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E8 Series Shinkansen
Japanese high speed train type From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The E8 series (E8系) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type for Tsubasa services. In revenue service since 16 March 2024,[1] it will progressively replace the E3 series from 2024 onwards, raising the top speed of the service from 275 to 300 kilometers per hour (171 to 186 mph). It is designed by Ken Okuyama, in cooperation with Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[2]
Though 17 sets were originally planned to be built, this was reduced to 15 sets due to reduced travel demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] These sets are to be built by Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing and Hitachi.[4]
The first set, numbered G1, was delivered to Sendai Shinkansen Depot on 30 January 2023.[5]
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Design
The train was designed to invoke the richness of the landscape of the Yamagata region, and the "weaving together of nature and people". The exterior coloring is unchanged from the re-liveried E3 series, also designed by Ken Okuyama: white, evoking the snow of Mount Zaō; deep purple inspired by the Mandarin duck, the prefectural bird for Yamagata Prefecture; and yellow and red for the safflower, the prefectural flower of Yamagata Prefecture.[6]
All cars are equipped with full active suspension.[2]
The increased top speed from 275 to 300 kilometers per hour (171 to 186 mph) is possible due to its 9-meter-long (29 ft 6 in) nose, 3 meters (9 ft 10 in) longer than the current E3 series.[7]
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Formation
The E8 uses the same 5M2T-formation as the E3 and E6 series mini-shinkansen, meaning that it consists of 5 powered (motor), and 2 non-powered (trailer) cars.[2][4]
- Cars 12 and 16 are each equipped with a single-arm pantograph.
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Interior
The 7-car trains have two service classes: ordinary cars and Green cars, with a seating capacity of 355. This is 39 fewer seats than the E3 series trains it replaces. Both seating configurations are 2+2 abreast, as is the case for all other mini-Shinkansen trains. AC power outlets are available in both classes. Both the cabins and vestibules are equipped with security cameras. The green car has room for one wheelchair user, while each ordinary car has room for two. All seven cars are equipped to handle large baggage.[9]
The color scheme of the Green car seating is inspired by the blue waters of the Mogami River, combined with the lush greenery covering Mount Gassan. The ordinary car seating draws inspiration from the traditional process of extracting the color of the safflower, which is why the color gradually becomes less saturated moving from the seat cushion to the headrest. The center aisle carpet was designed based on the image of the safflower, represented by the seats, reflecting on the waters of the Mogami River as it flows between them.[2]
Green car interior
Wheelchair space
Multipurpose Room
Public spaces
Toilet
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Incidents
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Auxiliary power unit malfunctions
On 17 June 2025, four E8 series trainsets experienced auxiliary power unit (APU) malfunctions.[10][11][12]
In the most prominent case, the newest E8 series train—set G11, delivered earlier in June[11]—was undergoing a test run from Ueno Station to Morioka Station[13] when its APU failed, disrupting power supply to the cooling system for its motor control circuitry.[10][14] This caused circuit protection systems to activate,[12][14] bringing the train to a stop at 11:24 am[14] in Tochigi Prefecture, between Utsunomiya Station and Nasushiobara Station.[11][12]
With the track obstructed, the next two northbound trains following immediately behind were also forced to stop between stations, leaving 682 and 480 passengers stranded onboard respectively. Shortly after 3 pm, occupants of the first train were transferred via gangway to a southbound train that pulled up alongside, making the vacant train available for coupling to the defective E8 as a potential recovery option. The second stranded train turned back towards Utsunomiya Station at roughly 3:15 pm. The faulty train was ultimately repaired on the spot and was moved to Nasushiobara Station under its own power shortly after 4 pm.[13]
This incident caused operations to be suspended in both directions on the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Sendai until 5 pm, with approximately 54,700 passengers impacted by the cancellation of 86 Tōhoku, Akita, and Yamagata Shinkansen trains and delays to a further 138 trains.[10][15]
The other three incidents also involved the newest trainsets in the fleet:[10][11][12][14][16]
- At 1:56 pm, E8 series set G10 (delivered May 2025) was also on a test run when it became unable to proceed under its own power after stopping at Kōriyama Station.
- At 2:38 pm, set G9 had just departed with passengers from Fukushima Station when a fault was indicated on its instrument panel. It stopped for inspections at Sasakino Station and was returned to service about half an hour behind schedule.
- At 3:26 pm, set G8 was in passenger service when it encountered a malfunction while stopped at Oyama Station and was subsequently withdrawn from service.
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) launched an investigation and discovered that six APUs on the four defective trains had malfunctioned due to damage incurred to semiconductor components inside.[17][18][19] Each E8 series trainset has two APUs, providing redundancy in case one has a fault,[17][19] but the two newest trainsets that were undergoing shakedown following their recent deliveries were immobilized when both APU units broke down.[19] Additionally, cases of semiconductor component damage were also previously detected on 21 May and 16 June.[17] JR East indicated that it was working with the manufacturer to examine if the semiconductor components' operating parameters (such as voltage) had been exceeded,[19] as well as look into whether environmental factors such as hot weather could have contributed to the problem.[14][17] As of 25 June 2025, the root cause behind the damaged semiconductor has yet to be identified.[17][18][19]
While the investigation is ongoing, JR East has suspended the use of the E8 series in independent operation, requiring E8 trains to run in multiple working,[10][11] effectively precluding its use on the Yamagata Shinkansen. With the E3 series originally slated to be phased out by the end of FY2025,[18] JR East prioritized allocating the available rolling stock to ply between Fukushima Station and Yamagata/Shinjō stations while cancelling most through services between the Tōhoku and Yamagata Shinkansen.[14] Even so, the Yamagata Shinkansen is only operating at a reduced capacity of approximately 80% of its normal schedule.[19]
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See also
References
External links
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