The is an

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a numbe ...

(EMU) train operated by

Central Japan Railway Company is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as JR Tōkai ( ja, JR東海, links=no). ''Tōkai'' is a reference to the geographical ...

(JR Central) in Japan between 1991 and 2014. Originally used on '' Asagiri''

limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common ...

services in conjunction with

Odakyu Electric Railway , commonly known as Odakyū, is a major railway company based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for its ''Romancecar'' series of limited express trains from Tokyo to Odawara, Enoshima, Tama New Town, and Hakone. The Odakyu Electric Railway Company fo ...

, from 2012 until its withdrawal in 2014, the train was used on

Gotemba Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). It connects Kōzu Station in Odawara to Numazu via Gotemba. The '' Mt. Fuji'' limited express service runs between Tokyo's Shinjuku Station and Gotemb ...

excursion services. It was subsequently sold to the private railway operator

Fuji Kyuko , commonly abbreviated as Fujikyu, is a passenger transportation company headquartered in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Japan. The company operates the Fujikyuko Line railway and regional and long-distance bus routes. The company also operates the Te ...

and rebuilt as the Fujikyu 8500 series for use on ''Fujisan Tokkyu'' services from March 2016.

Design

The lone 7-car 371 series set was built jointly by

Hitachi () is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Ni ...

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (or simply Kawasaki) is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headq ...

, and

Nippon Sharyo , formed in 1896, is a major rolling stock manufacturer based in Nagoya, Japan. In 1996, it abbreviated its name to "日本車両" Nippon Sharyō. Its shortest abbreviation is Nissha "日車". It was a listed company on Nikkei 225 until 2 ...

Operations

From its introduction on 16 March 1991 until 16 March 2012, the 371 series set was used alongside the two

Odakyu 20000 series RSE The (Resort Super Express) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated between 1991 and March 2012 by the private railway operator Odakyu Electric Railway on '' Asagiri'' limited express services in Japan. Operations Up until 16 Ma ...

EMUs on '' Asagiri'' services run jointly by the

private railway A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector. Japan In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railway o ...

operator

and JR Central between Odakyu's Tokyo terminus at and JR Central's

Numazu Station is an interchange railway station on the Tōkaidō Main Line in the city of Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan, operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). The station is also a freight terminal and rail yard for the Japan Freight Railway Comp ...

Shizuoka Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshu. Shizuoka Prefecture has a population of 3,637,998 and has a geographic area of . Shizuoka Prefecture borders Kanagawa Prefecture to the east, Yamanashi Prefecture to the northea ...

via the

. In addition to the daytime ''Asagiri'' services, the train was also used on the following "

Home Liner is the generic name given to limited-stop commuter train services operated by railway companies in Japan, which require the purchase of a supplementary or in addition to the base fare ticket. The supplementary ticket guarantees passengers a seat ...

" limited-stop commuter services. * ''Home Liner Numazu'' * ''Home Liner Hamamatsu'' * ''Home Liner Shizuoka'' From 17 March, the 371 series and 20000 series trains were replaced by

Odakyu 60000 series MSE The (Multi Super Express) is a Romancecar electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Odakyu Electric Railway in Japan since March 2008. The trains are used on Odakyu through service to the Tokyo Metro Chiy ...

EMUs on ''Asagiri" services. From June 2012, the 371 series set was used on additional limited-stop "Rapid" services on the Gotemba Line connected with a series of hiking events.

Formation

The one 7-car set, X1, was formed as follows. The two Green (first class) cars, 3 and 4, were bilevel cars. Cars 1, 5, and 7 are each fitted with one C-PS27A single-arm pantograph. File:JRC Kumoha371-101.jpg, KuMoHa 371-101 File:JRC Moha370-101.jpg, MoHa 370-101 File:JRC Saroha371-101.jpg, SaRoHa 371-101 File:JRC Saroha371-1.jpg, SaRoHa 371-1 File:JRC Moha371-201.jpg, MoHa 371-201 File:JRC Moha370-1.jpg, MoHa 370-1 File:JRC Kumoha371-1.jpg, KuMoHa 371-1

Interior

Standard class cars had regular 2+2 seating. The two bilevel cars had Green (first class) accommodation on the upper decks with 2+1 seating, and standard-class accommodation on the lower decks, also with 2+1 seating. File:Inside of JR 371.jpg, Standard class car interior, February 2009 File:Green Car of JR 371.jpg, Bilevel car upper deck (Green class) accommodation, February 2009 File:First Floor Inside of JR 371.jpg, Bilevel car lower deck (standard class) accommodation, February 2009

History

The 371 series set entered service on 16 March 1991. From 24 June 1997, car 7 was made no-smoking, and from 18 March 2007, all cars were made no-smoking. From 6 November 2006, the original PS24A lozenge-type pantographs were replaced with C-PS27A single-arm pantographs.

Withdrawal

The 371 series was withdrawn from ''Asagiri'' services following its last run on 16 March 2012. It was subsequently re-employed as a special charter train for use from autumn 2012. The train was finally withdrawn from service after a final run on 30 November 2014.

Resale

In December 2014, it was announced that the private railway operator

planned to purchase the trainset, and reform it as a three-car set for use on ''Fujisan Tokkyu'' services later in fiscal 2015. The train was moved from Shizuoka to JR East's Nagano Works for rebuilding work in March 2015.

References

External links

JR Central 371 series information
{{JR Central EMU Electric multiple units of Japan Central Japan Railway Company Train-related introductions in 1991 Hitachi multiple units Kawasaki multiple units Nippon Sharyo multiple units 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan