The is an AC/DC dual-voltage
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) in Japan on
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 between in Tokyo and on the
Joban Line since March 2012.
The trains replaced the
651 series and
E653 series
The is an AC/ DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services since 1997. Originally used on Joban Line ''Fresh Hitachi'' limited express services ...
EMUs previously used on ''
Super Hitachi'' and ''Fresh Hitachi'' limited express services on the Joban Line. The first train in revenue service ran on 3 March 2012, in the form of a special return '' Super Hitachi'' limited express service between Ueno and Iwaki, with regular scheduled services starting from the revised timetable on 17 March 2012.
The initial order of sixteen 10-car sets was in service by the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.
Design
The front end design is derived from the earlier ''Super Hitachi'' 651 series trains, and the pale pink body color with red lining is intended to evoke an image of the ''
ume'' plums for which the area served by the trains is famous.
The end cars and Green (first class) cars feature full
active suspension for improved ride quality, and
yaw dampers are fitted between cars.
Bogies
The DT78 (motored) and TR263 (trailer) bolsterless bogies are developed from the DT77 and TR262 bogies used on the
E259 series EMUs, with improvements to cope with the increased vehicle weight and provide increased snow and cold weather resistance.
The end bogies of the Tc driving cars are designated TR263, the inner bogies of the Tc driving cars and the Ts car are designated TR263A, and the bogies on the T1 car are designated TR262B.
All the bogies use tread brakes, and the trailer bogies additionally use two disc brakes per axle.
Wheel diameter is , and the distance between wheel centers is .
Formation
Each unit consists of ten cars, formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end. The six "M" cars are motored.
Cars 2, 6, and 8 each have one PS37A single-arm pantograph.
Interior
Internally, the Green car (first class) accommodation is in 2+2 abreast configuration with a seat pitch of . Standard class is arranged 2+2 with a seat pitch of , compared to for ''Super Hitachi'' 651 series trains and for ''Fresh Hitachi'' E653 series trains.
AC power outlets are provided at each seat, and
WiMAX wireless broadband internet access is available.
The trains include
universal access toilets and security cameras.
Between October 2013 and around March 2015, the fleet was scheduled to be retro-fitted with LED seat reservation status indicators above each seat.
History
In March 2011, the first completed five cars (half a set - cars 1 to 5) were delivered from
Kinki Sharyo's Osaka factory and moved to
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 ...
's factory in
Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The first 10-car set was then scheduled to be moved from Hitachi's factory to JR East's Katsuta Depot on the Jōban Line in April, but this was postponed until May 2011 due to the
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami
The occurred at 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC) on 11 March. The magnitude 9.0–9.1 (M) undersea megathrust earthquake had an epicenter in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region, and lasted approximately six minutes ...
.
Test running on the Jōban Line commenced on 27 May 2011.
Seven sets were delivered for the start of the revised timetable from 17 March 2012.
The first E657 series set built by
Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC) in Yokohama, K-9, was delivered in August 2012. This was also the first train to be built for JR East by the company following its renaming from Tokyu Car Corporation.
E655 series
The is an AC/ DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. The single 5-car trainset is used as a luxury charter train called , and also as the Imperial train by inserting a ded ...
"TR" imperial train coach E655-1 sandwiched in E657 series set K-1, September 2011
Fleet/build details
The manufacturers and delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
References
External links
JR East press release announcing new trains
{{JR East EMU
East Japan Railway Company
Jōban Line
Electric multiple units of Japan
Hitachi multiple units
Train-related introductions in 2012
20 kV AC multiple units
J-TREC multiple units
1500 V DC multiple units of Japan
Kinki Sharyo multiple units