E3 Series Shinkansen

Design

Variants

Pre-series set

Set R1 (set S8 before conversion) (first generation)

• The front shape of the leading car differs from that of mass-produced cars, being closer to that of the 400 series.
• There are headlights and rear marker lights above the cab window, and two auxiliary lights under the cab window. The auxiliary lights were adopted on a trial basis after drivers of the previous 400 series pointed out the need for improved illumination on conventional lines.
• At the time of completion, the cars were equipped with three cross-pantographs, with the E326-1 and E325-1 equipped with the PS9034 type for the Shinkansen section and the E329-1 equipped with the PS204X type for conventional lines. These were replaced with single-arm pantographs during the mass production conversion.
• On June 24, 1995, a prototype pantograph was installed on the E326-1 and test runs were conducted. At a Shinkansen event held in Sendai on July 23 of the same year, the E325-1's pantograph had been replaced with a PS206 single-arm pantograph.
• The pantograph covers of the E326-1 and E325-1 are equipped with air cylinders that move up and down. When running on conventional lines, the covers are lowered to avoid violating the vehicle clearance, and when running on Shinkansen lines, the covers are raised 200 mm. The E329-1 has a fixed cover because it is a pantograph for conventional lines.
• The toilets in the men's restrooms are installed at an angle.
• The logo at the time of completion was "Series E3".
• The size of the electrostatic antenna on car 11 is different from that of mass-produced cars.
• At the time of completion, the sections manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries were planned to be transported to Zushi as a special train and then delivered together with the sections manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation. However, due to the effects of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the sections manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries were delayed, so only the sections manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation were delivered first.
• Prior to being converted for mass production, it underwent test runs on the Yamagata Shinkansen.
• With the introduction of the E6 series, this set ceased commercial operation on July 20, 2013 and was scrapped.

E3 series "R" sets

Sets R2 - R16 (2nd generation)

• The nose shape of the lead cars was changed to counter tunnel micro-pressure waves and reduce noise.
• The headlights and rear marker lights were grouped together under the cab window. High-intensity discharge lamps were used on a trial basis on pre-production cars, but were adopted for production cars.
• The interior of the passenger compartment were almost identical to that of the pre-production car, except that the production car has Akita Kanto design woven into the side window curtains.
• The trash bins installed on each car were for three types of garbage: bottles and cans, newspapers and magazines, and general garbage. Because the Akita Shinkansen trains run for long periods of time, a trash compressor is installed to compress the general garbage every 15 minutes to prevent it from overflowing.
• The pre-production Green Car cars were equipped with spot air conditioning above the seats, but this was omitted in the production cars.
• The cab had undergone significant changes to its equipment layout.
• The pantograph used a newly developed low-noise type PS206 single-arm pantograph. Because the pantograph itself was able to be made quieter, the up-and-down movable pantograph cover of the pre-production model was eliminated, and a new sloped "insulator cover" was installed to protect the insulators and cable heads from air currents.
• The second batch of cars was completed before the Akita Shinkansen opened, so after completion JR East conducted test runs on the Yamagata Shinkansen.
• The E328 trailer car, which was added in 1998, is similar to the conventional E329 trailer car, but in order to compensate for the loss of axle weight caused by not having an auxiliary power unit, the floor plate was changed from aluminum honeycomb material to steel plate and additional deadweight was added.

Set R17 (3rd generation)

• The insulator cover that was located at the coupling between the E329 and E328 series was omitted, and the number of insulator covers was changed to two.
• There are two wipers at the front of the driver's cab, including an auxiliary wiper.
• Up until this set, the VVVF inverter control device had been a GTO thyristor, and this was the only one among the sets from R17 onwards that had the above changes.
• During the summer holiday season in 2008, as part of a collaboration project with All Nippon Airways (ANA), the set was wrapped in a "Pokémon Pika-Rori Summer" design along with the set R21.

Sets R18 - R23 (5th generation)

• These additional sets were added between 2002 and 2003 to increase transportation capacity and replace the later-manufactured 200 series Shinkansen that had not been updated.
• The main differences from set R17 are listed below. In terms of specifications, the fourth generation for the Yamagata Shinkansen was manufactured between the third and fifth generation, and the improvements made to the fourth generation are also reflected.
• The dynamic dampers used in the trailer cars of the fourth series were abolished and replaced with underfloor deadweights and vibration-damping materials on the roof to improve ride comfort.
• The material of the connecting outer hood had been changed from polyurethane to synthetic rubber.
• Standard cars were also equipped with footrests in front of the seats.
• The seat design had been changed to one with a sliding seat function.
• The main converter element was changed from GTO thyristor to IGBT, as in the E2 series 1000 series.
• From their manufacture, the sets were equipped with DS-ATC and digital train radio.
• Cars 11 and 16 were equipped with full active suspension, while cars 12 through 15 were equipped with semi-active suspension.
• Grips were provided on the seat shoulders.
• A door chime was added.
• The toilet in car 11 had been changed to a heated toilet seat.
• The specifications of the men's restroom had been changed.

R24 - R26 train (6th generation)

• Some materials used had been changed to improve fire prevention measures.
• The support posts for the luggage racks located between every three seats were omitted.
• Baby cribs had been installed in public toilets.
• Braille stickers and tactile maps for the visually impaired were provided in cars and in the toilets.
• To accommodate VIP guests, preparations are being made for installing a police radio antenna on the roof of the E311-type locomotive.

Formation

Fleet history

E3-1000 series

Sets L51 and 52 (4th generation)

Set L53 (7th generation)

Formation

Fleet history

E3-2000 series

Formation

Fleet history

''Toreiyu'' excursion set

Formation

''Genbi Shinkansen'' excursion set

Formation

Derivatives

East-i inspection train

Cargo Shinkansen

Indian inspection train