Japan's first all-freight bullet train is about to travel!

Rail Transit Exhibition News Japan's first bullet train dedicated to freight transportation is expected to be operational between Tokyo and Morioka this fall. According to company internal sources, the East Japan Railway Company plans to retrofit an E3 series Shinkansen by removing all passenger seats in seven cars and installing devices to prevent load transfer. The company expects increased demand for commodities such as precision equipment and high-end fresh fish as the new service is faster and smoother than traditional freight trains. Currently, some Shinkansen trains carry cargo in spaces other than the seating area.

A senior JR East official said the new service will be able to handle larger shipments and significantly increase shipping volumes. The renovated train will be connected to another Shinkansen train carrying passengers. It will be the first bullet train dedicated to freight transportation since the opening of the Tokaido Shinkansen in 1964.

The company plans to develop a dedicated freight Shinkansen, which will be equipped with larger doors for smoother loading and unloading operations.

The improved E3 series was introduced because it took time to design a completely new train.

The E3 series currently operates as a Tsubasa train on the Yamagata Shinkansen line connecting Tokyo and Shinjo in Yamagata Prefecture.

Last year, JR East began replacing the E3 series trains with the latest version of the E8 series trains.

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