E6 Series Shinkansen

E6 series
E6 series set near Omiya Station
Stock typeElectric multiple unit
In service2013–present
Manufacturers
DesignerKen Okuyama
Family nameMini-Shinkansen
ReplacedE3 series
Constructed2010–2014
Entered service16 March 2013 (2013-03-16)
Number built168 vehicles (24 sets)
Number in service161 vehicles (23 sets)
Number scrapped7 vehicles (1 set; set Z9; earthquake damage)
Formation7 cars per trainset
Fleet numbersZ1–Z24
Capacity338 (23 Green + 315 ordinary)
Operator JR East
DepotAkita
Lines served
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium alloy
Train length148.65 m (487 ft 8 in)
Car length
  • End cars: 23.075 m (75 ft 8.5 in)
  • Intermediate cars: 20.5 m (67 ft 3 in)
Width2.945 m (9 ft 7.9 in)
Height3.65 m (12 ft)
Doors1 per side, per car
Maximum speed320 km/h (200 mph)
Weight306.5 t (676,000 lb)
Traction motors20 × 300 kW (400 hp) MT207 AC
Power output6,000 kW (8,000 hp)
Acceleration
  • Akita: 1.71 km/(h⋅s) (1.06 mph/s)
  • Tōhoku: 2.0 km/(h⋅s) (1.2 mph/s)
Electric systems
Current collectionPantograph
UIC classificationBo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′
Bogies
  • Motored: DT210
  • Trailer: TR7009
Safety systemsDS-ATC, RS-ATC, ATS-P
Multiple workingUp to two units, E5/H5
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge

The E6 series (Japanese: E6系) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type. It operates exclusively on Komachi services on the Akita Shinkansen, a mini-Shinkansen line between Akita and Morioka, at speeds of up to 130 kilometres per hour (81 mph). From Morioka, services continue to and from Tokyo on the Tōhoku Shinkansen, where the train is coupled or uncoupled from a Hayabusa service operated with an E5/H5 series train. Compared with the E3 series it replaced, the E6 series can operate at up to 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph) on the Tōhoku Shinkansen, up from 275 kilometres per hour (171 mph), reducing journey times by an average of 12 minutes. The trains were designed by Ken Okuyama.

A total of 24 seven-car trainsets were built by Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries between 2012 and 2014. The first set, numbered G1, was delivered in June 2010.