodation, and car 12 provides Gran Class luxury accommodation. Sets are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.
Car No.123456789101112
DesignationTcM2M1M2M1M2M1M2M1M2M1sTsc
NumberingE723E726-100E725E726-200E725-100E726-300E725-200E726-400E725-400E726-500E715E714
Weight 41.344.746.145.246.445.246.545.246.445.045.644.5
Capacity5010085100859058100851006318
FacilitiesToilets Toilets, phone Toilets Wheelchair space, universal access toilet, phone Toilets Wheelchair space, universal access toiletToilets

Cars 3 and 7 are each equipped with a single-arm pantograph.

Interior

The 12-car trains have accommodation in three levels of service: Gran Class, Green car, and ordinary-class cars, with a total seating capacity of 934. Gran Class seating is arranged 2+1 abreast with a seat pitch of, Green car seating is arranged 2+2 abreast with a seat pitch of, and ordinary seating is arranged 3+2 abreast with a seat pitch of. AC power outlets are provided for each seat in all three classes. The Gran class seats are supplied by Toyota Boshoku. Car saloons and vestibule areas are equipped with security cameras. Between October and December 2015, luggage racks are scheduled to be added at one end of each of the even-numbered ordinary class cars and also in Green car 11, by removing a pair of seats. The luggage racks are to cater to the increased number of overseas tourists with suitcases and also passengers with ski and snowboard equipment in the winter season.

History

In December 2011, the Mainichi Shimbun reported that JR East was considering developing new E7 series 10-car sets based on the existing E2 series design for use on Hokuriku Shinkansen services. Details of the new trains were formally announced jointly by JR East and JR West on 4 September 2012.
The first E7 series train was delivered to Sendai Depot in November 2013, and shown off to the media on 28 November. Night-time testing commenced in December 2013 on the Nagano Shinkansen, with daytime test-running between Nagano and Tokyo starting on 8 January 2014. The design of the logo to be applied to the sides of cars 1 and 12 was officially unveiled in February 2014.
The first three trains, sets F1 to F3, entered regular passenger service from the start of the revised JR East timetable on 15 March 2014. The entire fleet of 17 sets, numbered F1 to F17, was delivered by the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, although sets F16 and F17 did not enter revenue service until after this date.
In April 2015, JR East announced that it was ordering an additional E7 series set to be introduced from autumn 2015, replacing the remaining E2 series trainsets used on regularly scheduled Hokuriku Shinkansen Asama services.
In May 2015, the E7 series and JR West W7 series were awarded the 2015 Blue Ribbon Award, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club. A presentation ceremony was held at JR West's Hakusan Depot on 24 October 2015.
On October 12, 2019, 8 E7 series and 2 W7 series trains were damaged due to floodwaters from Typhoon Hagibis, while they were stored at JR East Nagano Shinkansen Vehicle center.

Fleet list

, 22 sets are in service, with build details as follows. *Sets F1, F2, F7, F8, F10, F14, F16 and F18 were withdrawn in 2019 following flood damage sustained during Typhoon Hagibis. 19 sets are based at Nagano Shinkansen Depot and three sets are based at Niigata Depot.
Set No.ManufacturerDelivery date
*F1Kawasaki Heavy Industries27 November 2013
*F2Hitachi25 December 2013
F3Hitachi30 January 2014
F4Kawasaki Heavy Industries24 February 2014
F5Kawasaki Heavy Industries18 March 2014
F6Kawasaki Heavy Industries2 June 2014
*F7J-TREC Yokohama26 June 2014
*F8J-TREC Yokohama14 July 2014
F9J-TREC Yokohama27 August 2014
*F10Hitachi16 September 2014
F11J-TREC Yokohama6 October 2014
F12J-TREC Yokohama10 November 2014
F13Hitachi19 December 2014
*F14Hitachi19 January 2015
F15Kawasaki Heavy Industries6 February 2015
*F16Hitachi8 April 2015
F17Kawasaki Heavy Industries6 March 2015
*F18J-TREC Yokohama26 October 2015
F19Kawasaki Heavy Industries3 April 2017
F20Kawasaki Heavy Industries31 October 2018
F21Hitachi20 November 2018
F22Kawasaki Heavy Industries5 December 2018