E3 Series Shinkansen
| E3 series | |
|---|---|
| Reliveried E3-1000 series set L53 on a Tsubasa service, June 2022 | |
| In service | 22 March 1997 – present | 
| Manufacturer | Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation | 
| Family name | Mini-shinkansen | 
| Replaced | 400 series | 
| Constructed | 1995–2009 | 
| Scrapped | 2013– | 
| Number built | 261 vehicles (41 sets) | 
| Number in service | 84 vehicles (12 sets) (as of March 2024) | 
| Number scrapped | 163 vehicles | 
| Successor | E6 series, E8 series | 
| Formation | 
 | 
| Fleet numbers | R1–R26, L51–L55, L61–L72 | 
| Capacity | 
 | 
| Operators | JR East | 
| Depots | Akita, Yamagata | 
| Lines served | Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen | 
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium | 
| Car length | 20.05 to 23.07 m (65 ft 9 in to 75 ft 8 in) | 
| Width | 2,945 mm (9 ft 8 in) | 
| Height | 
 | 
| Floor height | 1,300 mm (4 ft 3 in) | 
| Doors | 1 per side | 
| Maximum speed | 
 | 
| Traction system | GTO or IGBT-VVVF (6-car sets: 16 x 300 kW, 7-car sets: 20 x 300 kW) | 
| Power output | 
 | 
| Gear ratio | 28:85 (3.04) | 
| Acceleration | 
 | 
| Deceleration | 5.2 km/(h⋅s) (3.2 mph/s) | 
| Electric system(s) | 20/25 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary | 
| Current collector(s) | Pantograph | 
| Bogies | 
 | 
| Braking system(s) | Regenerative brake combined with electrically controlled air brake and retarder brake (conventional line section) | 
| Safety system(s) | ATC-2, DS-ATC, ATS-P | 
| Multiple working | 200 series, E2 series, E4 series, E5 series | 
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | 
The E3 series (E3系) is a Japanese Shinkansen high-speed train type built for Komachi services which commenced on 3 June 1997, coinciding with the opening of the new Akita Shinkansen "mini-shinkansen" line, a regular 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow-gauge line between Morioka and Akita re-gauged to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge. Later versions of the E3 series were also introduced for use on Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa services. Both "mini-shinkansen" lines join the Tohoku Shinkansen, providing services to and from Tokyo.