JR East will develop and introduce the new E927 series dedicated Shinkansen inspection train. Its nickname has been decided as “SOAR.”
The new inspection train will comprise seven cars, one more than the current six-car E926 series. It will inspect the Tohoku, Joetsu, Hokuriku, Yamagata, and Akita Shinkansen lines. Its maximum speed will be increased from 275 km/h to 320 km/h. Inspection operations are scheduled to begin during fiscal 2029.
Newly developed inspection equipment will include a PQ estimation system, which estimates the forces acting between wheels and rails, and an onboard Shinkansen imaging system (tentative name).
The PQ estimation system uses multiple sensors installed on the bogies to estimate these forces by measuring bogie vibrations, tilting, and other movements. Adding this data to track condition assessments will make maintenance locations and priorities clearer, enabling more effective preventive maintenance and improved safety levels. The onboard Shinkansen imaging system will use 48 cameras installed at the front ends of Cars 1 and 7, on the sides of Car 3, and on the roof to continuously capture high-resolution images and record infrastructure conditions and the environment along the railway line in detail. This will improve the efficiency of comparison inspections against previous records and enable more accurate monitoring of the railway-side environment, including trees along the line that could disrupt train operations.
The nickname embodies the meaning of “bravely soaring upward,” drawn from the group management vision “Yusho 2034.” “SOAR” means “to fly high” in English and conveys the idea of soaring toward safety. The letter “O” also represents “zero” accidents, reflecting the goal of achieving ultimate safety.
While retaining the white base color of East-i, the livery expresses “courage” in shades of red, evoking energy, and “soaring” in shades of green, inspired by wings spreading and rising. The detailed design of the actual train is scheduled to be finalized around this autumn.
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