E1 Series Shinkansen

E1 series
E1 series train set M5 in September 2012
In service15 July 1994 – 28 September 2012 (18 years, 75 days)
Manufacturer
Family nameMax
Constructed1994–1995
Refurbished2003–2006
Scrapped2012
Number built72 vehicles (6 sets)
Number in serviceNone
Number preserved1 vehicle
Number scrapped71 vehicles
Formation12 cars per trainset
Fleet numbersM1–M6
Capacity1,235
OperatorsJR East
DepotsSendai, Niigata
Lines servedTōhoku, Jōetsu
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length
  • End cars: 26.05 m (85 ft 6 in)
  • Intermediate cars: 25 m (82 ft)
Width3.43 m (11 ft 3 in)
Height4.493 m (14 ft 9 in)
DoorsTwo per side
Maximum speed240 km/h (150 mph)
Traction motors24 × 410 kW (550 hp) MT204 AC
Power output9,840 kW (13,200 hp)
Acceleration1.6 km/(h⋅s) (0.99 mph/s)
Electric system(s)Overhead line, 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Current collectionPS201 pantograph
Bogies
  • Motored: DT205
  • Trailer: TR7003
Safety system(s)ATC-2, DS-ATC
Multiple workingNone
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge

The E1 series (Japanese: E1系) was a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan from July 1994 until September 2012. It was the first double-deck train type built for the Shinkansen network and, together with the later E4 series, was marketed under the name Max (an acronym for Multi-Amenity eXpress).[1] A total of six 12-car trainsets were built by Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries between 1994 and 1995. All were refurbished between 2003 and 2006, and the type was withdrawn from regular service on 28 September 2012.[2]

Originally planned to be classified as 600 series,[3] the E1 series was introduced to relieve overcrowding on services on the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen lines. The double-deck design was adopted to increase seating capacity for peak commuter demand. Seating capacity was further increased by using 3+3 seating, giving a total capacity of 1,235 passengers per trainset. The trainsets had a maximum operating speed of 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph).

The E1 series had steel carbodies, reflecting structural requirements associated with its double-deck design, whereas later Shinkansen types increasingly adopted lightweight aluminium alloy construction. Double-deck trainsets subsequently fell out of use as lighter single-deck designs supported higher operating speeds—up to 320 kilometres per hour (200 mph) on newer types—shortening travel times and allowing increased service frequency.[4]

Operations

E1 series sets were used on the following services.[5]

An E1 series train at Takasaki Station on a Joetsu Shinkansen Max Toki service in 2008

Interior

The E1 series was the first revenue-earning Shinkansen to feature 3+3-abreast seating in class to increase capacity. The upper decks of non-reserved cars 1 to 4 were arranged 3+3, with fixed seats that did not recline and no individual armrests. The lower decks of these cars, and the reserved-seat areas in cars 5 to 12, had conventional 2+3 seating. The Green car areas on the upper decks of cars 9 to 11 had 2+2 seating. In total, the trains accommodated 1,235 passengers.[6]

Pre-refurbishment

  • Green car upper deck in January 2002
    Green car upper deck in January 2002
  • Standard class reserved car upper deck in January 2002
    Standard class reserved car upper deck in January 2002
  • Standard class non-reserved car upper deck with non-reclining 3+3 seating in January 2002
    Standard class non-reserved car upper deck with non-reclining 3+3 seating in January 2002
  • Standard class reserved car lower deck in January 2002
    Standard class reserved car lower deck in January 2002
  • Standard class non-reserved car lower deck in January 2002
    Standard class non-reserved car lower deck in January 2002

Post-refurbishment

  • Car 11 Green car upper deck in October 2011
    Car 11 Green car upper deck in October 2011
  • Car 11 standard class reserved car lower deck in October 2011
    Car 11 standard class reserved car lower deck in October 2011

Formation

The fleet of 12-car sets, numbered M1 to M6, were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.[7]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Designation T1c M1 M2 T1 T2 M1 M2 Tpk Tps M1s M2s T2c
Numbering E153-100 E155-100 E156-100 E158-100 E159 E155 E156 E158-200 E148 E145 E146 E154
Seating capacity 86 121 135 124 110 91 75 91 80
Weight (t) 56.2 59.2 61.2 53.7 53.6 59.2 61.7 55.2 54.6 59.2 62.0 56.5

Cars 6 and 10 were each equipped with a PS201 scissors-type pantograph.[7]

Fleet details

Set Manufacturer Delivered Repainted Refurbished DS-ATC added Withdrawn
M1 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 3 March 1994 17 September 2004 10 July 2004 15 September 2005 2 April 2012
M2 Hitachi 23 March 1994 27 November 2004 4 June 2005 5 August 2005 14 April 2012
M3 Hitachi / Kawasaki Heavy Industries 6 February 1995 26 December 2003 31 March 2004 2 November 2005 29 August 2012
M4 Hitachi 17 October 1995 25 November 2003 2 October 2003 2 February 2006 7 December 2012
M5 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 3 November 1995 11 March 2006 6 June 2006 11 March 2006 4 October 2012
M6 Hitachi / Kawasaki Heavy Industries 22 November 1995 27 November 2005 23 December 2005 27 November 2005 7 November 2012
Sources:[7][8][9][10]

History

E1 series set M6 in original livery in November 2004

The first E1 series set, M1, was delivered to Sendai Depot on 3 March 1994, carrying "DDS E1" logos (DDS standing for double-deck Shinkansen).[11] The first two sets entered revenue service on the Tōhoku Shinkansen on 15 July 1994, by which time the original "DDS" logos had been replaced with "Max" logos.[3] The original livery comprised "sky grey" on the upper body and "silver grey" on the lower body, separated by a "peacock green" stripe.[7]

From 4 December 1999, all six trainsets were transferred from Sendai Depot to Niigata Depot, with operations thereafter limited to Jōetsu Shinkansen services, including Max Asahi and Max Tanigawa.[7] The fleet was also used at various times on Max Yamabiko, Max Asahi, Max Toki, and Max Aoba services.

Refurbishment

Refurbished set M4 in May 2008

From late 2003, the fleet underwent refurbishment, including the installation of new seating and repainting into a new livery of "stratus white" on the upper body and "aster blue" on the lower body, separated by an "ibis pink" stripe.

All cars became no-smoking from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007.[7]

Withdrawal

Withdrawn E1 series shinkansen cars awaiting scrapping at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot in October 2012

The first two sets were withdrawn in April 2012: M1 on 2 April and M2 on 14 April.[8] The remaining sets were withdrawn from service with the start of the revised timetable on 29 September 2012.[2]

A special "Thank you Max Asahi" service operated from Niigata to Tokyo on 27 October 2012,[12] followed by a final run from Tokyo to Niigata on 28 October 2012 using set M4.[13]

Bodyside logos

Between 1 December 2001 and 31 March 2002, the E1 series fleet carried "Alpen Super Express" logos as part of JR East's "JR + Snow" promotional campaign.[3]

From mid-August 2012 until final withdrawal on 28 September, the remaining three sets had a second toki crested ibis added to their bodyside logos to mark the hatching of ibis chicks in the wild.[14]

  • Original "Max" logo in December 2003 prior to refurbishment
    Original "Max" logo in December 2003 prior to refurbishment
  • "Alpen Snow Express" promotional logo in March 2002
    "Alpen Snow Express" promotional logo in March 2002
  • "Max" logo on a refurbished set in April 2010
    "Max" logo on a refurbished set in April 2010
  • Modified "Max" logo in August 2012
    Modified "Max" logo in August 2012

Preserved examples

E1 Series Shinkansen static display at Railway Museum in Saitama.

One E1 series car is preserved: car E153-104 of set M4. This was moved to the Railway Museum in Saitama in December 2017, and is on display since spring 2018.[15]

See also

References

  • Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen – The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-88-5.
  1. ^ JR全車輌ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006. ISBN 4-7770-0453-8.
  2. ^ a b 2012年9月ダイヤ改正について [September 2012 Timetable Revision Details] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 6 July 2012. p. 2. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tohoku & Joetsu Shinkansen]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. p. 147. ISBN 4-533-04513-8.
  4. ^ "Retirement of the E4 series, Japan's last double-decker Shinkansen". International High-speed Rail Association. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
  5. ^ JR電車編成表 2012夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2012. p. 14. ISBN 978-4-330-28612-9.
  6. ^ The 新幹線 [The Shinkansen]. Japan: Sansuisha. 2001.
  7. ^ a b c d e f JR電車編成表 2009夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2009]. Japan: JRR. June 2009. p. 8. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8.
  8. ^ a b 東北新幹線 30年の歴史を振り返る [Tohoku Shinkansen: Looking back over 30 years of history]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 339. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. July 2012. p. 24.
  9. ^ JR電車編成表 2013冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. November 2012. p. 354. ISBN 978-4-330-33112-6.
  10. ^ JR電車編成表 2013夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2013. p. 355. ISBN 978-4-330-37313-3.
  11. ^ JR電車編成表 '98夏号 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 1998]. Japan: JRR. July 1998. p. 6. ISBN 4-88283-029-9.
  12. ^ おかげさまで上越新幹線開業30周年 [Joetsu Shinkansen 30th Anniversary Celebrations] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company, Niigata Division. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2012.
  13. ^ E1系, 営業運転から引退 [E1 series withdrawn from revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
  14. ^ 上越新幹線E1系にも「朱鷺のひな」が誕生します [Ibis chicks also to appear on Joetsu Shinkansen E1 series trains] (PDF) (in Japanese). Niigata, Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 August 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  15. ^ 鉄道博物館にE1系が搬入される [E1 series moved to Railway Museum]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 December 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2017. Retrieved 21 December 2017.
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