E4 Series Shinkansen
| E4 series | |
|---|---|
E4 series train set P20 on a Joetsu Shinkansen Max Tanigawa service in February 2021 | |
| In service | 20 December 1997 – 17 October 2021 (23 years, 301 days) |
| Manufacturers | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
| Family name | Max |
| Constructed | 1997–2003 |
| Entered service | December 1997 |
| Scrapped | 2013–2022 |
| Number built | 208 vehicles (26 sets) |
| Number in service | None |
| Number preserved | 1 vehicle |
| Number scrapped | 207 vehicles (26 sets) |
| Successor | E7 series |
| Formation | 8 cars per trainset |
| Fleet numbers | P1–P22, P51–P52, P81–P82 |
| Capacity | 817 (54 Green + 763 standard) |
| Operator | JR East |
| Depots | Niigata, Sendai |
| Lines served | Jōetsu, Tōhoku, Nagano/Hokuriku |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Train length | 151.4 m (497 ft) |
| Car length | End cars: 25.7 m (84 ft), Intermediate cars: 25 m (82 ft) |
| Width | 3.38 m (11.1 ft) |
| Height | 4.485 m (14.7 ft)[1] |
| Doors | 2 per side, per car |
| Maximum speed | 240 km/h (150 mph) |
| Weight | 428 t (944,000 lb) |
| Traction system | Mitsubishi IGBT-VVVF |
| Traction motors | 16 × 420 kW (560 hp) AC |
| Power output | 6,720 kW (9,010 hp) |
| Acceleration | 1.65 km/(h⋅s) (1.03 mph/s) |
| Deceleration |
|
| Electric systems |
|
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| UIC classification | 2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′ |
| Braking systems | Regenerative, pneumatic |
| Safety systems | ATC-2, DS-ATC |
| Multiple working | Up to two units, 400 or E3 series |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The E4 series (Japanese: E4系) was a Shinkansen high-speed train type operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan from December 1997 until October 2021. It was the second double-deck Shinkansen train type, after the E1 series, and was marketed under the name Max (an acronym for Multi-Amenity eXpress).[2] A total of 26 eight-car trainsets were built by Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries between 1997 and 2003. The type was withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021.
Like the E1 series, the E4 series was introduced to relieve overcrowding on services on the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen, and it also saw occasional use on the Nagano Shinkansen (now known as the Hokuriku Shinkansen). The double-deck design was adopted to increase seating capacity for peak periods, with some cars using 3+3 seating. Although each trainset comprised only eight cars, two sets could be coupled together to provide 16-car formations with 1,634 seats, the highest-capacity high-speed train configuration in the world.[3]
Unlike the steel carbodies of the E1 series, the E4 series used lightweight aluminium construction. However, the trainsets remained significantly heavier than single-deck designs, limiting the maximum operating speed to 240 kilometres per hour (150 mph). Double-deck Shinkansen 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
E4 series sets were used on the following services.
- Joetsu Shinkansen
- Tohoku Shinkansen
- Max Nasuno (20 December 1997 – 28 September 2012)
- Max Yamabiko (20 December 1997 – 28 September 2012)
- Hokuriku Shinkansen
Formation
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | T1c | M1 | M2 | T | Tk | Mp | Ms | Tpsc |
| Numbering | E453-100 | E455-100 | E456-100 | E458 | E459-200 | E455 | E446 | E444 |
| Seating capacity | 75 | 133 | 119 | 124 | 110 | 122 | 91 | 43 |
Cars 4 and 6 were each equipped with a PS201 pantograph.[7]
Interior
As with the earlier E1 series, the upper decks of non-reserved cars 1 to 3 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 4 to 8, had conventional 2+3 seating. The Green car areas on the upper decks of cars 7 and 8 had 2+2 seating. In total, the trains accommodated 817 passengers.[8]
-
Green class saloon (upper deck), February 2011
-
Standard-class reserved car lower deck with 2+3 seating
-
Standard-class non-reserved car upper deck with non-reclining 3+3 seating
-
Vestibule area and stairway
History
The first E4 series set, P1, was delivered to Sendai Depot on 8 October 1997, with the first sets entering revenue-earning service on the Tohoku Shinkansen from 20 December 1997.[7]
All cars were made no-smoking from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007.[7]
In March 2011, it was announced that the entire E4 series fleet would be withdrawn by around 2016.[9]
In September 2012, E4 series were entirely withdrawn from Tohoku Shinkansen services, and all allocated for use on Joetsu Shinkansen services only.[10] The trains were withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021,[11] and were completely retired on 17 October of the same year.
From 2014, the fleet of 24 sets still in service began to be repainted, receiving a new livery identical to that of the E1 series trains, with a toki (crested ibis) pink stripe separating the white on the upper body and blue on the lower body. The first reliveried set, P5, was returned to service in early April 2014,[12] with the entire fleet be treated by the end of fiscal 2015.[13]
-
Original "Max" logo in May 2014 prior to refurbishment
-
"Max" logo on a refurbished set in April 2014
Fleet list
A total of 26 eight-car trainsets were built by Hitachi and Kawasaki Heavy Industries between 1997 and 2003.
Sets P51 and P52 were designed for operation on the steep gradients of the Nagano Shinkansen for services to Karuizawa Station.[7] Sets P81 and P82 were also designed for the Nagano Shinkansen and were equipped to operate under both 50 Hz and 60 Hz overhead power supplies for services to Nagano Station.[7]
Withdrawals began in July 2013 with sets P2 and P3.[14] A ceremonial "last-run" service ran on 1 October 2021,[15] with the final set formally withdrawn on 30 March 2022.
End car E444-1 from set P1 is displayed at the Niigata City Niitsu Railway Museum in Niitsu, Niigata.[16] It was transported by road from Niigata Depot to the museum in the early hours of 20 June 2017.[17]
Build details are as shown below:[7]
| Set | Manufacturer | Delivered | Repainted | Withdrawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Kawasaki | 8 October 1997 | 12 May 2015 | 2 April 2016[18] |
| P2 | Hitachi | 20 October 1997 | N/a | 3 July 2013[14] |
| P3 | Kawasaki | 27 October 1997 | N/a | 26 July 2013[14] |
| P4 | Hitachi | 10 February 1999 | 10 February 2016 | 15 September 2017 |
| P5 | Kawasaki | 22 February 1999 | 3 April 2014 | 5 December 2017[19] |
| P6 | Hitachi | 15 March 1999 | 11 June 2014 | 13 January 2018[19] |
| P7 | Hitachi | 14 April 1999 | 25 March 2015 | 29 May 2019 |
| P8 | Kawasaki | 31 May 1999 | 3 July 2015 | 20 June 2019 |
| P9 | Hitachi | 21 June 1999 | 20 August 2015 | 12 July 2019 |
| P10 | Kawasaki | 12 July 1999 | 4 February 2015 | 7 May 2019 |
| P11 | Hitachi | 26 July 2000 | 3 March 2016 | 28 October 2021 |
| P12 | Hitachi | 28 August 2000 | 13 April 2016 | 24 November 2021 |
| P13 | Kawasaki | 11 September 2000 | 10 May 2016 | 20 December 2021 |
| P14 | Hitachi | 13 October 2000 | 1 June 2016 | 18 January 2022 |
| P15 | Kawasaki | 16 October 2000 | 17 October 2016 | 17 December 2019 |
| P16 | Hitachi | 27 November 2000 | 1 May 2014 | 24 August 2020 |
| P17 | Hitachi | 21 March 2001 | 30 September 2014 | 14 February 2022 |
| P18 | Kawasaki | 4 June 2001 | 30 April 2015 | 22 February 2021 |
| P19 | Kawasaki | 25 June 2001 | 20 August 2015 | 18 March 2021 |
| P20 | Hitachi | 16 July 2001 | 9 October 2015 | 26 April 2021 |
| P21 | Kawasaki | 9 October 2001 | 4 November 2015 | 27 May 2021 |
| P22 | Kawasaki | 20 November 2001 | 18 December 2015 | 21 June 2021 |
| P51 | Kawasaki | 31 January 2001 | 7 July 2014 | 25 November 2020 |
| P52 | Kawasaki | 20 February 2001 | 27 August 2014 | 5 October 2021 |
| P81 | Hitachi | 30 July 2003 | 22 July 2015 | 7 May 2021 |
| P82 | Kawasaki | 20 November 2003 | 19 January 2016 | 30 March 2022 |
See also
- TGV Duplex, French double-deck high speed train
- List of high-speed trains
References
- ^ 高速鉄道物語 : その技術を追う [The Story of High-Speed Rail: Tracing the Technology] (in Japanese). Tōkyō: Seizandō Shoten. 1999. ISBN 9784425923212.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 鉄道のテクノロジーVol1: 新幹線 [Railway Technology Vol.1: Shinkansen]. Japan: Sanei Mook. April 2009. ISBN 978-4-7796-0534-5.
- ^ "Retirement of the E4 series, Japan's last double-decker Shinkansen". International High-speed Rail Association. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ a b c JR Diesel Passenger Car Formation Table (2002 ed.). JR Chronology. 1 July 2002. p. 185. ISBN 4882831236.
- ^ "The history of E4 Series Max". JR East. Retrieved 28 May 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f JR電車編成表 2010夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2010]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2010. p. 9. ISBN 978-4-330-14310-1.
- ^ Saito, Masatoshi (9 March 2011). JR東: 2階建て新幹線「Max」5年後全廃 老朽化進み [JR East to withdraw all "Max" double-decker trains within 5 years]. Mainichi jp (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. Archived from the original on 10 March 2011. Retrieved 9 March 2011.
- ^ JR電車編成表 2018冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2018] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 15 November 2017. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-330-84117-5.
- ^ "JR East to Retire the Last Double-Decker Shinkansen Train – Japan Station". japanstation.com. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
- ^ E4系P編成が塗装変更を実施 [E4 series P sets repainted]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 7 April 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2014.
- ^ "上越新幹線(E4系)のエクステリアデザインが生まれ変わります!" [Exterior design of Joetsu Shinkansen E4 series to be updated] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company – Niigata Division. 26 March 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 March 2014. Retrieved 27 March 2014.
- ^ a b c JR電車編成表 2014冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2014]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 1 December 2013. p. 356. ISBN 978-4-330-42413-2.
- ^ "JR News: Thank You, Max! E4 Series Shinkansen Makes Last Run on 1 October 2021". JAPAN RAIL CLUB. 5 October 2021. Retrieved 5 January 2026.
- ^ 新津鉄道資料館 新規実物車輌展示 [New rolling stock exhibits at Niigata City Niitsu Railway Museum]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 7 June 2017. Archived from the original on 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
- ^ 深夜の住宅街、新幹線ゆっくり陸送 新潟 [Shinkansen transported slowly by road late at night through residential area in Niigata]. The Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan. 21 June 2017. Archived from the original on 21 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
- ^ JR車両のうごき [JR rolling stock changes]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45, no. 389. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. September 2016. pp. 81, 357.
- ^ a b JR車両のうごき [JR rolling stock changes]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 47, no. 407. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. March 2018. p. 103.
External links
- E4 Series Max Toki/Max Tanigawa (in Japanese) (Archived on 24 July 2017)