The E1 series (E1系) was a high-speed Shinkansen train type operated by East Japan Railway Company 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". The fleet was withdrawn from regular service on 28 September 2012.
E1 series train set M5 in September 2012
An E1 series train at Takasaki Station on a Joetsu Shinkansen Max Toki service in 2008
Green car upper deck in January 2002
Standard class reserved car upper deck in January 2002
The Shinkansen , colloquially known in English as the bullet train, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan. Initially, it was built to connect distant Japanese regions with Tokyo, the capital, to aid economic growth and development. Beyond long-distance travel, some sections around the largest metropolitan areas are used as a commuter rail network. It is owned by the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency and operated by five Japan Railways Group companies.
A lineup of JR East Shinkansen trains in October 2012
A lineup of JR West Shinkansen trains in October 2008
A 0 series set in Tokyo, May 1967
Shinkansen standard gauge track, with welded rails to reduce vibration