GV-E400 series
The GV-E400 series is a diesel-electric multiple unit train type operated by East Japan Railway Company in the Niigata and Akita areas of Japan from 2019.
Design
The GV-E400 series trains are the first diesel-electric multiple units to be operated by JR East, with diesel engines driving generators, which in turn power electric traction motors. The trains have stainless steel bodies and a maximum speed of.Internally, the sets use LED lighting throughout. Passenger accommodation consists of a mixture of longitudinal bench seating and transverse seating bays. The Niigata-area sets use pink seat moquette, and the Akita sets use blue seat moquette.
The design of the GV-E400 series served as the basis for the H100 series units operated by JR Hokkaido.
Operations
The GV-E400 series trains are scheduled to be used on the following lines.;Niigata area :
;Akita area :
Formations
The trains are formed as single-car units classified GV-E400 and two-car units classified GV-E401 + GV-E402.History
Details of the new trains were announced by JR East on 4 July 2017. A total of 63 vehicles are scheduled to be built, entering service in the Niigata area from 2019, and in the Akita area from 2020.One single-car unit and one two-car unit were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in January 2018 for test-running and evaluation.
The first train entered service on 19 August 2019.