Shinkansen E7 and W7 Series

The E7 and W7 series are Japanese high-speed electric multiple unit trains for the Hokuriku and Jōetsu Shinkansen lines, jointly developed by the East Japan Railway Company, which runs the E7, and the West Japan Railway Company, which runs the W7. The E7 entered service on 15 March 2014 and the W7 followed in March 2015 when the line was extended to Kanazawa. Their Japanese-themed styling was overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama together with Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and the design is based on the earlier E2 series. Manufacturing was shared between Hitachi at Kudamatsu and Kawasaki Heavy Industries at Kobe, with J-TREC building additional E7 sets and Kinki Sharyo additional W7 sets. A twelve-car set seats 934 passengers in Gran Class, Green car and ordinary class, and the design speed is 275 kilometres per hour. Both types won the 2015 Blue Ribbon Award of the Japan Railfan Club.