E4 series
E4 series train set P20 on a Joetsu ShinkansenMax Tanigawa service in February 2021
In service	20 December 1997 – 17 October 2021 (23 years, 301 days)
Manufacturer	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)
Operators	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	MitsubishiIGBT-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	Service: 2.69 km/(h⋅s) (1.67 mph/s) Emergency: 4.04 km/(h⋅s) (2.51 mph/s)
Electric system(s)	Overhead line:    25 kV 50 Hz AC    25 kV 60 Hz AC (Sets P81/P82)
Current collection	Pantograph
UIC classification	2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′+2′2′+Bo′Bo′+Bo′Bo′+2′2′
Braking system(s)	Regenerative,pneumatic
Safety system(s)	ATC-2,DS-ATC
Multiple working	Up to two units,400 orE3 series
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)standard gauge

TheE4 series (Japanese:E4系) was aShinkansen high-speed train type operated by theEast Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan from December 1997 until October 2021. It was the seconddouble-deck Shinkansen train type, after theE1 series, and was marketed under the name Max (an acronym forMulti-Amenity eXpress).^[2] A total of 26 eight-car trainsets were built byHitachi andKawasaki 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 The type was withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021.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 theTōhoku andJōetsu Shinkansen, and it also saw occasional use on the Nagano Shinkansen (now known as theHokuriku 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]

E4 series sets were used on the following services.

• Joetsu Shinkansen
  • Max Asahi (7 May 2001 – November 2002)^[5]
  • Max Tanigawa (7 May 2001 – 1 October 2021)^[5]
  • Max Toki (7 May 2001 – 1 October 2021)^[5]
• 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)^[6]

Cars 4 and 6 were each equipped with a PS201 pantograph.^[7]

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. TheGreen 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

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 atoki (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

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 toKaruizawa 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 toNagano 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.^{[citation needed]}

End car E444-1 from set P1 is displayed at the Niigata City Niitsu Railway Museum inNiitsu, 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]

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

Wikimedia Commons has media related toE4 series Shinkansen.

• E4 SeriesMax Toki/Max Tanigawa(in Japanese) (Archived on 24 July 2017)

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