E7 and W7 Series Shinkansen


The E7 series and W7 series Shinkansen are Japanese high-speed electric multiple unit train types operated on the Hokuriku and Jōetsu Shinkansen lines, and jointly developed by East Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company respectively.
The E7 series has operated since 15 March 2014 on the Hokuriku Shinkansen. It also operates on the Jōetsu Shinkansen following the March 2019 timetable revision. 47 sets have been built, of which 39 are in service as of 2024.
The W7 series has operated on the Hokuriku Shinkansen since it was extended from to in March 2015. The first W7 series train was delivered in April 2014. 24 sets have been built, of which 22 are in service as of 2024.
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Design

Based on the earlier E2 series trains, the E7 and W7 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" color, and the body sides are "ivory white" with "copper" and "sky blue" lining. The body side logos consist of a number "7" in silver stylized as an arrowhead, and include the lettering "East Japan Railway Company" or "West Japan Railway Company".
Manufacturing of the E7 and W7 series sets was shared between Hitachi in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe; additionally the E7 in J-TREC in Yokohama, and W7 in Kinki Sharyo in Osaka.
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

Kagayaki, since March 2015Hakutaka, since March 2015Tsurugi, since March 2015Asama, since March 2014 and March 2015 Toki, since March 2019 Tanigawa, since 3 March 2019
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.

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.

Formations

The E7 series sets are numbered "F1" onward, and the W7 series sets are numbered "W1" onward. All sets 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.
Cars 3 and 7 are each equipped with a single-arm pantograph.

Build histories

, 47 E7 series sets and 24 W7 series sets have been built, with build details as follows. Eight E7 series sets and two W7 series sets were withdrawn in 2019 following flood damage sustained during Typhoon Hagibis.
SetManufacturerDeliveredWithdrawn
F1Kawasaki27 November 201331 March 2020
F2Hitachi25 December 201331 March 2020
F3Hitachi30 January 2014
F4Kawasaki24 February 2014
F5Kawasaki18 March 2014
F6Kawasaki2 June 2014
F7J-TREC26 June 20145 March 2020
F8J-TREC14 July 201431 March 2020
F9J-TREC27 August 2014
F10Hitachi16 September 201414 January 2020
F11J-TREC6 October 2014
F12J-TREC10 November 2014
F13Hitachi19 December 2014
F14Hitachi19 January 201531 March 2020
F15Kawasaki6 February 2015
F16Hitachi8 April 201531 March 2020
F17Kawasaki6 March 2015
F18J-TREC26 October 201531 March 2020
F19Kawasaki3 April 2017
F20Kawasaki31 October 2018
F21Hitachi20 November 2018
F22Kawasaki5 December 2018
F23Hitachi8 September 2019
F24Hitachi8 September 2019
F25Kawasaki7 October 2019
F26Hitachi11 November 2019
F27Hitachi24 January 2020
F28J-TREC25 January 2022
F29Kawasaki9 November 2020
F30Kawasaki3 December 2020
F31Hitachi26 February 2021
F32Kawasaki11 May 2021
F33Hitachi17 August 2021
F34Hitachi6 October 2021
F35J-TREC9 November 2021
F36Kawasaki21 October 2021
F37Hitachi3 August 2022
F38Kawasaki6 December 2022
F39Kawasaki30 January 2023
F40Hitachi12 May 2021
F41Hitachi4 June 2021
F42Kawasaki7 June 2021
F43J-TREC2 August 2021
F44Hitachi14 January 2022
F45Hitachi21 November 2022
F46Kawasaki28 March 2023
F47Hitachi11 January 2023

SetManufacturerDeliveredWithdrawn
W1Kawasaki30 April 2014
W2Hitachi5 June 201431 March 2020
W3Kawasaki30 June 2014
W4Hitachi18 July 2014
W5Kawasaki21 August 2014
W6Kawasaki11 September 2014
W7Kinki Sharyo27 September 201431 March 2020
W8Hitachi15 October 2014
W9Hitachi3 November 2014
W10Kinki Sharyo26 December 2014
W11Hitachi17 September 2015
W12Hitachi29 October 2021
W13Hitachi8 December 2021
W14Hitachi31 March 2022
W15Hitachi11 November 2023
W16Hitachi2 December 2023
W17Kawasaki31 May 2022
W18Kawasaki6 July 2022
W19Kawasaki5 July 2022
W20Kawasaki24 August 2022
W21Kinki Sharyo22 November 2022
W22Kawasaki28 October 2022
W23Kinki Sharyo18 October 2023
W24Hitachi6 December 2022

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. 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 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.
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 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 W7 series and 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.
On 12 October 2019, eight E7 series and two W7 series trains were damaged due to floodwaters from Typhoon Hagibis while they were stored at JR East Nagano Shinkansen Vehicle center. The sets were scrapped shortly thereafter.
In November 2021, JR East demonstrated autonomous operation with an E7 set in Niigata prefecture traveling between Niigata Station and Niigata Shinkansen Rolling Stock Center. They started testing on 29 October.
From the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2023, all train services on the Joetsu Shinkansen will be operated solely by E7 series sets as the line undergoes an operating speed increase from. The trains will replace the older E2 series sets in the process.