Infinite Universe Theory Evidence
"The overall concept of the New Theatrical Edition can be compared to a railroad. In Prelude (1.0), trains departing from the same point will at first run in the same direction, but sooner or later they come across rail switch points and the familiar scenery starts to change. This is why the introductory part is called Prelude.
Building on that base, Part 2 Break departs, with a few exceptions,from mere reproduction of past material to proceed to a new creation. This includes the appearance of new characters and new Evangelions."
-Hideaki Anno, Evangelion 2.0 disc production booklet (which I own so this is a direct quote)
As you can see, Anno has described the various incarnations of Evangelion as a group of separate trains travelling parallel to one another, until they hit points where they no longer run parallel, and each sets out to become something entirely different than the others. Key switch points are events such as new Angels, New characters, and of course, different 3rd impacts. Events and switch points such as these ultimately make each version of Evangelion an entirely different incarnation, only linked by their starting point, and the time they traveled together.
On another note I'd like to point out that trains seem to have had some major symbolism in Eva. Shinji runs away on trains like a hedgehog hobo, there's plenty of train transitions, Shinji's mind palace is on a train, seriously trains are everywhere.
zoruarghr. itswikhS
