The train cars Series 838 were developed as a replacement for the Series 381 to constitute and make the Express "Shinano" more streamlined and cooler in preparation for the then planned Nagano Olympics. They were released in 1994 as JR Tokai's pendulum-type express train cars. Following the Series 381 "Panorama Shinano," various compositions of 6, 4, or 2 cars of series 383 including the streamlined Nagano-bound front car Kuro 383 and other front cars with gangway door openable for train combination are in operations.

 

Composition of Trains