International Railroad Discussion > Shinkansen E8 (Japan)

In March of 2024, I caught a Shinkansen E8 set at Tokyo Station, on its last day of testing before revenue service:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,5844851

During my visit to Japan in September of last year (2024), I rolled the dice to see if I can joyride an E8 set, now that it was gradually replacing the older E3 sets. It was a gamble, because the paper system schedule mentioned "possible" slots where the E8 might run, but JR East had not released a specific timeline on when/how the E8 sets were being rolled out.

E8 is assigned to the Yamagata Shinkansen, a through service on the non-HSR segment to Shinjo in northern Japan. It can be coupled to an E5 set on its HSR run to Fukushima, decouple, then continues along the non-HSR Ou Line to Yamagata and Shinjo. Some of the E3/E8 sets run uncoupled on both the Tohoku Shinkansen and Ou Line segments (see video).

E8 is based on the earlier E6 design, but due to Yamagata Shinkansen spending less time/distance on the HSR Tohoku Shinkansen Line, JR East decided to be practical by reducing its top revenue speed from 320 km/h to 300 km/h. This meant the end car design wasn't constrained by aerodynamics, so they have "less sleeker" noses, and carry more passengers - more capacity, more $$$, and somewhat lower operating costs, too.

I specifically mention this fact to educate the gossipers in the Passenger Board that it's not just about bench racing speed. Hope they learn to be smarter than the so-called HSR advocates who have no idea.

I was just going to joyride the E8, take a handful interior pictures, and "brag," but my trip was interesting enough that I decided to post some video - I caught the older E3s and E2s, which are slowly being phased out. A few E3s and E2s still survive in 2025, as of couple of months ago when I was in Japan again and spotted them.

There's an expensive lens railfan in the first clip. I'm confident the lens was expensive (fast), because it was nearing dusk, and he was taking photos of Shinkansens at speed (171+ mph). Station with curved tracks = Nasu-Shiobara. Straight tracks = Utsunomiya.

- 2 images of E5 and E8 coupled, at Tokyo Station.
- Videos of E5+E3, E3 running solo, E8+E5, E2, E8+E5, and E8 + E5 departing.
 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/25 15:26 by cchan006.

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That's it for the report.

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I like your American videos better, but these are interesting.
Thanks for posting.
Regards, Jim Evans

are you going to like the new trains in 2030? e10's , i there a e9 model out now too?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/25 22:31 by dan.

dan Wrote:
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> are you going to like the new trains in 2030?
> e10's , i there a e9 model out now too?

E10 is a refinement of E5. A testing prototype won't be available for about 2 years. Hope I get lucky and catch it testing then, like I caught the first N700 prototype under testing in Christmas of 2005:

https://www.trainorders.com/discussion/read.php?6,3562554,3562884#3562884

I read the E10 announcement (from Japanese sources) in late March. Many railfans asked the same question, "What about E9?" back then. There won't be an E9, because JR East and other JR Group railroads reserve test-only prototypes and MOW trains with Class numbers beginning with 9. Doctor Yellow is Class 923, and JR East's inspection train ("East-i") is E926. Technology test-bed "Alpha-X" is E956, and E10 should be adopting technologies from the E956.

Besides the refinements (safety technology, more modern seating amenities), E10 experience shouldn't be too different from E5, but I won't know for at least 2-3 years, and I won't be able to ride one until 2030. Some Shinkansen trains already offer "work car", and previous generation Shinkansens (N700/N700A, E6, E5) offer electric sockets (1-2 per side per row) already. I haven't had to "fight for" electric sockets, yet, but I suspect USB chargers will be added to the E10, while the older ones only have the two-prong 100V sockets.

N700S (newest on the Tokaido Shinkansen) do offer more sockets per seat. Instead of below the seat ahead of you (airline style) or by your foot below the windows, the sockets are on the armrests. 

Not too excited on the E10, because the railroads in Japan are usually good at keeping their deadlines, so I expect no surprises (good or bad) in 5 years.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/23/25 14:21 by cchan006.

Charles, what amount of air displacement do you experience when these trains go by at speed ? I very much appreciate these views of Country that takes pride in their engineering achievements. 

ChrisCampi Wrote:
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> Charles, what amount of air displacement do you
> experience when these trains go by at speed ? I
> very much appreciate these views of Country that
> takes pride in their engineering achievements.

Not much wind disturbances, because the passing tracks  are far enough away from the platform I'm standing on. Sound ("byun byun") and ground (rumbling) disturbances are more noticeable.

Onboard the Shinkansen, you can feel the train chassis tilt slightly from air displacement when being passed while stopped, or meeting at speed. That's due to how close the trains are to each other.

There's a difference between making others happy, whether by engineering or customer service, vs. making yourself proud ("cutting edge", "higher stock price", PSR). Too many sociopaths in charge on this side of the Pacific,