E1 Series Shinkansen

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox train

The Template:Nihongo was a high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan from July 1994 until September 2012. They were the first double-deck trains built for Japan's Shinkansen. They were generally, along with their fellow double-deck class the E4 series, known by the marketing name "Max" (Multi-Amenity eXpress).<ref name="neko2006">Template:Cite book</ref> The fleet was withdrawn from regular service on 28 September 2012.<ref name="jreast20120706"/>

Originally intended to be classified as 600 series,<ref name="yamanouchi2002">Template:Cite book</ref> the E1 series trains were introduced specifically to relieve overcrowding on services used by commuters on the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen.

OperationsEdit

E1 series sets were used on the following services.<ref name="jrr2012_summer">Template:Cite book</ref>

Joetsu Shinkansen
- Max Asahi (15 July 1994 – November 2002)
- Max Tanigawa (15 July 1994 - September 2012)
- Max Toki (15 July 1994 - 28 September 2012)
Tohoku Shinkansen
- Max Aoba (15 July 1994 - 1 October 1997)
- Max Nasuno (15 July 1994 - December 1999)
- Max Yamabiko (15 July 1994 – December 1999)

File:E1inTakasaki.JPG

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

InteriorEdit

The E1 series was the first revenue-earning shinkansen to feature 3+3 abreast seating in standard class for increased seating capacity. The upper deck saloons of non-reserved cars 1 to 4 were arranged 3+3 with no individual armrests, and did not recline. The lower decks of these cars, and the reserved-seating saloons in cars 5 to 12 had regular 2+3 seating. The Green car saloons on the upper decks of cars 9 to 11 had 2+2 seating. The trains had a total seating capacity of 1,235 passengers.<ref name="theshinkansen2001">Template:Cite book</ref>

Pre-refurbishmentEdit

E1 green upper Gala-Yuzawa 20020101.JPG

Green car upper deck in January 2002
E1 std upper reserved Gala-Yuzawa 20020101.JPG

Standard class reserved car upper deck in January 2002
E1 std upper non-reserved Gala-Yuzawa 20020101.JPG

Standard class non-reserved car upper deck with non-reclining 3+3 seating in January 2002
E1 std lower reserved Gala-Yuzawa 20020101.JPG

Standard class reserved car lower deck in January 2002
E1 std lower non-reserved Gala-Yuzawa 20020101.JPG

Standard class non-reserved car lower deck in January 2002

Post-refurbishmentEdit

JR East E1series E146-3 Green reserve seat.jpg

Car 11 Green car upper deck in October 2011
JR East E1series E146-3 reserve seat.jpg

Car 11 standard class reserved car lower deck in October 2011

FormationEdit

The fleet of 12-car sets, numbered M1 to M6, were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.<ref name="jrr2009">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name="jrr2009"/>

Fleet detailsEdit

Set No.	Manufacturer	Delivered	Reliveried	Refurbished	DS-ATC added	Withdrawn
M1	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	3 March 1994	17 September 2004	10 July 2004	15 September 2005	2 April 2012<ref name="jrr2013_winter">Template:Cite book</ref>
M2	Hitachi	23 March 1994	27 November 2004	4 June 2005	5 August 2005	14 April 2012<ref name="jrr2013_winter"/>
M3	Hitachi / Kawasaki Heavy Industries	6 February 1995	26 December 2003	31 March 2004	2 November 2005	29 August 2012<ref name="jrr2013_winter"/>
M4	Hitachi	17 October 1995	25 November 2003	2 October 2003	2 February 2006	7 December 2012<ref name="jrr2013_summer">Template:Cite book</ref>
M5	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	3 November 1995	11 March 2006	6 June 2006	11 March 2006	4 October 2012<ref name="jrr2013_summer"/>
M6	Hitachi / Kawasaki Heavy Industries	22 November 1995	27 November 2005	23 December 2005	27 November 2005	7 November 2012<ref name="jrr2013_summer"/>

(Sources:<ref name="jrr2009"/><ref name="dj339">Template:Cite magazine</ref>)

HistoryEdit

File:Shinkansen-e1.jpg

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, sporting "DDS E1" logos (DDS standing for double-deck shinkansen).<ref name="jrr1998">Template:Cite book</ref> ローカル鉄道途中下車の旅 The first two E1 series sets delivered entered revenue-earning service on the Tohoku Shinkansen on 15 July 1994, with the original "DDS" logos replaced by "Max" logos.<ref name="yamanouchi2002"/> The original livery was "sky grey" on the upper body side and "silver grey" on the lower body side, separated by a "peacock green" stripe.<ref name="jrr2009"/>

From 4 December 1999, all six trainsets were transferred from Sendai Depot to Niigata Depot, with operations limited to use on Joetsu Shinkansen Max Asahi and Max Tanigawa services only.<ref name="jrr2009"/> Two sets were used on Max Yamabiko services between Tokyo and Morioka, two sets were used on Max Asahi services between Tokyo and Niigata. One set was used on Max Toki services between Takasaki and Tokyo, and one set was used on Max Aoba services between Nasushiobara and Tokyo.

RefurbishmentEdit

File:JR East Shinkansen E1(renewal).jpg

Refurbished set M4 in May 2008

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

All cars were made no-smoking from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007.<ref name="jrr2009"/>

WithdrawalEdit

File:E1 Sendai 20121006.jpg

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

The first two sets were officially withdrawn in April 2012: M1 on 2 April, and M2 on 14 April.<ref name="dj339"/> The remaining fleet was withdrawn from service from the start of the revised timetable on 29 September 2012.<ref name="jreast20120706">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

A special Template:Nihongo service ran from Niigata to Tokyo on 27 October 2012 using an E1 series set,<ref name="jreast20120912">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> followed by a final run from Tokyo to Niigata on 28 October 2012, using set M4.<ref name="railfan20121029">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Bodyside logosEdit

Between 1 December 2001 and 31 March 2002, the E1 series fleet was adorned with "Alpen Super Express" logos as part of JR East's "JR + Snow" promotional campaign.<ref name="yamanouchi2002"/>

From mid August 2012 until the fleet's final withdrawal on 28 September, the remaining three sets had a second toki crested ibis added to their logos to celebrate the rare hatching of ibis chicks in the wild.<ref name="jreast20120726">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

E1 Max logo M1 Omiya 20031202.JPG

Original "Max" logo in December 2003 prior to refurbishment
E1 Max logo Omiya 20020314.jpg

"Alpen Snow Express" promotional logo in March 2002
Shinkansen E1 Max Toki logo.jpg

"Max" logo on a refurbished set in April 2010
Shinkansen E1 Max Toki logo added.jpg

Modified "Max" logo in August 2012

Preserved examplesEdit

File:E1 Shinkansen the railway museum.jpg

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.<ref name="railfan20171221">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>