E926 series Bullet Train East i

Data (as of 6 Jul 2024)

History

The E926 series is a measurement train based on E3 series. Like the E3 series, the E926 series can run Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen, which are non-high-speed rail. According to JR East, "i" stands for "intelligent", "integrated" and "inspection". Its maximum speed is 275 km/h (171 mph), which was the fastest among all measurement train at the time of introduction.

One six-carriage unit and a spare carriage were built. The latter one was inserted to an E2 series unit when the 6-car unit is under repair work, but the spare carriage was scrapped in 2015.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

Since the E926 series is a measurement train, it runs only when necessary. It engages in measurement work on Hokuriku, Joetsu and Tohoku Shinkansen roughly two or three times a month. Each work is usually carried out for three consecutive days (i.e. six to nine days a month in total), and their timetables are fixed. It also runs several times a year on Akita and Yamagata Shinkansen.

The future of the E926 series is bleak, as it is more than 20 years old, and some other trains for passenger service (E5 series and E7 series) have censors for monitoring track conditions. The E926 series is likely to be superseded by those regular train units.