The is a DC

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 number ...

(EMU) train type operated in Japan for limited express services 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 ar ...

(JR East) and built jointly by

Hitachi () is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Nissan ''zaibatsu'' and later DKB Group and Fuyo G ...

Kinki Sharyo is a Japanese manufacturer of railroad vehicles based in Osaka. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation. In business since 1920 (as Tanaka Rolling Stock Works) and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945. They have produced light r ...

, and

Tokyu Car Corporation Tokyu may refer to: * Tokyu Group, a group of companies centered on Tokyu Corporation ** Tokyu Corporation The is a Japanese multinational '' keiretsu'' (conglomerate) holding company headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo. Its main operation is , ...

Variants

* E257-0 series: ''

Azusa Azusa may refer to: Relating to California From a Native American language, likely Tongva language, Tongva ''Asuksagna:'' *Azusa, California, a city in the United States *Azusa Pacific University, a Christian-based institution in Azusa, California ...

'', '' Kaiji'' * E257-500 series: '' Sazanami'', ''

Wakashio The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs from to and on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. Station stops ''Wakashio'' services operate over the Keiyo Line and ...

'', ''

Shiosai The is a limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs from and to on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture. Station stops ''Shiosai'' services operate over the Sōbu Main Line, s ...

'', '' Ayame'' * E257-2000/-2500 series: '' Odoriko'', '' Shōnan'' *E257-5000/-5500 series: additional services Four variants exist: the original E257-0 series for use on

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 ...

'' and '' Kaiji'' limited-express services until 16 March 2019 (displaced by E353 series EMUs), the E257-500 series for use on Chiba area limited express services ( Uchibo Line '' Sazanami'', Sotobo Line ''

'',

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 ...

'', and Narita and Kashima Lines '' Ayame''), the E257-2000/-2500 used for '' Odoriko'' services modified from former E257-0 and -500 series trains, and the E257-5000/5500 from former E257-0 and -500 trains for use on additional and charter services.

E257-0 series

This sub-series was introduced on 1 December 2001 to replace the aging 183 and 189 series rolling stock on Chuo Main Line ''

'' and '' Kaiji'' services. Based at

Matsumoto Matsumoto (松本 or 松元, "base of the pine tree") may refer to: Places * Matsumoto, Nagano (松本市), a city ** Matsumoto Airport, an airport southwest of Matsumoto, Nagano * Matsumoto, Kagoshima (松元町), a former town now part of the c ...

depot, the fleet consisted of sixteen 9-car sets (M101 to M116) with a full cab at the Matsumoto end and a gangwayed cab at the Tokyo end, and five 2-car "add-on" sets (M201 to M205) with a full cab at the Tokyo end and a shunting cab at the Matsumoto end. The type was the recipient of the 45th Blue Ribbon Award (2002) of the Japan Railfan Club. From 2018, the E257 series trains were replaced by E353 series EMUs on Chuo Main Line ''Azusa'' and ''Kaiji'' limited express services. From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2019, E257 series trains were no longer used on regular Chuo Main Line limited express services. The trains were modified into E257-2000 series trainsets and redeployed on Tokaido Main Line '' Odoriko'' services from 14 March 2020. Several sets are still under refurbishment and three sets which has been reserved to be used on charter and extra services were modified into E257-5000s.

Operations

Former operations

Shinonoi Line The is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri. The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and th ...

, and Oito Line **''

'': Chiba -

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...

Shinjuku is a special ward in Tokyo, Japan. It is a major commercial and administrative centre, housing the northern half of the busiest railway station in the world ( Shinjuku Station) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, the administration ...

- Minamiotari **'' Kaiji'': Tokyo - Shinjuku -

Kōfu is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households, and a population density of 880 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Overview Toponymy Kōfu's name means " ...

- Ryūō **'' Chūō Liner'': Tokyo - Shinjuku - Hachiōji - Takao (now replaced by Ldt. Express '' Hachioji'') **'' Ōme Liner'': : Tokyo - Shinjuku -

Tachikawa 250px, Showa Memorial Park is a city located in the western portion of Tokyo Metropolis, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 184,383 in 93,428 households, and a population density of 7600 persons per km2. The total area of the ci ...

- Ōme (now replaced by Ldt. Express '' Ōme'') **Rapid service (no additional charge required): Matsumoto - Nagano Matsumoto-based E257 series trains were also used on the ''Ohayo Liner Shinjuku'' and ''Home Liner Odawara'' commuter services running on the Tokaido Main Line until 14 March 2008.

Formations

The nine-car sets (M101 to M116) were formed as follows. * Cars 4, 6, and 9 were each fitted with one PS37 single-arm pantograph. The two-car sets (M201 to M205) were formed as follows. * Car 2 is fitted with one PS37 single-arm pantograph. File:Series-E257-M103.jpg, A 9-car set on a ''Kaiji'' service, with a gangwayed KuHa E257-100 car leading File:E257 Coupling of JR East.JPG, The gangway connection between a KuMoHa E257 car (left) and KuHa E257 car (right)

Interior

File:JREaste-SeriesE257-0NormalSeat.JPG, Standard class seating (2+2) File:JREaste-SeriesE257-0GreenCarSeat.JPG, Green class seating (2+2) File:E257-freespace.jpg, Mini-lounge area in car 9, previously a smoking area (until March 2007)

E257-500 series

The E257-500 sub-series version was delivered between July 2004 and October 2005, with the first sets entering service from 16 October 2004 on Uchibo Line '' Sazanami'' and Sotobo Line ''

'' limited-express services, replacing older 183 series rolling stock. Based at Makuhari depot in

Chiba Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama Prefecture to t ...

, the fleet consists of 19 5-car sets (NB01 to NB19). Unlike the Chūō Line variant, these sets have gangways at both ends. Due to the reduction of the Chiba area limited express services, several trains are being used for the Chuo and Fujikyuko Line '' Fuji Excursion'' services and other charter and extra services. In addition to these, 4 sets are planned for conversion into E257-2500 to be used on

Tōkaidō Main Line The is a major Japanese railway line of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) network, connecting and stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities. The high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen largely parallel ...

'' Odoriko'' limited express services, with further 5 sets to be converted to E257-5500 for use on additional services.

Formation

The five-car E257-500 series sets (NB01 to NB19) are formed as follows. Cars 2 and 4 are each fitted with one PS37 single-arm pantograph. File:E257-500 NB-10 KuHa E256-510 Choshi Station 20130824.JPG, KuHa E256-500 File:E257-500 NB-10 MoHa E257-1510 Choshi Station 20130824.JPG, MoHa E257-1500 File:E257-500 NB-10 MoHa E256-510 Choshi Station 20130824.JPG, MoHa E256-500 File:E257-500 NB-10 MoHa E257-510 Choshi Station 20130824.JPG, MoHa E257-500 File:E257-500 NB-10 KuHa E257-510 Choshi Station 20130824 (1).JPG, KuHa E257-500

Services operated

* Uchibo Line ** '' Sazanami'': Tokyo - Tateyama * Sotobo Line ** ''

'': Tokyo - Katsuura - Awa-Kamogawa *

Sobu Main Line Sobu is a village in the Zangilan Rayon of Azerbaijan Azerbaijan (, ; az, Azərbaycan ), officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, , also sometimes officially called the Azerbaijan Republic is a transcontinental country located at the boundar ...

**''

'': (Shinjuku) - Tokyo - Chōshi ** '' Ayame'' (discontinued): Tokyo - Narita - Chōshi *

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 ...

**''Ohayo Liner Zushi'' (discontinued): Zushi - Tokyo ** ''Home Liner Zushi'' (discontinued): Tokyo - Zushi

Interior

The E257-500 series sets are monoclass, with standard-class accommodation only. File:E257-500 interior Katsuura 20110827.JPG, E257-500 series standard-class seating in August 2011

E257-2000/2500 series

The E257-2000 and -2500 series are refurbished versions of the E257-0 and -500 series respectively. The fleet consists of thirteen 9-car E257-2000 sets and four 5-car E257-2500 sets intended for '' Odoriko'' limited express services on the

. The refurbishment was largely based on the "Peninsula Blue" concept, which is inspired by the colours of the sky and sea of the

Izu Peninsula The is a large mountainous peninsula with a deeply indented coastline to the west of Tokyo on the Pacific coast of the island of Honshu, Japan. Formerly known as Izu Province, Izu peninsula is now a part of Shizuoka Prefecture. The penins ...

. Internally, the sets received several improvements, including toilets, increased luggage capacity, improved lighting, and new flooring. The first E257-2000 set, converted from E257-0 set M112 at Nagano General Rolling Stock Centre, was delivered to Omiya in March 2019. On 14 March 2020, two round-trips of the formerly 185 series-operated ''Odoriko'' services were replaced by E257-2000s. Since 13 March 2021, these sets have been used across all ''Odoriko'' services, excluding the ''Saphir Odoriko''. On 15 March of that year, the E257-2000/2500 series sets were introduced on the '' Shōnan'' limited express. File:Series-E257-2000 inside.jpg, alt=, Standard-class interior File:Series-E257-2000 inside Green-seat.jpg, alt=, Green car interior

E257-5000/5500 series

Three E257-0 series sets and five -500 series sets were refurbished and designated as E257-5000 and -5500 series respectively for use on additional and charter services. The refurbishments saw a new front head, which is similar to the -2000/2500 series, and new green-accented livery. Interiors were much retained, with more luggage space and curtains change. The first E257-5000 set, OM-91 (former M-105), first appeared in May 2021 and entered service on 12 August 2021.

References

External links

E257, Tokyu Car Corp

{{A-Train Electric multiple units of Japan East Japan Railway Company Hitachi multiple units Tokyu Car multiple units Kinki Sharyo multiple units Train-related introductions in 2001 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan