400 Series Shinkansen
The Shinkansen 400 series (Japanese新 干线400系 电车, Shinkansen 400 -kei densha ) was a Japanese high speed train operator JR East, who was on the Yamagata Shinkansen in use from 1992 to 2010. The 400 series was replaced in 2008 by vessels of the E3 -2000 series.
History
The construction of the Yamagata Shinkansen, a so-called "mini- Shinkansen ", the procurement of a suitable vehicle type was required. Although the expansion of the portion of the OU main line between Fukushima and Yamagata was ( conventional rail network) widened the track width of Cape gauge to standard gauge, but the gauge was unchanged, so that the existing, broader Shinkansen trains could not be used.
Was the procurement of the trains of the 400 series through to specially founded JR Yamagata Chokutsū Tokkyu Hoyu Kiko (Japanese山形 ジェイ アール 直通 特急 保有 機構(株) ), a joint venture between JR East and the Yamagata Prefecture. It 12 6 - car trains were ordered, which were then leased to JR East by the company.
Testing
In October 1990, the delivery of the Vorserienzuges S4 was. As of November 1990, the train was first tested on the solo Ou Main Line, from January 1991 to traction with upgraded features of the 200 series on the Tōhoku Shinkansen. On March 29, 1991, it was set up with the pre-series S4, a new Japanese speed record of 336 km / h reached by the train in Yuzawa- tunnel on the Joetsu Shinkansen. The record, however, was set in September 1991 by the same vehicle, as it on the same route 345 km / h reached.
The tests with the prototype vehicles were completed in spring 1992. The pre-series S4 was then converted to standard series and eingeflottet on 29 June 1991 as a unit L1.
Operation
The trains of the 400 series were from 1 July 1992, the opening day of the Yamagata Shinkansen, in use. They were used on the Tsubasa - compounds in which the features of the 400 series of solo Yamagata wrong to Fukushima and were bound from Fukushima in traction with Broad Tōhoku Shinkansen to Tokyo.
Due to the time necessary for the mini - Shinkansen narrower loading gauge trains of the series were 400 equipped with a fold-out stage at the doors, which was extended when the vehicle stops at all stations of Tohoku Shinkansen.
Due to the rapidly increasing demand, a seventh car was in 1995 in the original six-car long trains added ( car 15).
In the years 1999 to 2001, all sets a general overhaul were subjected, in which also the paint was modified.
The phase-out began in December 2008 with the original pre-series L1. By the summer of 2009, all units of class 400 were taken out of service and replaced by trains of the E3 -2000 series. Only set L3 remained for April 18, 2010 in use and thus had a service life of 18 years.
Upon their retirement, all trains were scrapped. The only preserved example is the control car of the set L3, which is to be obtained.
Details fleet
Car sequence
426-203 ( car 12)
425-3 ( car 13)
426-3 ( car 14)
429-3 ( car 15)
425-203 ( car 16 )
422-3 ( car 17)