The E6 Series Shinkansen uses tilting technology to serve the Akita Shinkansen’s winding route.
JR East introduced the E6 Series in 2013 to replace older E3 trains on Komachi services between Tokyo and Akita. The train is designed for both high-speed Shinkansen tracks and narrower, slower sections of the route in northern Japan.
Its active suspension can tilt the train body slightly through curves, helping maintain speed and passenger comfort on sections where conventional high-speed trains would need to slow more sharply. E6 sets are commonly coupled to E5 trains between Tokyo and Morioka.
The E6 is sometimes mistaken for the E3 because both served Akita routes. The E3 was the earlier generation, while the E6 introduced a newer nose design, updated equipment and a higher maximum speed on the Tohoku Shinkansen.