The and Shinkansen are Japanese high-speed train types operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR West), respectively. They were jointly developed.
The E7 series has operated since 15 March 2014. It also operates on the Jōetsu Shinkansen following the March 2019 timetable revision.
The W7 series has operated on the Hokuriku Shinkansen since it was extended from to in March 2015. A total of eleven 12-car W7 series sets (132 vehicles) have been built. The first W7 series train was delivered in April 2014.
Design
Based on the earlier E2 series trains, the E7 series trains are designed with a "Japanese" theme inside and out, combining futuristic styling with traditional design elements overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama together with Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Externally, the roof is finished in a "sky blue" color, and the body sides are "ivory white" with "copper" and "sky blue" lining. The body side logos consist of a number "7" in silver stylized as an arrowhead, and include the lettering "East Japan Railway Company" or "West Japan Railway Company".
Manufacture of the E7 series sets was shared between Hitachi in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe; additionally the E7 in J-TREC in Yokohama, and W7 in Kinki Sharyo in Osaka.
The trains have a maximum design speed of , but operate at a maximum speed of on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, limited to on the Jōetsu Shinkansen tracks between Omiya and Takasaki, and to on the Tohoku Shinkansen tracks between Tokyo and Omiya. Increased power output enables the trains to maintain speeds of at least on the steep gradients of the Hokuriku Shinkansen.
Car 12 (Gran Class) is equipped with full active suspension, and the other cars are equipped with semi-active suspension.
Operations
Kagayaki (Tokyo - Kanazawa), since March 2015
Hakutaka (Tokyo - Kanazawa), since March 2015
Tsurugi (Toyama - Kanazawa), since March 2015
Asama (Tokyo - Nagano), since March 2014 (E7) and March 2015 (W7) Toki (Tokyo - Niigata), since March 2019 (E7) Tanigawa (Tokyo - Echigo-Yuzawa), since 3 March 2019 (E7)
The trains entered regular passenger service from the start of the revised JR East timetable on 15 March 2014, with three trainsets introduced on Asama services on the Hokuriku Shinkansen (then still called the Nagano Shinkansen) between Tokyo and Nagano. Initially, E7 series trainsets operated seven return Asama services daily, with a further four return workings added from 19 April 2014.
Since 14 March 2015, with the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen extension from Nagano to Kanazawa, E7 series trainsets are also used on Hakutaka, Kagayaki, and Tsurugi services alongside the similar design JR West W7 series trains.
Interior
The 12-car trains have accommodation in three levels of service: Gran Class, Green car, and ordinary-class cars, with a total seating capacity of 934. Gran Class seating (car 12) is arranged 2+1 abreast with a seat pitch of , Green car seating (car 11) is arranged 2+2 abreast with a seat pitch of , and ordinary seating (cars 1 to 10) is arranged 3+2 abreast with a seat pitch of . AC power outlets are provided for each seat in all three classes. The Gran class seats are supplied by Toyota Boshoku. Car saloons and vestibule areas are equipped with security cameras. Between October and December 2015, luggage racks are scheduled to be added at one end of each of the even-numbered ordinary class cars and also in Green car 11, by removing a pair of seats (1D and 1E). The luggage racks are to cater to the increased number of overseas tourists with suitcases and also passengers with ski and snowboard equipment in the winter season.
E7 gallery
W7 gallery
Formations
The E7 series sets are numbered "F1" onward, and the W7 series sets are numbered "W1" onward. All sets consist of 10 motored intermediate cars with non-powered (trailer) end cars. Car 11 provides Green car (first class) accommodation, and car 12 provides Gran Class luxury accommodation. Sets are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.
Cars 3 and 7 are each equipped with a single-arm pantograph.
Build histories
, 32 E7 series sets and 11 W7 series sets have been built, with build details as follows. Eight E7 series sets and two W7 series sets were withdrawn in 2019 following flood damage sustained during Typhoon Hagibis.