Class E926 Shinkansen

The Class E926 (E926形) also known as the East-i, is a high-speed diagnostic train used on JR East's Shinkansen lines. Entering service in 2001, it is based on the E3 series and carries out line inspections at a maximum speed of 275 km/h (171 mph). It operates on the Jōetsu Shinkansen, the Tōhoku Shinkansen as well as its two mini-shinkansen branch lines, the Yamagata Shinkansen and Akita Shinkansen; the train also operates on the Hokkaido Shinkansen, owned by JR Hokkaido, as well as sections of the Hokuriku Shinkansen owned by JR West. Similar types of diagnostic trains called Doctor Yellow operate on the Tokaido Shinkansen and San'yo Shinkansen.

Class E926 "East i"
East i series inspection train
Manufacturer	Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed	2001
Entered service	2001
Scrapped	2015 (E926-13)
Number built	7 vehicles
Number in service	6 vehicles (1 set)
Number scrapped	1 vehicle
Formation	6 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	S51[1]
Operators	JR East, JR Hokkaido
Lines served	Hokuriku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Tōhoku Shinkansen, Hokkaido Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen
Specifications
Train length	125.6 m (412 ft)
Car length	20 m (66 ft) or 22.8 m (75 ft)
Width	2.94 m (9.6 ft)
Height	4.29 m (14.1 ft)
Maximum speed	275 km/h (171 mph) (Tōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Hokkaido Shinkansen) 130 km/h (80 mph) (Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen)
Traction motors	Mitsubishi Electric three-phase induction AC motor MT-205
Acceleration	1.6 km/(h⋅s) (0.99 mph/s)
Electric system(s)	25 kV 50/60 Hz AC, 20 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
Bogies	DT207A, TR8012 (E926-3, 13)[2]
Braking system(s)	Regenerative braking combined with electric command type air braking
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Overview

The Class E926 is a non-revenue earning diagnostic train designed to replace the aging Class 925 inspection train. The Class 925, based on the 200 series, had a lower top speed than newly introduced trainsets at the time, such as the E3 series. Its loading gauge was also incompatible with the mini-shinkansen, which used narrower trains. At the time, the mini-shinkansen relied on KuMoYa 743 series inspection railcars. In response to these needs, the Class E926 was introduced in 2001, with the Class 925 withdrawn that same year.

The i in East i stands for intelligent, integrated, and inspection.^[3] Since the routes and times of operation of the East i train are not publicly disclosed, it is considered lucky by railway enthusiasts when the viewer sees it.^[4]

Formation

There are 7 East i series inspection train cars that were built. Cars 2 and 4 are equipped with a single arm pantograph. Prior to the scrapping of car E926-13 in 2015, when the 6-car train was being maintained, a spare track inspection car was inserted into the pre-production E2 series N21 set.^[5][6][7]

Car No.	1	2	3 (13)	4	5	6
Uses	Communication, signal, and catenary testing car	Communication and power supply testing car	Track inspection car	Catenary inspection car	Power supply and signal detection car	Communication, signal, and catenary testing car

• 
  E926-1 (Car 1)
• 
  E926-2 (Car 2)
• 
  E926-3 (Car 3)
• 
  E926-4 (Car 4)
• 
  E926-5 (Car 5)
• 
  E926-6 (Car 6)
• 
  E926-13 (The spare carriage that is inserted into an E2 series set when the 6-car set is being maintained) (Scrapped in 2015)
• 
  E2 series set N21 with the track inspection car in the background