E3 Series Shinkansen
The E3 Series Shinkansen are new Japanese Shinkansen high-speed trains built for the opening of the new Akita Shinkansen 'mini-Shinkansen' line, converted from a regular 1,067 mm (3'6") narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita. The line joins with the Tohoku Shinkansen.
Like the 400 Series Shinkansen, these trains are built to a smaller loading gauge to fit on the narrower clearances of the 'mini-Shinkansen'.
The initial units built starting in 1997 were 5-car sets, but sixth cars were built to integrate into the existing units by the end of 1998. Production is ongoing, with a total of 26 Akita Shinkansen sets delivered by the end of 2005.
Three sets classified E3-1000 are formed of seven cars. These are used interchangeably with 400 series sets on the Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services.
Further Reading
Christopher P. Hood, Shinkansen – From Bullet Train to Symbol of Modern Japan, 2006, London: Routledge, ISBN 0415320526.