E6 Series Shinkansen


The E6 series is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type. It operates exclusively on Komachi services on the Akita Shinkansen, a mini-Shinkansen line between and Morioka, at speeds of up to. From Morioka, services continue to and from Tokyo on the Tōhoku Shinkansen, where the train is coupled or uncoupled from a Hayabusa service operated with an E5/H5 series train. Compared with the E3 series it replaced, the E6 series can operate at up to on the Tōhoku Shinkansen, up from, reducing journey times by an average of 12 minutes. The trains were designed by Ken Okuyama.
A total of 24 seven-car trainsets were built by Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries between 2012 and 2014. The first set, numbered G1, was delivered in June 2010.

Operations

The 7-car E6 series trains operate in conjunction with E5 series or H5 series 10-car trains, initially on just four return services daily from 16 March 2013. They replaced all of the previous E3 series trains on Komachi services by 15 March 2014.

Design

The overall styling was overseen by Japanese industrial designer Ken Okuyama, and is intended to evoke images from the cultural identity of Akita Prefecture, including Namahage demons and kantō festival lanterns.
The body is finished in "Hiun" white, a crimson roof and a "arrow silver" bodyside stripe.
The E6 series features a long, aerodynamically optimized nose to reduce tunnel boom and permit higher operating speeds. The nose is long— longer than that of the E3 series it replaces—allowing E6 series operation on the Tōhoku Shinkansen at speeds increased from.
The design incorporates technology developed through the Fastech 360 experimental train and the E5 series, with which the E6 is designed to operate in coupled service on the Tōhoku Shinkansen. Like the E5, the E6 uses an "arrow-line" nose profile, first tested on the Fastech 360, to improve aerodynamic efficiency and reduce noise at high speeds.
Trainsets are formed of seven cars, matching the seating capacity of six-car E3 series sets due to reduced seating in the end cars. All cars are equipped with active suspension to improve ride quality across varying track conditions and active tilting capability of up to 1.5 degrees to improve passenger comfort when operating at higher speeds.

Formation

Pre-production set S12

The pre-series train, numbered "S12", was formed as follows, with car 11 at the Tokyo end and car 17 at the Morioka end.

Full-production sets Z2–

The full-production trains, numbered "Z2" onward, are formed as follows, with car 11 at the Tokyo end and car 17 at the Morioka end.
  • Car 11 provides Green accommodation.
  • Cars 12 and 16 are each fitted with a single-arm pantograph.

Interior

The new trains feature similar improvements to passenger accommodation as featured on the E5 series trains, including AC power outlets, and security cameras in vestibule areas. Seating in both Standard class and Green cars is in the standard 2+2 arrangement for mini-shinkansen trains. Seat pitch is in Green class and in Standard class, the same as for the E3 series trains. Cars 12, 13, 14, and 16 are equipped with toilets. The toilet in car 12 is universal access.

History

The pre-series set, S12, was delivered to Sendai Depot in June 2010, and formally accepted by JR East on 8 July. Test running commenced on the Tohoku Shinkansen in July 2010.
The first full-production set was delivered in November 2012, with production continuing until spring 2014.
Revenue service commenced on 16 March 2013 on new Super Komachi services, running at a maximum speed of on the Tohoku Shinkansen. From 15 March 2014, the maximum speed was raised to on the Tohoku Shinkansen, with the maximum speed on the Akita Shinkansen tracks remaining at, allowing journey times between Tokyo and Akita to be reduced by an average of 12 minutes. The service name was also returned to simply Komachi.
In May 2014, the E6 series was awarded the 2014 Laurel Prize, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club. The award presentation ceremony was held at Akita Station on 8 November 2014.

Fleet list

, 24 sets were in service, as shown below.
Set numberManufacturerDate deliveredDate withdrawnRemarks
Z1Hitachi/Kawasaki HI8 July 2010Pre-series set, originally numbered S12, modified February 2014
Z2Kawasaki HI19 November 2012Full-production sets
Z3Kawasaki HI3 December 2012Full-production sets
Z4Hitachi18 December 2012Full-production sets
Z5Hitachi14 February 2013Full-production sets
Z6Kawasaki HI14 March 2013Full-production sets
Z7Kawasaki HI26 April 2013Full-production sets
Z8Kawasaki HI18 May 2013Full-production sets
Z9Kawasaki HI22 June 2013April 2022Withdrawn in April 2022 following damage sustained from the 2022 Fukushima earthquake.
Z10Hitachi27 June 2013Full-production sets
Z11Kawasaki HI12 July 2013Full-production sets
Z12Hitachi10 July 2013Full-production sets
Z13Kawasaki HI24 August 2013Full-production sets
Z14Hitachi30 August 2013Full-production sets
Z15Kawasaki HI14 September 2013Full-production sets
Z16Hitachi27 September 2013Full-production sets
Z17Kawasaki9 October 2013Full-production sets
Z18Hitachi25 October 2013Full-production sets
Z19Kawasaki1 November 2013Full-production sets
Z20Hitachi30 November 2013Full-production sets
Z21Kawasaki11 December 2013Full-production sets
Z22Kawasaki21 January 2014Full-production sets
Z23Hitachi13 February 2014Full-production sets
Z24Hitachi3 April 2014Full-production sets

While the first sets from both Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries were delivered by sea to Sendai, set Z9 was delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe by rail to Akita Depot over three days from 31 May to 2 June 2013, mounted on temporary narrow-gauge bogies and hauled by freight locomotives. This was followed by set Z11 from 21 to 23 June 2013.

Accidents and incidents

E6 series set Z9, coupled with H5 series set H2 operating as Yamabiko 223 bound for Sendai derailed during the 2022 Fukushima earthquake while traveling between Fukushima and Shiroishi-Zaō stations. There were no injuries on board.