The is a DC
electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter and suburban train type operated by
East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The commuter variant was introduced on
Yamanote Line
The Yamanote Line ( ja, 山手線, Yamanote-sen) is a loop service in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban c ...
services in November 2015, and the suburban variant entered service on the
Sōbu Rapid and
Yokosuka
is a city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.
, the city has a population of 409,478, and a population density of . The total area is . Yokosuka is the 11th most populous city in the Greater Tokyo Area, and the 12th in the Kantō region.
The city ...
Lines on 21 December 2020.
Design features
The E235 series design was developed from the earlier
E233 series
The is a commuter and suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type developed by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) from the earlier E231 series and the E531 series design. The first train was introduced in December 2006 for use on the C ...
trains, and like the E233 and
E231 series
The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type used for commuter and outer-suburban services operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan since 2000.
Design
Trains were manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy In ...
trains, the new E235 series trains have stainless steel bodies.
The exterior styling was overseen by the industrial design firm
Ken Okuyama Design
Ken Okuyama (born 1959) is a Japanese industrial designer. He is the owner of the Ken Okuyama Design company. Okuyama formerly worked for Pininfarina, designing and supervising projects such as the Enzo Ferrari and Ferrari P4/5. His given name is ...
.
Baggage racks and hand-holds have been lowered for easier access and the seats are wider than previous trains. The car interiors also have up to 36 digital monitors for various informational displays. The window behind the drivers cab has been lowered so children can get a better view of the operator of the cars. The temperature of each car is also monitored; the system can predict the number of passengers at upcoming stations and adjust the temperature for passenger comfort. This information is also communicated to a smart phone application, allowing customers to choose in which car to ride based on their temperature preference. In 2017, the E235 series received the
Laurel Prize
The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1961 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by the selection committee as having the most outstanding functional and des ...
.
File:JReast-E235-DT80.jpg, A DT80 motor bogie
File:デジタルサイネージ.jpg, LCD advertising screens
File:10号車のデジタルサイネージ.jpg, LCD advertising screens inside a SaHa E235-4600 series car
File:TcE235 19 Security Camera.jpg, Security camera in an E235 series car
Variants
*
E235-0 series: 11-car sets used on the
Yamanote Line
The Yamanote Line ( ja, 山手線, Yamanote-sen) is a loop service in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban c ...
*
E235-1000 series: 11+4-car sets used on
Yokosuka Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
The Yokosuka Line connects Tokyo Station with in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. Officially, the name Yokosuka Line is assigned to the 23.9 km segment between an ...
and
Sōbu Rapid Line, with through services to the
Narita Line,
Sotobō Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, on the eastern (i.e., outer) side of the Bōsō Peninsula. It connects Chiba Station in Chiba to Awa-Kamogawa Station in Kamo ...
,
Uchibō Line
The is a railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) adjacent to Tokyo Bay, paralleling the western (i.e., inner) shore of the Bōsō Peninsula. It connects Soga Station in the city of Chiba to Awa-Kamogawa Station in ...
,
Kashima Line, and
Sōbu Main Line
The is a Japanese railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It connects Tokyo with the east coast of Chiba Prefecture, passing through the cities of Funabashi, Chiba, and Chōshi. Its name derives from the ol ...
History
Details of the E235 series design were first announced in July 2014.
The first, pre-series set 01, train was delivered from the
J-TREC factory at
Akiha-ku, Niigata
is one of the eight wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. , the ward had an estimated population of 76,086 in 29,843 households and a population density of 800 persons per km². The total area of the ward ...
in March 2015,
with test-running commencing on the Yamanote Line on 30 March.
Set number 01 entered revenue service on 30 November 2015, with a departure ceremony at Osaki Station, but was taken out of service later the same day following faults with door-close indicators and problems stopping at the correct position along the station platform.
Test running on the Yamanote Line resumed from 27 December.
The train returned to revenue service on the Yamanote Line on 7 March 2016.
In June 2016, JR East announced its official plans for the introduction of a fleet of 49 full-production sets (539 vehicles) between spring 2017 and spring 2020.
Most units would be built as 10-car sets and use converted former E231-500 series SaHa E231-4600 cars, while two units would be built as 11-car sets.
The first full-production standard set, 02, was delivered from the J-TREC factory in Niigata in April 2017.
This entered service on 22 May 2017.
In April 2018, JR East announced the replacement of the existing
E217 series
The is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in the Kantō region of Japan since 1994.
Design
Introduced in 1994 to replace the 113 series EMUs running on the Sōbu Line (Rapid) a ...
on the
Sōbu Line (Rapid)
The Sōbu Line (Rapid) ( ja, 総武快速線, ) is a railway service on the Sōbu Main Line in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Tokyo Station in Chūō, Tokyo with Chiba Station ...
and
Yokosuka Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
The Yokosuka Line connects Tokyo Station with in Yokosuka, Kanagawa. Officially, the name Yokosuka Line is assigned to the 23.9 km segment between an ...
by new E235 series trains beginning in fiscal 2020. The fleet will consist of 51 11-car trains and 46 four-car trains, for a total of 745 cars to be newly constructed.
The first train entered service on 21 December 2020.
E235-0 series
A total of 50 11-car trains were delivered for use on the Yamanote Line, replacing the
E231-500 series in use since 2002.
A pre-series train was delivered in March 2015, first entering revenue service from 30 November 2015, but then taken out of service for three months before re-entering service in March 2016.
The pre-series set (01) was converted to the full production standard by 14 March 2018.
Formations
, 50 11-car sets (01–50) are based at Tokyo General Rolling Stock Centre and formed with six motored ("M") cars and five non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
All but two sets have SaHa E235-4600 cars (Car 10), which are modified from former
E231-500 series SaHa E231-4600 cars.
* On the pre-series set (01), car 3 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, car 6 has PS33H and PS36A single-arm pantographs (one used as a backup), and car 9 has one PS33H single-arm pantograph.
* On the remaining production sets (02-50), cars 3 and 9 each have one PS33H single-arm pantograph and car 6 has two PS33H single-arm pantographs (one used as a backup).
* All cars have an accessible/priority "free space".
* Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
Exterior
File:JR east KuhaE234-1.jpg, KuHa E234-1 (Car 1)
File:JR East mohaE234-3 20150419.jpg, MoHa E234-3 (Car 2)
File:JR East mohaE235-3 20150419.jpg, MoHa E235-3 (Car 3)
File:JR East SahaE235-1 20150419.jpg, SaHa E235-1 (Car 4)
File:JR East mohaE234-2 20150419.jpg, MoHa E234-2 (Car 5)
File:JR East mohaE235-2 20150419.jpg, MoHa E235-2 (Car 6)
File:JR East SahaE234-1 20150419.jpg, SaHa E234-1 (Car 7)
File:JR East mohaE234-1 20150419.jpg, MoHa E234-1 (Car 8)
File:JR East mohaE235-1 20150419.jpg, MoHa E235-1 (Car 9)
File:JR East SahaE235-4620 20150419.jpg, SaHa E235-4620 (Car 10)
File:JR east KuhaE235-1.jpg, KuHa E235-1 (Car 11)
Interior
Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout, with an individual seat width of per person, compared to for the earlier E231-500 series.
Priority seating is provided at both ends of each car (except in end cars), and a space for wheelchairs or strollers is provided at one end of each car.
LED lighting is used throughout.
The initial plan was for paper advertisements inside the cars to be completely abolished, replaced by 18 LCD colour advertising screens in each car,
but following feedback from advertising companies and users, the first train to enter service will include traditional paper advertisements in addition to the LCD screens.
The full-production sets (02 onward) incorporate a number of design changes. Whereas in the pre-series set 01, the luggage rack height was generally with a height of in the end cars and in priority seating areas, this is standardized as 1,628 mm throughout from set 02 onward.
The handrails next to seats in the full-production sets have an embossed surface compared with the polished metal surface used in the pre-series set.
File:JR East SajaE235-4620 seat 20150419.jpg, 7-person bench seating in car SaHa E235-4620 (former SaHa E231-4600 car)
File:JRE-Series-E235_Inside_Priority-Seats.jpg, Priority seat
File:JRE-Series-E235_Inside.jpg, The interior of a full-production KuHa E234 car in June 2021
SaHa E235-500/-4600 series cars
The car 10 position on the E235-0 series trains has a slightly different door spacing, to more closely align with the driver cab of 10-car
Keihin–Tōhoku Line
The is a railway line in Japan which connects the cities of Saitama, Kawaguchi, Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network. The line's name is derived from the characters for Tokyo ( ja, 東 ...
trains, which sometimes have to share platforms with Yamanote Line trains during track maintenance. In 48 of the 50 sets, car 10 is a SaHa E235-4600 series car, and externally appear different from the other cars. These cars were originally built in 2010–2011 as
SaHa E231-4600 series cars (and were built to E233 series standards), and were modified to E235 specifications when the E231-500 series was withdrawn from the Yamanote Line. The remaining two sets, sets 4 and 5, have a new build SaHa E235-500 series car in the car 10 position, in order to allow for a more reasonable 90-day timeframe for modification works on the remaining cars (as it would have been difficult to perform the modifications in 45 days).
Special liveries
In October 2022, set 15 was repainted into an all-over black livery to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the opening of the railway. The
Netflix
Netflix, Inc. is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service and production company based in Los Gatos, California. Founded in 1997 by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in Scotts Valley, California, it offers a fi ...
logo also appears on the sides of the carriages. It will remain with this livery until 31 December 2022.
File:Japan_railways_150th_Anniversary_train_by_Yamanote_Line_03.jpg, Set 15 in all-over black livery, October 2022
E235-1000 series
The E235-1000 series fleet will consist of a total of 745 cars (consisting of 51 11-car trains and 46 four-car trains) for use on the Sōbu Line (Rapid) and Yokosuka Line, replacing the
E217 series
The is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in the Kantō region of Japan since 1994.
Design
Introduced in 1994 to replace the 113 series EMUs running on the Sōbu Line (Rapid) a ...
in use since 1994.
The fleet was introduced into service on 21 December 2020.
On 21 April 2020, the Green cars of the first set were completed at the J-TREC factory in Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama and transported to the J-TREC factory in Niigata to be joined with standard cars. On 3 June 2020, the first 11-car set was completed at Niigata; it was delivered to Kamakura Depot on 8 June 2020. The first 4-car set was completed at Niigata on 16 June 2020 and was delivered on 19 June 2020.
Formations
11-car sets
, 16 11-car sets (F-01–F-16) are based at Kamakura Depot and formed with six motored ("M") cars and five non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
* Cars 7 and 10 each have one single-arm pantograph and car 3 has two single-arm pantographs (one used as a backup).
* Cars 1-3 and 6-11 have an accessible/priority "free space".
* Cars 1, 5, and 6 each have a toilet (
universal design
Universal design is the design of buildings, products or environments to make them accessible to people, regardless of age, disability or other factors. It addresses common barriers to participation by creating things that can be used by the ma ...
in cars 1 and 6).
* Car 8 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
* Cars 4 and 5 are bilevel Green Cars.
File:E235-1000 series Green car Saro E234-1001.jpg, Bi-level Green car
4-car sets
, 13 four-car sets (J-01–J-13) are based at Kamakura Depot and formed with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
* Car +3 has two single-arm pantographs (one used as a backup).
* All cars have an accessible/priority "free space".
* Car +1 has a universal design toilet.
Interior
As with their counterparts on the Yamanote Line, passenger accommodation for ordinary cars consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout.
A space for wheelchairs or strollers is provided at one end of each car, except on Green cars. The seats are wider than those seen in earlier E217 series cars. The information screens measure 21 inches, and display information in multiple languages. LED lighting is used throughout.
Surveillance cameras are also equipped in order to increase safety.
File:E235-1000 inside.jpg, Interior
File:Series-E235-1000-inside-Priority seating 01.jpg, Wheelchair and stroller space
File:Series-E235-1000-inside-Priority seating 02.jpg, Priority seating
File:Series-E235-1000-Digital signage-On the door.jpg, Passenger information screen
File:E235-1000-driving seat.jpg, Driver's cab
Green car accommodation consists of reclining, 2+2 abreast seating throughout. Also included are power outlets, which are equipped under the seats' armrests.
File:Series-E235-1000 Green-car-2F.jpg, Upper level of a Green car
File:Series-E235-1000 Green-car-1F.jpg, Lower level of a Green car
Notes
References
External links
J-TREC press release
{{JR East EMU
Electric multiple units of Japan
East Japan Railway Company
Train-related introductions in 2015
1500 V DC multiple units of Japan
J-TREC multiple units