December 4
Yamagata Shinkansen was extended to Shinjo
History Since the Establishment of JR East
1990s
1999
August 2
Second tranche of JR EAST shares marketed
July 16
Operation of the new all-double-decker Cassiopeia sleeper train began
April 29
Station service managers introduced
April 18
Granduo Tachikawa opened at the South Exit of Tachikawa Station
February 19
Niitsu Rolling Stock Manufacturing Factory (now Japan Transport Engineering Company Nittsu Branch) obtained ISO 14001 certification
February 2
Safety Plan 21 announced
1998
December 8
- ・ Replaced all Hitachi trains on the Joban Line to Fresh Hitachi trains
- ・ New trains (Series E2) introduced on Jōetsu Shinkansen Asahi
November 1
- ・ Use of the Shinkansen early-warning earthquake detection system began
- ・ Flore Shinagawa shopping mall (now ecute Shinagawa South) in Shinagawa Station opened
October 4
JR East Art Center/Shiki Theatre opened
April 1
- ・ Established Hachioji Branch Office
- ・ Established JR East Management Service Co., Ltd.
March 27
Niitsu Rolling Stock Manufacturing Factory (now Japan Transport Engineering Company Nittsu Branch) obtained ISO 9001 certification
1997
December 20
Max (Series E4) double-decker Shinkansen trains debuted
October 16
Shinkansen automatic ticket gate system introduced at Ueno Station
October 12
Train collision occurred at Ōtsuki Station
October 1
- ・ Fresh Hitachi limited express trains debuted on the Joban Line
- ・ Short-distance Tanigawa trains introduced on the Jōetsu Shinkansen Line
- ・ Asama Shinkansen service debuted on the Nagano Shinkansen Line
May
Silver Seats renamed to Priority Seats
April 4
Received the 6th Global Environment Award
April 1
- ・ Hachiōjiminamino Station on the Yokohama Line opened
- ・ Established JR East Department Store Co., Ltd.
- ・ Implemented a fare revision following the consumption tax rate change
March 22
- ・ Smoking and non-smoking areas established at all stations; all local trains made completely non-smoking
- ・ Tōhoku Shinkansen begins operation at 275 km/h
- ・ Akita Shinkansen Komachi debuts
February 1
LUMINE Card service began
1996
December 2
Established JR East Convenience Store Co., Ltd. (now JR East Cross Station Co., Ltd.)
October 1
Established Yokohama Branch Office
May 1
Opened Kokubunji J Kids Station, the Group's first station-integrated nursery school
March 16
Saikyo Line extends service to Ebisu Station
March 13
JR East website opened
1995
December 1
Nasuno trains, a short-distance Shinkansen service, debuted on the Tokyo-Nasushiobara section
November 28
Signed a cooperation agreement with Societe Nationale des Chemins de fer Francais (SNCF) or France
September 22
Signed a cooperation agreement with Ferrovie dello Stato S.p.A of Italy
July 7
First long-term residential hotel, Folkloro Tono, opened
April 3
Hotel Metropolitan Nagano opened
April 1
- ・ Introduced budget rental car service (6,800 yen/day)
- ・ Started sales of View gift certificates
1994
October 3
Niitsu Rolling Stock Manufacturing Factory (now Japan Transport Engineering Company Nittsu Branch) begins operation
July 15
Max (Series E1) double-decker Shinkansen trains debuted
May 24
Opened JR-EAST HOTEL METS KUMEGAWA, the Group’s first lodging-specialized hotel
March 1
Basic Safety Plan announced
1993
December 21
Low-noise high-speed test train STAR21 recorded a top speed of 425 km/h during test runs
November 9
Asia Railway Safety Seminar held
October 26
Listed on the Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Niigata stock exchanges
July 2
New limited express trains View Wakashio and View Sazanami debuted on the Uchibo and Sotobo lines
February 2
ViewCard service began
1992
November 2
Signed a cooperation agreement with Deutsche Bahn AG of Germany
September 1
Established overseas travel agency View World Co., Ltd. (now JR EAST VIEW TOURISM AND SALES COMPANY LIMITED)
July 1
Tsubasa Shinkansen service debuted on the Yamagata Shinkansen Line
April 1
- ・ Established the JR East Committee on Ecology
- ・ Established JR East Mechatronics Co., Ltd.
March 17
Established the East Japan Railway Culture Foundation
1991
June 20
Tohoku/Jōetsu Shinkansen services began at Tōkyō Station
June 11
Professional soccer team JR East Furukawa Football Club was established
April 1
- ・ The Technical Research and Development Division was restructured and renamed the General Technology Development Promotion Division, and a Technical Center was established
- ・ Established LUMINE Co., Ltd.
March 19
Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station opened and Narita Express limited express trains debuted
March 14
Established JR East Rental & Lease Co., Ltd.
March 1
IO Card automatic ticket reader-compatible prepaid card sales launched (Ended March 31, 2005)
1990
December 20
Opening of Gala Yuzawa Station and its adjoining Gala Yuzawa Snow Resort
October 14
Unveiled Future21, a business concept for the 21st century
August 1
Established JR East Facility Management Co., Ltd.
June 23
Double-decker trains debut on Tōhoku Shinkansen
April 21
New automatic ticket gate machines systems introduced at Tōkyō Station and Komagome Station
April 16
Launch of the Disaster Prevention Information System (PreDAS) at the Tokyo Area Operation Headquarters
April 2
Established The Ekibiru Development Co. Tokyo (now atré Co., Ltd.)
April 1
Morioka and Akita branches upgraded to branch offices
March 31
Acquired a capital stake in Nippon Shokudo Co., Ltd. (now JR East Cross Station Co., Ltd.)
March 10
- ・ Keiyo Line between Tokyo and Soga stations is fully operational
- ・ Began commercial operation on the Jōetsu Shinkansen at Japan’s top speed of 275 km/h