W7 Series Shinkansen
The W7 series is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by West Japan Railway Company on the Hokuriku Shinkansen since it was extended from to in March 2015. Jointly developed alongside the similar JR East E7 series, a total of eleven 12-car W7 series sets have been built. The first W7 series train was delivered in April 2014.
Design
Based on the earlier E2 series trains, the W7 series trains were 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 "West Japan Railway Company".Manufacture of the W7 series sets was shared between Hitachi in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, and Kinki Sharyo in Osaka.
The trains have a maximum design speed of, but in service operate at a maximum speed of on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, limited to on the Joetsu Shinkansen tracks between Omiya and Takasaki, and to on the Tōhoku 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
- Kagayaki, since March 2015
- Hakutaka, since March 2015
- Tsurugi, since March 2015
- Asama, since March 2015
Formations
The 12-car sets are numbered "W1" onward, and consist of 10 motored intermediate cars and two non-powered trailer end cars, as shown below. Car 11 provides Green car accommodation, and car 12 provides Gran Class luxury accommodation.| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Designation | Tc | M2 | M1 | M2 | M1 | M2 | M1 | M2 | M1 | M2 | M1s | Tsc |
| Numbering | W723-100 | W726-100 | W725-100 | W726-200 | W725-200 | W726-300 | W725-300 | W726-400 | W725-400 | W726-500 | W715-500 | W714-500 |
| Weight | 41.3 | 44.7 | 46.1 | 45.2 | 46.4 | 45.2 | 46.5 | 45.2 | 46.4 | 45.0 | 45.6 | 44.5 |
| Capacity | 50 | 100 | 85 | 100 | 85 | 90 | 58 | 100 | 85 | 100 | 63 | 18 |
| Facilities | Toilets | Toilets, phone | Toilets | Wheelchair space, universal access toilet, phone | Toilets | Wheelchair space, universal access toilet | Toilets |
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, 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 January 2012, the head of JR-West's Kanazawa Division revealed that new trains for the Hokuriku Shinkansen would be developed in conjunction with JR East, and that test running would need to be conducted during the winter season a year before the line opening to thoroughly test the ability of the trains to cope with snowy conditions. Details of the new trains were formally announced jointly by JR East and JR-West on 4 September 2012. The design of the logo to be applied to the sides of cars 1 and 12 was officially unveiled in February 2014.The first W7 series train was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe to Hakusan Depot in Hakusan, Ishikawa in April 2014. Test-running on the Hokuriku Shinkansen began on 5 August 2014, initially at low speed, between and.
In April 2015, JR West announced that it was ordering an additional W7 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 W7 series and JR East E7 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.
The W7 series is the first JR-West train type to use the "W" prefix, following the method used by JR East.
Sets W2 and W7 were withdrawn in 2019 following flood damage sustained from Typhoon Hagibis.
Fleet list
, the fleet is as follows.| Set No. | Manufacturer | Delivery date |
| W1 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 30 April 2014 |
| W2 | Hitachi | 5 June 2014 |
| W3 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 30 June 2014 |
| W4 | Hitachi | 18 July 2014 |
| W5 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 21 August 2014 |
| W6 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | 11 September 2014 |
| W7 | Kinki Sharyo | 27 September 2014 |
| W8 | Hitachi | 15 October 2014 |
| W9 | Hitachi | 3 November 2014 |
| W10 | Kinki Sharyo | 26 December 2014 |
| W11 | Hitachi | 17 September 2015 |