E2 Series Shinkansen

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E2 series
E2 series set J70 approaching Omiya Station in February 2021
In service22 March 1997; 27 years ago (1997-03-22) – Present
Manufacturer
Constructed1995–2005, 2010
Entered service22 March 1997
Refurbished2002 (E2-0 series J sets)
Scrapped2013-
Number built502 vehicles (53 sets)
Number in service130 vehicles (13 sets) (as of 15 March 2024)[citation needed]
Number preserved2 vehicles
Number scrapped352 vehicles (37 sets)
Successor
Formation8/10 cars per trainset
Fleet numbersJ1-15, 51-75, N1-13, 21
Capacity10-car J sets: 815 (51 Green + 764 Standard)
8-car N sets: 630 (51 Green + 579 Standard)
OperatorsJR East
DepotsSendai, Nagano (formerly), Niigata(formerly)
Lines servedTohoku Shinkansen,Hokuriku Shinkansen,Joetsu Shinkansen
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length25.7 m (84 ft 4 in) (end cars)
25 m (82 ft 0 in) (intermediate cars)
Width3.38 m (11 ft 1 in)
Doors2 per side
Maximum speed275 km/h (171 mph) (Tohoku Shinkansen)
260 km/h (162 mph) (Hokuriku Shinkansen)
240 kilometres per hour (150 mph) (Joetsu Shinkansen)
Traction system(AC) MT205 (24 x 300 kW (402 hp) per 8-car train, 32 x 300 kW (402 hp) per 10-car train)
Power output7.2 MW (9,655 hp) (for 8-car train), 9.6 MW (12,874 hp) (for 10-car train)
Electric system(s)25 kV AC, 50/60 Hz overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Safety system(s)ATC-2, DS-ATC
Multiple workingE3 series
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The E2 series (E2系, E2-kei) is a Japanese high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on the Tohoku Shinkansen high-speed lines in Japan since 1997. They are formed in 8- and 10-car sets. The 8-car sets were used on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and the 10-car sets are on Tohoku Shinkansen services. The 10-car sets can be coupled to E3 series sets using couplers hidden behind retracting nose doors.

They operate at a maximum speed of 275 km/h (171 mph) on the Tohoku Shinkansen.

A total of 502 vehicles (14 8-car "N" sets and 39 10-car "J" sets) were built between 1997 and 2010,[1] with the first withdrawals commencing in late 2013.[2]

Operations[edit]

Tohoku Shinkansen[edit]

Past operations[edit]

Tohoku Shinkansen[edit]

  • Hayate (1 December 2002 - 16 March 2019)

Hokuriku Shinkansen[edit]

  • Asama (1 October 1997 - 31 March 2017)[3]

Joetsu Shinkansen[edit]

Variants[edit]

  • E2 series 8-car "N" sets
  • E2' series 10-car "J" sets
  • E2-1000 series 10-car "J" sets

8-car "N" sets[edit]

8-car set N11 on an Asama service in June 2002

The fleet of thirteen "N" sets was constructed for the new Asama services on the newly constructed Nagano Shinkansen (present-day Hokuriku Shinkansen) to Nagano from 1 October 1997, and are classified simply "E2 series". Units N2 onwards were delivered from March 1997 to September 1997. These sets are compatible with both the 50 Hz supply used by JR East and the 60 Hz supply used west of Karuizawa on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, and are limited to a maximum speed of 260 km/h (162 mph). Tohoku Shinkansen set J1 was transferred to Nagano depot in October 2002 and renumbered as set N21.

The fleet of "N" sets underwent a programme of life-extension refurbishment from fiscal 2013.[4]

Withdrawals of E2 series "N" sets commenced in April 2014, with the withdrawal of sets N4 and N12. The remaining E2 series sets were removed from regularly scheduled Hokuriku Shinkansen Asama services from 25 December 2015, with the last E2 series Asama run taking place on 31 March 2017.

Formation[edit]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Designation T1c M2 M1 M2 M1k M2 M1s T2c
Numbering E223 E226-100 E225 E226-200 E225-400 E226-300 E215 E224
Seating capacity 55 100 85 100 75 100 51 64

Cars 4 and 6 are equipped with PS205 scissors-type pantographs.[1]

Fleet list[edit]

As of 1 October 2017, the fleet was as follows:[5]

Set number Manufacturer Date delivered[6] Date withdrawn Remarks
N1   6 June 1995 9 July 2014[7] Pre-series set S6
N2 Kawasaki HI 25 March 1997 1 September 2014[7]  
N3 Hitachi 16 April 1997 1 December 2014[8]  
N4 Kawasaki HI 25 April 1997 23 April 2014[7]  
N5 Nippon Sharyo 14 May 1997 1 June 2017  
N6 Hitachi 29 May 1997 17 June 2014[7]  
N7 Nippon Sharyo 13 June 1997 25 January 2016[9]  
N8 Kawasaki HI 27 June 1997 26 May 2014[7]  
N9 Hitachi 11 July 1997 26 September 2014[7]  
N10 Nippon Sharyo 25 July 1997 17 February 2016[9]  
N11 Hitachi 8 August 1997 1 August 2014[7]  
N12 Tokyu Car 25 August 1997 2 April 2014[7]  
N13 Kawasaki HI 5 September 1997 11 May 2017  
N21 - 14 April 1995 6 January 2015[8] Pre-series set S7, later J1

E2' series 10-car "J" sets[edit]

8-car set J6 in original livery on an Asama service in February 1998
10-car J set in revised livery in September 2008

The initial fleet of six "J" sets was constructed as eight-car trains for the start of the new Akita shinkansen services starting in March 1997, and ran in conjunction with E3 series Akita Shinkansen units on Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamabiko/Komachi services between Tokyo and Morioka. These sets are classified E2', and are equipped with retractable nose-end couplers at the Morioka end. Units J2 onwards were delivered from December 1996 to March 1997.

As with the Nagano Shinkansen N units, these sets are also compatible with both 50 Hz and 60 Hz (25 kV) power supplies, and were also used on Nagano Shinkansen Asama services before they were lengthened to ten cars. A further four J sets were delivered in October/November 1998 to augment the fleet to coincide with the introduction E2 series stock on four return Asahi services between Tokyo and Niigata on the Jōetsu Shinkansen from the start of the revised timetable in December 1998. From September 2002, the fleet of J sets (except J1) was augmented from 8 to 10 cars with the addition of newly built intermediate cars for use on Hayate services to Hachinohe commencing in December 2002. The red stripe on these lengthened sets was also changed to magenta, and the original "wind" bodyside logo was changed to the new Hayate logo.

Withdrawals of E2 series "J" sets commenced in October 2013, with the withdrawal of sets J2 and J3. The last remaining original "J" sets were withdrawn before the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2019.

View showing new-build car 7 (E225-100) next to original car 6 (E226-300) in July 2008
Pantograph installation on an E2 series J set in July 2008

Formation[edit]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Designation T1c M2 M1 M2 M1k M2 M1 M2 M1s T2c
Numbering E223 E226-100 E225 E226-200 E225-400 E226-300 E225-100 E226-400 E215 E224-100
Seating capacity 55 100 85 100 75 100 85 100 51 64

Cars 4 and 6 are equipped with PS205 scissors-type pantographs.[1]

Fleet list[edit]

Set number Manufacturer Date delivered[6] Date lengthened to 10 cars Date withdrawn
J1 - 14 April 1995 (Pre-series set S7, renumbered N21 from October 2002) 16 March 2019
J2 Hitachi 20 December 1996 19 December 2002 2 October 2013[2]
J3 24 January 1997 24 December 2002 30 October 2013[2]
J4 Kawasaki HI 12 February 1997 19 September 2002 8 February 2016
J5 Nippon Sharyo 3 March 1997 29 October 2002 12 June 2014[7]
J6 17 March 1997 3 November 2002 2 May 2014[7]
J7 5 October 1998 16 November 2002 21 August 2017
J8 Hitachi 20 October 1998 24 September 2002 31 May 2018
J9 Nippon Sharyo 23 November 1998 14 September 2002 8 April 2016
J10 Kawasaki HI 17 December 1998 14 October 2002 14 February 2017
J11 Nippon Sharyo 6 September 1999 21 November 2002 9 January 2019
J12 Tokyu Car 17 September 1999 29 September 2002 23 August 2019
J13 Hitachi 5 October 1999 4 October 2002 27 April 2018
J14 Kawasaki HI 19 October 1999 19 October 2002 7 November 2018
J15 Tokyu Car 5 November 1999 24 October 2002 17 May 2019

E2-1000 series 10-car "J" sets[edit]

E2-1000 series set J64 on Hayate service at Iwate-Numakunai Station in March 2007

The prototype E2-1000 series train (unit J51) was delivered as an 8-car to Sendai depot in late December 2000, and entered revenue-earning service in November 2001 after extensive testing. Units J52 onwards were delivered as 10-car units from July 2002, entering service on the Tohoku Shinkansen from December 2002. These trains replaced life-expired 200 series trains and augment JR East's fleet for use on new Hayate services following the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe in December 2002.

The E2-1000 series incorporates a number of design improvements compared with the earlier batches, the most noticeable of which is the change from small windows for each seating bay to wide windows similar to the E4 series trains. A new single-arm pantograph design is used with an aerofoil-shaped mounting that eliminates the need for pantograph shrouds. The pre-series set, J51, was equipped with automatic couplers at both ends, but sets J52 onwards have couplers at the northern end only, as on the earlier E2' trains. Unlike the earlier J sets, these units are only compatible with the 50 Hz power supply of the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen routes and they aren't equipped with slope-usable brake systems. The flush-fitting plug doors of the earlier N and J sets were replaced by conventional sliding doors on these units. While J51 was delivered in the same livery as earlier E2 series trains, units J52 onward were delivered from new in the Hayate livery with a magenta waistline stripe in place of the previous red and a new "apple" logo in place of the "wind" logo on the original batch of J and N units.

Withdrawals of E2-1000 series sets commenced in March 2019, beginning with set J51.

Effective 18 March 2023, all sets have been withdrawn from Joetsu Shinkansen services and restricted to services on the Tohoku Shinkansen as a result of operating speed upgrades on the Joetsu Shinkansen; from 240 to 275 km/h (149 to 171 mph).[10]

Formation[edit]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Designation T1c M2 M1 M2 M1k M2 M1 M2 M1s T2c
Numbering E223-1000 E226-1100 E225-1000 E226-1200 E225-1400 E226-1300 E225-1100 E226-1400 E215-1000 E224-1100
Seating capacity 54 100 85 100 75 100 85 100 51 64

Cars 4 and 6 are equipped with PS207 single-arm pantographs. Car 1 of set No. J51 is numbered E223-1101.[1]

Fleet list[edit]

Set number Manufacturer Date delivered[6] Date withdrawn
J51 Hitachi/Kawasaki HI/Nippon Sharyo/Tokyu Car 13 January 2001 14 March 2019
J52 Hitachi 17 July 2002 14 March 2022 
J53 Kawasaki HI 5 August 2002 9 May 2022 
J54 8 March 2003 April 2023 
J55 Hitachi 7 November 2002 27 October 2022 
J56 23 November 2002 10 August 2022 
J57 Nippon Sharyo 4 October 2003  
J58 Tokyu Car 11 September 2003 4 February 2023 
J59 Tokyu Car 21 October 2003 18 March 2023 
J60 Kawasaki HI 24 December 2003  
J61 Nippon Sharyo 17 January 2004  
J62 Kawasaki HI 2 February 2004 7 July 2023 
J63 Tokyu Car 8 December 2003 31 May 2023
J64 Hitachi 11 June 2003 19 December 2023
J65 Kawasaki HI 10 March 2004  
J66 Nippon Sharyo 6 April 2005 15 March 2024
J67 Hitachi 7 June 2005  
J68 10 July 2005  
J69 Kawasaki HI 5 December 2005  
J70 Hitachi 19 February 2010  
J71 Nippon Sharyo 11 March 2010  
J72 Hitachi 12 April 2010  
J73 Kawasaki HI 10 May 2010  
J74 7 June 2010  
J75 Nippon Sharyo 27 September 2010  

Pre-series units[edit]

The pre-series E2' series unit S7 (renumbered as J1 and later as N21) was delivered in April 1995, with S6 (now numbered as N1) delivered in June of the same year. Visually, these two units differed from subsequent production standard units in having large pantograph shields resembling the original 300 series design. These were later changed to the current low-profile design.

Interior[edit]

Seating is 2+3 in standard class with a seat pitch of 960 mm (38 in), and 2+2 in green class with a seat pitch of 1,160 mm (46 in).

  • Standard seating with a 3+2 configuration
    Standard seating with a 3+2 configuration
  • Inside a Green Car carriage with 2+2 configuration
    Inside a Green Car carriage with 2+2 configuration

Test running[edit]

An E2-1000 series train (J56) broke the Japanese rail speed record for a production train (i.e. not a dedicated test train) in April 2003 when it reached a speed of 362 km/h (225 mph) during a series of late-night high-speed test runs between Urasa and Niigata on the Joetsu Shinkansen.[11][failed verification]

Special liveries[edit]

Set J66 painted in the commemorative livery, June 2022

To celebrate 150 years of rail transport in Japan, JR East announced plans in 2022 to repaint a set into a livery similar to that of the 200 series when they first entered service in 1982.[12] The special livery was painted on set J66 and introduced on 8 June 2022.[13] Set J66 was retired on 15 March 2024,[14] a day before the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2024.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Tokyo Disney Resort,[15] set J69 was wrapped with a Disney-themed wrap, featuring artworks of Disney characters. Set J69 with the special wrap, nicknamed the Magical Dream Shinkansen, was introduced on 22 December 2023.[16]

Exports[edit]

Main article: CRH2
A CRH2A unit in operation at Nanjing railway station.

China ordered a number of 250 km/h (155 mph) trains based on the E2-1000 series design, renamed it as CRH2, becoming the second Shinkansen train exported after the 700T for Taiwan. These CRH2 trains consist of a total of 60 sets; the first three sets (2001-2003) were built in Japan, the next six sets were delivered in complete knock down (CKD) form and assembled by CSR Sifang Locomotive and Rolling Stock, the remaining 51 sets were built by Sifang through technology transfer from Japan. The first train arrived at the port of Qingdao on 8 March 2006.

Subsequent orders included 50 additional trains and a new order for 140 trains placed in 2009 with the Sino-Japanese joint venture.

Withdrawals[edit]

Withdrawals of E2 series sets commenced in October 2013, with the withdrawal of sets J2 and J3.

Preserved examples[edit]

Car E223-23[17] of former set J10 was moved from Sendai Depot to Sanwa Tekki Corporation in Utsunomiya, Tochigi, in February 2017, where it is preserved.[18]

Car E224-127 of former set J14 was moved from Sendai Depot to the Hirosawa City theme park in Chikusei, Ibaraki, in November 2018, where it is preserved.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d JR電車編成表 2012夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2012] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2012. pp. 12–13. ISBN 978-4-330-28612-9.
  2. ^ a b c JR電車編成表 2014夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2014] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 May 2014. p. 357. ISBN 978-4-330-46614-9.
  3. ^ 北陸新幹線「Ｅ２系」今月引退…五輪輸送で活躍 [Hokuriku Shinkansen E2 series to be withdrawn this month - Played an active role in transportation during the Olympics]. Yomiuri Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan. 21 March 2017. Archived from the original on 21 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  4. ^ 2013年度総合車両センター関係業務改善が提案される [Work Improvements Proposed for General Rolling Stock Center in Fiscal 2013] (PDF). Danketsu (in Japanese). Japan: National Railway Workers' Union. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  5. ^ JR電車編成表 2017冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 16 November 2016. pp. 14–15, 356. ISBN 978-4-330-73716-4.
  6. ^ a b c 新幹線電車データブック2011 [Shinkansen Databook 2011] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. March 2011. pp. 88–90. ISBN 978-4-330-19811-8.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j JR電車編成表 2015冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 21 November 2014. pp. 357–358. ISBN 978-4-330-51614-1.
  8. ^ a b JR電車編成表 2015夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 20 May 2015. ISBN 978-4-330-56915-4.
  9. ^ a b JR電車編成表 2016夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 20 May 2016. pp. 15, 357. ISBN 978-4-330-68216-7.
  10. ^ "JR東日本，3月18日にダイヤ改正を実施" [JR East Implements Schedule Revision Effective 18 March 2023]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 19 December 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  11. ^ "「世界一の新幹線」に向けて高速走行試験を実施します" [We will carry out a high-speed driving test for "the world's best Shinkansen"] (PDF). jreast.co.jp (in Japanese). 11 March 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  12. ^ "JR東日本，E2系による「懐かしの200系カラー新幹線」を運転へ" [JR East to drive "Nostalgic 200 Series Color Shinkansen" by E2 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  13. ^ "東北新幹線で開業当時の"200系"カラー再現　鉄道開業150年を記念" ["200 series" color reproduction at the time of opening on the Tohoku Shinkansen commemorating the 150th anniversary of the opening of the railway] (in Japanese). Nippon News Network. 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022. Retrieved 8 June 2022.
  14. ^ "Retirement of Set J66".
  15. ^ "Magical Dream Shinkansen".
  16. ^ "Magical Dream Shinkansen".
  17. ^ 2/23～25, E223-23, 陸送される [E223-23 moved by road 23–25 February]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 673. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. May 2017. p. 158.
  18. ^ 新幹線車両、真夜中の陸上輸送　宇都宮の事業所が買い取り、一般公開へ [Shinkansen car bought by Utsunomiya company and moved by road late at night]. Shimotsuke Original Online News (in Japanese). Japan: Shimotsuke Shimbun. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 25 February 2017. Retrieved 25 February 2017.

External links[edit]

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