E4 Series Shinkansen

E4 Series Shinkansen
Set P82 in October 2021
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Designer(s)	Tetsuo Fukuda
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1997 – 2003
Number built	208 cars (26 sets)
Dimensions	1012 in (25,700 mm) (end cars) × 133 in (3,380 mm) × 176.6 in (4,485 mm)
Gauge	4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	25 kV AC (50/60 Hz)
Traction system	Variable frequency (3-level IGBT)
Service information
In service	20 December 1997 – 17 October 2021
Branding	Max
Formation	8 cars per set
Number in service	None
Fleet numbers	P1 – P22, P51 – P52, P81 – P82
Refurbished	2014 – 2015
Scrapped	2013 – 2022
Preservation information
Preserved	1 car
Number scrapped	207 cars (19 sets)

The E4 Series Shinkansen is a Japanese high-speed double deck electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company from December 1997 to October 2021. These are essentially an update of the E1 Series Shinkansen introduced some three years prior.

Design

The E4 is a double-decker or bi-level train. It is designed to operate on lines, and at times, that are busy. Basically it is two trains in one, to help stop congestion of the lines. P51 and P52, early 2001 sets, were designed to run up steep gradients, since the Nagano line has such grades. P81 and P82 were designed for gradients and to run under both 50 Hz and 60 Hz. Meaning that they can run on both sides of the island of Honshu (main isle).

History

The first set, P1, was delivered on the 8th of October 1997. Early sets entered service from the 20th of December 1997. The entire fleet of existing trains was repainted from 2014 to 2015 to have a new livery reminiscent of that used by the E1 Series sets.

It was announced in early 2011 that the entire fleet of E4 Series sets was to be retired by 2016. Their retirements were then postponed a number of times, ultimately being pushed back to 2020. However, this was also not met, as the trains being redeployed on the Jōetsu Shinkansen in larger numbers to supplement E7 and W7 Series Shinkansen sets that suffered flood damage due to effects of Typhoon Hagibis. JR East subsequently announced that the trains would be retired in fall 2021 in December 2020; the sets were withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021 and fully retired from services on 17 October 2021.

Specifications

• Built: 1997-2003
• Builder(s): Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
• Number built: 26 sets
• Formation: 8 cars per trainset
• Car body construction: Aluminum
• Car length: 82 ft (25,000 mm) (middle cars), 84 ft 4 in (25,700 mm) (head/tail cars)
• Width: 11 ft 1 in (3,380 mm)
• Maximum speed: 150 mph (240 km/h)
• Power: 9,010 hp (6.72 MW)
• Electrical system: 25 kV AC, 50 Hz (50/60 Hz for P81-82) overhead wires
• Collection method: Pantograph (Cars 4 and 6 hold the pantographs)
• Gauge: 4 ft 8½ in (1,435 mm)

Preservation

The following E4 Series Shinkansen cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
E444-1	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	October 1997	March 2016	P1	Niitsu Railway Museum, Niigata, Japan	Ex-first production set P1; interior not usually open for public viewing

Gallery

Set P8 in March 2009

Roofline

References

• Wikipedia.org