Trains

Trains

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1964

0 · Tōkaidō · San’yō

0系新幹線

A round cap sits ahead of the upright cab.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1982

200 · Tōhoku · Jōetsu

200系新幹線

Early rounded cab in the northern green livery.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1985

100 · Tōkaidō · San’yō

100系新幹線

A pointed tip projects below a raised cab.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1992

300 · Tōkaidō · San’yō

300系新幹線

A low wedge replaces the projecting nose cap.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1992

400 · Yamagata · Tsubasa

400系新幹線

Silver body and dark glazing on the first Tsubasa sets.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1994

E1 · Jōetsu

E1系新幹線

Two decks behind the high cab; original blue-grey scheme.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1997

500 · San’yō

500系新幹線

A rounded tube tapers into a long, pointed nose.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1997

E2 · Tōhoku

E2系新幹線

Dark-blue roof above a long, shallow cab slope.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1997

E3 · Akita · Yamagata

E3系新幹線

Compact silver cab; original Komachi colour scheme.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1997

E4 · Tōhoku · Jōetsu

E4系新幹線

Two decks meet a much longer, lower nose than E1.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 1999

700 · San’yō

700系新幹線

Broad, low bill with a distinct rise to the windscreen.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2004

800 · Kyūshū

800系新幹線

An uninterrupted rounded slope and upright cheek lamp.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2007

N700 · Tōkaidō · San’yō

N700系新幹線（東海道・山陽新幹線）

The cab rises behind a low, sculpted shoulder.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2011

E5 · Tōhoku · Hokkaidō

E5系新幹線

A long, low green nose above a pink dividing stripe.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2013

N700A · Tōkaidō · San’yō

N700A

An N700 development; side profile alone is inconclusive.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2013

E6 · Akita

E6系新幹線

A red crown follows the extended, narrow front end.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2014

E7 · Hokuriku

E7系新幹線

Blue crown, ivory body and copper-coloured belt.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2015

W7 · Hokuriku

W7系新幹線

Sister design to E7. Check the operator or set marking.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2016

H5 · Hokkaidō

H5系新幹線

E5-derived shape with a purple belt on the Hokkaidō sets.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2020

N700S · Tōkaidō · San’yō

N700S

Angular cheek treatment refines the N700 profile.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2024

E8 · Yamagata · Tsubasa

E8系新幹線

Purple crown and safflower-yellow belt on the Tsubasa.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2011

N700 · San’yō · Kyūshū

N700系新幹線（山陽・九州新幹線直通用）

Eight-car S and R sets share the pale-blue scheme.

Shinkansen · Year introduced 2022

N700S · Nishi Kyūshū · Kamome

N700S「かもめ」

Six-car Kamome uses a vermilion lower body.

Shinkansen · T3 · 製造 / built 1979

922 · Doctor Yellow · T3

922形ドクターイエロー（T3編成）

Inspection train. A 0-series-derived rounded front.

Shinkansen · T4 · 検測 / inspection 2001

923 · Doctor Yellow · T4 / T5

923形ドクターイエロー

Inspection train. A 700-series-derived broad bill.

Shinkansen · 試験 / trials 2019

E956 · ALFA-X

E956形試験電車「ALFA-X」

Experimental train. The two ends have different noses.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2004

HSOR-100A

肥薩おれんじ鉄道 HSOR-100A形

Read the number on the car before looking up the seat plan. The operator publishes three different interior diagrams for cars 101–106, 107–112 and 113–117. Its specification gives 46 seats.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2004

HSOR-150A

肥薩おれんじ鉄道 HSOR-150A形

The operator identifies cars 151A and 152A by their reversible cross seats. They share the 100A’s body length but seat 37. The official interior photograph shows how the seats face.

Regional railways · Year introduced 1994

813 · Fukuoka · 福岡

JR九州 813系

Check the seating layout before assuming two 813s have the same interior. Some sets were rebuilt with lengthwise seating.

Regional railways · Year introduced 1999

815 · Kumamoto · 熊本

JR九州 815系

Look for the red door sections against the aluminium body. The 815 debuted when the Kumamoto–Higo-Ōzu section of the Hōhi Main Line was electrified.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2001

817 · Fukuhoku Yutaka · 福北ゆたか線

JR九州 817系

Count the cars in a single set. Early 817s have two, while the 3000 subseries has three. Coupled sets can make a longer train.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2019

821 · Kagoshima Main Line · 鹿児島本線

JR九州 821系

The first 821s entered service between Kokura and Arao in March 2019. Their silicon-carbide traction equipment is a distinction you cannot see from the platform.

Regional railways · Year introduced 1993

701 · Tōhoku · 東北

JR東日本 701系

A local train on the Akita or Yamagata Shinkansen corridor can be a 701. Those local variants have standard-gauge wheelsets for the shared track.

Regional railways · Year introduced 1995

E127 · Ōito Line · 大糸線

JR東日本 E127系

Look beside the passenger doors for push buttons. Semi-automatic operation helps retain heat when the train stops in winter.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2014

E129 · Niigata · 新潟

JR東日本 E129系

Niigata’s E129 succeeded the 115 series. Its design draws on E233 technology, with wider seats and updated passenger information displays.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2021

E131 · Nikkō Line · 日光線

JR東日本 E131系

The same series number appears on the Nikkō and Tsurumi lines. JR East designed the E131 for short formations across several regional and suburban routes.

Regional railways · Year introduced 2007

E721 · Sendai · 仙台

JR東日本 E721系

The floor is lowered for regional platforms. On the airport-access 500 subseries, look for dedicated luggage space inside.

City trams · Year introduced 2002

1000 · Utram

鹿児島市電1000形「ユートラム」

Look at the middle passenger section. It hangs between the end sections, and the floor is just 33 cm above the ground. The city identifies an auxiliary ramp at the alighting door.

City trams · Year introduced 2017

7500 · Utram III

鹿児島市電7500形「ユートラムⅢ」

Compared with the first Utram, a smaller driving compartment leaves more room for passengers. The city lists 68 places on car 7501 and identifies the design as ultra-low-floor.

Metro · Year introduced 2012

1000 · Ginza

東京メトロ銀座線1000系

The retro body recalls the original subway cars. Tokyo Metro describes the modern 1000 series as a new design borrowing the appearance of the earlier 1000 type. Look for 銀座線 on station signs.