The 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). 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 The type was withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021.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.
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 . Double-deck Shinkansen trainsets subsequently fell out of use as lighter single-deck designs supported higher operating speeds—up to on newer types—shortening travel times and allowing increased service frequency.
Operations E4 series sets were used on the following services. Joetsu Shinkansen Max Asahi (7 May 2001 – November 2002) Max Tanigawa (7 May 2001 – 1 October 2021) Max Toki (7 May 2001 – 1 October 2021) Tohoku Shinkansen Max Nasuno (20 December 1997 – 28 September 2012) Max Yamabiko (20 December 1997 – 28 September 2012) Hokuriku Shinkansen Max Asama (22 July 2001 – 15 September 2003)
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 Upper-levelaccommodationNon-reserved (3+3)Reserved (2+3)Green (2+2) Lower-levelaccommodationReserved (2+3) Total seating capacity 75 133 119 124 110 122 91 43
Cars 4 and 6 were equipped with a PS201 pantograph.
Interior
The upper decks of cars 1 to 3 had non-reserved seating with fixed, non-reclining bench seats arranged 3+3 without individual armrests. The E4 series and E1 Max series were the only Shinkansen trains to use 3+3 seating. The upper decks of cars 7 and 8 contained the Green car, with 2+2 seating. All other passenger areas had reserved ordinary-class seating arranged 2+3. The trains had a total capacity of 817 passengers.
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.
All cars were made no-smoking from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007.
In March 2011, it was announced that the entire E4 series fleet would be withdrawn by around 2016.
In September 2012, E4 series were entirely withdrawn from Tohoku Shinkansen services, and all allocated for use on Joetsu Shinkansen services only. The trains were withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021, 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, with the entire fleet be treated by the end of fiscal 2015.
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. 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.
Withdrawals began in July 2013 with sets P2 and P3. A ceremonial "last-run" service ran on 1 October 2021, 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. It was transported by road from Niigata Depot to the museum in the early hours of 20 June 2017.
Build details are as shown below: Set Manufacturer Delivered Repainted Withdrawn P1 Kawasaki 8 October 1997 12 May 2015 2 April 2016 P2 Hitachi 20 October 1997 3 July 2013 P3 Kawasaki 27 October 1997 26 July 2013 P4 Hitachi 10 February 1999 10 February 2016 15 September 2017 P5 Kawasaki 22 February 1999 3 April 2014 5 December 2017 P6 Hitachi 15 March 1999 11 June 2014 13 January 2018 P7Hitachi 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 P12Hitachi 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 P17Hitachi 21 March 2001 30 September 2014 14 February 2022 P18 Kawasaki 4 June 2001 30 April 2015 22 February 2021 P19Kawasaki 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 P22Kawasaki 20 November 2001 18 December 2015 21 June 2021 P51Kawasaki 31 January 2001 7 July 2014 25 November 2020 P52Kawasaki 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
External links
E4 Series Max Toki/Max Tanigawa (Archived on 24 July 2017)