The 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). 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 All were refurbished between 2003 and 2006, and the type was withdrawn from regular service on 28 September 2012.

Originally planned to be classified as 600 series, 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 .

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 on newer types—shortening travel times and allowing increased service frequency.

Operations E1 series sets were used on the following services. Joetsu Shinkansen Max Asahi (15 July 1994 – November 2002) Max Tanigawa (15 July 1994 – September 2012) Max Toki (December 2002 – 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)

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.

Pre-refurbishment

Post-refurbishment

Formation The fleet of 12-car sets, numbered M1 to M6, were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. 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 Upper-levelaccommodationNon-reserved (3+3)Reserved (2+3)Green (2+2)Reserved (2+3) Lower-levelaccommodationReserved (2+3) Total 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.

Fleet details SetManufacturerDeliveredRepaintedRefurbishedDS-ATC addedWithdrawn 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

History

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). 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. The original livery comprised "sky grey" on the upper body and "silver grey" on the lower body, separated by a "peacock green" stripe.

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. The fleet was also used at various times on Max Yamabiko, Max Asahi, Max Toki, and Max Aoba services.

Refurbishment

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.

Withdrawal

The first two sets were withdrawn in April 2012: M1 on 2 April and M2 on 14 April. The remaining sets were withdrawn from service with the start of the revised timetable on 29 September 2012.

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

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.

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.

Preserved examples

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.

See also TGV Duplex, French double-deck high speed train List of high speed trains

References

External links