The is a

limited express A limited express is a type of express train or express bus service that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese ...

train service in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

operated by

East Japan Railway Company The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and 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 in ...

(JR East). It runs from and to on the

Bōsō Peninsula The is a peninsula that encompasses the entirety of Chiba Prefecture on Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It is part of the Greater Tokyo Area. It forms the eastern edge of Tokyo Bay, separating it from the Pacific Ocean. The peninsula covers ...

Chiba Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, 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 ...

Station stops

''Shiosai'' services operate over the

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 ...

, stopping at the stations listed below. All 7 round trips are operated daily except for one inbound trip which is not operated on Saturdays and holidays. No services operate as "Local" all-stations services in any section; this characteristic is different from that of Wakashio ltd.exp.千葉を走る列車＞しおさい：EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch Japan
/ref>
/ref> - - - - - - - - - - * No. 2, 4 & 13 trains also stop at station.

Rolling stock

E257-500 NB-04 Shiosai 12 Choshi 20120128

* E259 series 6-car EMUs (since 16 March 2024) * E257-500 series 5-car EMUs ''Shiosai'' services are operated using Kamakura-based 6-car E259 series

EMU The emu (; ''Dromaius novaehollandiae'') is a species of flightless bird endemism, endemic to Australia, where it is the Tallest extant birds, tallest native bird. It is the only extant taxon, extant member of the genus ''Dromaius'' and the ...

and Makuhari-based 5-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.

Past rolling stock

* 183 series EMUs (10 March 1975 – 2005) * 255 series 9-car EMUs (10 December 2005 – 15 March 2024)

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.

5+5-car E257 series (No. 4 only)

Past formations

Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs, including one Green car, or 6-car sets with no Green car, but from December 1994, services were formed of 8-car 183 series sets with the Green car removed, as shown below.

8-car 183 series

9-car 255 series

History

The ''Shiosai'' service was introduced from 10 March 1975 following the completion of electrification of the

in October 1974, using 9-car 183 series EMUs, replacing five of the seven daily diesel-powered express services that operated between / and . From the start of the November 1982 timetable revision, further 183 series EMUs were drafted in, displaced from '' Toki'' limited express services following the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen, and the remaining ''Inubō'' express services were discontinued and absorbed into the ''Shiosai'' services, giving seven return workings daily. From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, 255 series 9-car EMUs were introduced on ''Shiosai'' services. From the same date, services were made entirely no-smoking. From the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, all ''Shiosai'' services started and terminated at Tokyo Station, with no services operating from Shinjuku. From the start of the 16 March 2024 timetable revision, E259 series 6-car EMUs used on Narita Express services are scheduled to also be used on Shiosai services for six return trips. Meanwhile, E257 series trains in 5-car formations will continue to be used for one return trip. As a result, 255 series sets will no longer operate on these services.

References

External links

JR East 255 series Shiosai/Wakashio/Sazanami

{{JR East trains Named passenger trains of Japan East Japan Railway Company Railway services introduced in 1975 1975 establishments in Japan