E6 Series Shinkansen

E6 Series Shinkansen
Set Z14 in June 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Designer(s)	Ken Okuyama
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Family name	Mini-Shinkansen
Constructed	2010 – 2014
Number built	168 cars (24 sets)
Dimensions	75 ft 8½ in (23.075 metres) (end cars) × 67 ft 3 in (20.5 metres) × 9 ft 7.9 in (2,945 mm)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	20/25 kV AC (50 Hz)
Traction system	Variable frequency (3-phase IGBT)
Service information
In service	16 March 2013 – Present
Formation	7 cars per set
Number in service	161 cars (23 sets)
Fleet numbers	Z1 – Z24
Preservation information
Preserved	N/A
Number scrapped	7 cars (1 set; earthquake damage)

The E6 Series Shinkansen is a Japanese high-speed electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company since March 2013.

Design

The E6 was designed to replace the E3 Series trainsets that currently work the Akita line, which is a recently upgraded line from narrow to standard-gauge. This means that the trains have to be narrower to run on this line. The pre-production set, S12, was modified to full-production standard and renumbered Z1 in February 2014.

Specifications

Constructed of an aluminum alloy, a single set can cater for 338 (315 standard + 23 green class) passengers. The end cars are 75 foot 8½ inches (23 meters) long, and the intermediate cars are shorter at 67 foot 3 inches (20.5 meters) long. Top speed is 200 mph (320 km/h) on the Tohoku line, but less on the Akita line at 81 mph (130 km/h). The sets are dual current and can run on either the 20 or the 25 kV AC, 50 Hz lines.

Incidents

Set Z9, along with H5 Series set H2, sustained damage from the 2022 Fukushima earthquake and was subsequently scrapped. There are no plans to replace the scrapped set.

References

• Wikipedia.org

Gallery

Set Z1 (ex-S12) in December 2014