The is a

diesel-electric multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

(DEMU) 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 ar ...

(JR East) around Niigata and Akita areas of Japan from 2019.

Design

The GV-E400 series trains are the first

s (not including hybrid train) to be operated by JR East, with diesel engines driving generators, which in turn power electric traction motors. The trains have stainless steel bodies and a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). JR_East_GV-E400_DMF15HZD-G_1736_edited.jpg, Komatsu DMF15HZD-G engine, which dedicates to generating electric power JR East GV-E401-9 inside 20200403.jpg, Interior

Operations

The GV-E400 series trains are scheduled to be used on the following lines. ;Niigata area (from FY2019): *

Uetsu Main Line The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata and Akita Station in Akita. The name "Uetsu" refers to the ancient p ...

( Nigata and Yamagata Prefectures) *

Shinetsu Main Line The Shinetsu Main Line ( ja, 信越本線, ) is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting and via . ...

(Nigata Prefecture) *

Yonesaka Line The is a railway line in Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Yonezawa Station in Yamagata Prefecture to Sakamachi Station in Niigata Prefecture. At Yonezawa, connections to the Yamagata Shinkansen and Ōu Main L ...

(Nigata and Yamagata Prefectures) *

Banetsu West Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Kōriyama Station in Kōriyama, Fukushima Prefecture, and Niitsu Station in Akiha Ward, Niigata, Niigata Prefecture. The name "Banetsu" is taken fr ...

(Nigata and

Fukushima may refer to: Japan * Fukushima Prefecture, Japanese prefecture **Fukushima, Fukushima, capital city of Fukushima Prefecture, Japan *** Fukushima University, national university in Japan *** Fukushima Station (Fukushima) in Fukushima, Fukushim ...

Prefectures) ;Akita area (from FY2020): *

Tsugaru Line The is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Aomori Station and Minmaya Station on the Tsugaru Peninsula in western Aomori Prefecture. The section of the line between Aomori Station and Naka-Oguni Stat ...

(Aomori Prefecture) *

Gono Line Gono may refer to: People * Akihiro Gono (born 1974), Japanese mixed martial artist * Gideon Gono (born 1959), Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe * Matt Gono (born 1996), American American football player * Miroslav Gono (born 2000), Slo ...

(Akita and Aomori Prefectures) *

Ou Main Line OU or Ou or ou may stand for: Universities United States * Oakland University in Oakland County, Michigan * Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama * Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Georgia * Ohio University in Athens, Ohio * Olivet Universi ...

(Akita and Aomori Prefectures)

Formations

The trains are formed as single-car units classified GV-E400 and two-car units classified GV-E401 + GV-E402.

History

Details of the new trains were announced by JR East on 4 July 2017. A total of 63 vehicles are scheduled to be built, entering service in the Niigata area from 2019, and in the Akita area from 2020. One single-car unit and one two-car unit were delivered from the

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (or simply Kawasaki) is a Japanese public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, heavy equipment, aerospace and defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Chūō, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It ...

factory in Kobe in January 2018 for test-running and evaluation. The first train entered service on 19 August 2019.

Fleet

The depots and deliveries dates for the fleet are as shown below.

References

External links

JR East press release
{{JR East EMU 400 series East Japan Railway Company Train-related introductions in 2019 Kawasaki multiple units