East Japan Railways unveils new E7 shinkansen bullet train

East Japan Railway has unveiled its latest model of the Shinkansen bullet train to service a new line connecting Tokyo and the Japan Sea coast. The new Shinkansen bullet train (E7 series) is fitted with a rubber device to plow through snow in the icy Hokuriku region.


There is a luxury Gran Class car that seats only 18 passengers. And travelers in all seats will be able to plug computers into power outlets — a first for the bullet train.

The Hokuriku Shinkansen line will be an extension of the existing Nagano Shinkansen line that links Tokyo with Nagano in central Japan. It will shorten the rail trip between Tokyo and the coastal region’s key city of Kanazawa from roughly 4 hours to about 2 and a half. The line extension will open in March 2015. But travelers between Tokyo and Nagano will be able to ride the E7 series from this coming March.