The was a
tilting 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 type operated by
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
(JR East) on
Chuo Main Line ''
Super Azusa
The ''Azusa'' ( ja, あずさ) is a limited express service operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which mainly run between and via the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line. The name ''Azusa'' is taken from the Azusa River in Mat ...
''
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 Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in December 1993 (initially on ''Azusa'' services), a total of 60 vehicles were built, formed as five eight-car main sets (numbers S1 to S5) and five four-car supplementary (numbers S21 to S25) sets.
Concept
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 ...
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 ...
,
the tilting E351 series trains were intended to replace the aging
183 series
The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West ...
EMUs used on ''
Azusa Azusa may refer to:
Relating to California
From a Native American language, likely Tongva ''Asuksagna:''
*Azusa, California, a city in the United States
*Azusa Pacific University, a Christian-based institution in Azusa, California
*Azusa Street Rev ...
''
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 operating between in Tokyo and Matsumoto, and to increase speeds on the highly curved
Chūō Main Line
The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It connects Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faste ...
.
Operations
At the time of withdrawal in 2018, the E351 series trains were used on the following services:
* ''
Super Azusa
The ''Azusa'' ( ja, あずさ) is a limited express service operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which mainly run between and via the Chūō Main Line and Shinonoi Line. The name ''Azusa'' is taken from the Azusa River in Mat ...
'' limited express services (3 December 1994 - 16 March 2018) - through service to the
Oito Line withdrawn 12 March 2010
* ''
Chūō Liner'' rapid services (15 March 2008 - 16 March 2018) - Commuter services on the Chuo Main Line
Other services previously operated by the series include:
* ''
Azusa Azusa may refer to:
Relating to California
From a Native American language, likely Tongva ''Asuksagna:''
*Azusa, California, a city in the United States
*Azusa Pacific University, a Christian-based institution in Azusa, California
*Azusa Street Rev ...
'' limited express services (23 December 1993 - 2 December 1994)
* ''
Ohayo Liner Shinjuku'' / ''
Home Liner Odawara'' rapid services (16 March 1996 - 14 March 2008) - Commuter services on the
Tokaido Main Line
Formations
![JREast-E351-Coupling](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/JREast-E351-Coupling.JPG)
The fleet consisted of five four-car sets (S21–S25) and five eight-car sets (S1–S5), formed as shown below, with car 1 (car 5) at the Shinjuku or Tokyo end.
4-car sets S21–S22
* Car 4 had a retracting gangway.
* Car 2 was fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
* Cars 2 and 4 were fitted with toilets.
4-car sets S23–S25
* Car 4 had a retracting gangway.
* Car 2 was fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
* Cars 2 and 4 were fitted with toilets.
8-car sets S1–S2
* Car 5 had a retracting gangway.
* Cars 6 and 10 were each fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
* Cars 6, 8, 10, and 12 were fitted with toilets.
8-car sets S3–S5
* Car 5 had a retracting
gangway
Broadly speaking, a gangway is a passageway through which to enter or leave. Gangway may refer specifically refer to:
Passageways
* Gangway (nautical), a passage between the quarterdeck and the forecastle of a ship, and by extension, a passage th ...
.
* Cars 6 and 10 were each fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
* Cars 6, 8, 10, and 12 were fitted with toilets.
Original set formations
When first delivered, the two pairs of sets were numbered and formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Shinjuku end.
Interior
Both standard class and Green (first) class seating were arranged 2+2 abreast.
E351 series trains were made entirely no-smoking on 18 March 2007.
File:Inside of JR E351.JPG, Green car interior
File:Green Car seat of JR E351 20071102.jpg, Green car seating
File:Seat of JR E351.JPG, Standard-class seating
History
Introduction
Two pairs of first-batch sets (S1+S21 and S2+S22) were delivered in 1993,
and were introduced on ''Azusa'' services from 23 December 1993.
''Super Azusa'' introduction
From the start of the revised timetable on 3 December 1994, four return ''Azusa'' workings were upgraded and rebranded as ''Super Azusa'', operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto or Minami-Otari using E351 series equipment.
2nd batch
Three pairs of second-batch sets were delivered in 1995,
and the first two pairs of sets (S1+S21 and S2+S22) were modified to bring them up to production specifications at JR East's Nagano Workshop 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 ...
, respectively, in March 1996.
Modifications included replacing the original PS26C lozenge-type pantographs with PS31 single-arm pantographs, and renumbering the cars in the -1000 series.
From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 1996, the number of ''Super Azusa'' services using E351 series equipment was increased from four return trips daily to eight return trips.
1997 Ōtsuki Station collision
On 12 October 1997, the down ''Super Azusa 13'' service from Shinjuku to Matsumoto (formed of sets S3+S23) was involved in a collision with a
201 series
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit (measurement), unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment ...
local train that had overrun a red signal while passing through
Ōtsuki Station
is a railway station on the Chūō Main Line in the city of Ōtsuki, Yamanashi, Japan, jointly operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Fuji Kyuko.
Lines
Ōtsuki Station is served by the Chūō Main Line (including Chūō Line ( ...
. Several cars were derailed and one car overturned. Five cars of set S3 were ultimately cut up on site, and replacement car bodies ordered from Hitachi. The rebuilt vehicles retained their original running numbers.
Withdrawal
The replacement of the E351 series trains by new
E353 series
The is a DC tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services on the Chuo Main Line since December 2017.
A pre-series train, consisting of one nine-car set ...
EMUs began on 23 December 2017, with the entire fleet phased out from regular passenger services on 16 March 2018.
A special final run service was held on 7 April 2018 to commemorate the E351 series sets' retirement, after which the sets were officially withdrawn.
After their withdrawal, the trains were transferred to Nagano General Rolling Stock Center for scrapping. No E351 series cars have been preserved.
Build details
The individual build details for the fleet are as shown below.
References
External links
JR E351 ''Super Azusa''
{{JR East EMU
Electric multiple units of Japan
Tilting trains
East Japan Railway Company
Hitachi multiple units
Train-related introductions in 1993
Nippon Sharyo multiple units
1500 V DC multiple units of Japan