E657 series
Set K-15 in March 2019
In service2012–present
ManufacturerHitachi, J-TREC, Kinki Sharyo
Replaced651 series, E653 series
Constructed2011–2014, 2019
Entered service3 March 2012
Number built190 vehicles (19 sets)
Number in service190 vehicles (19 sets)
Formation10 cars per trainset
Fleet numbersK-1 – K-19
Capacity600 (Green: 30, Standard: 570)
OperatorsJR East
DepotsKatsuta
Lines servedJoban Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium alloy
Car length21.1 m (69 ft 3 in) (end cars)
20 m (65 ft 7 in) (intermediate cars)
Width2,946 mm (9 ft 8.0 in)
Height4,249 mm (13 ft 11.3 in)
Doors1 per side (2 on end cars)
Maximum speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Traction system3-core IGBT-VVVF (Hitachi)
Traction motorsMT75B 140 kW (188 hp) 3-phase AC squirrel-cage induction motor (Hitachi)
Acceleration0.56 m/s2 (1.3 mph/s)
Deceleration1.4 m/s2 (3.1 mph/s)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC and 20 kV 50 Hz AC, all from overhead catenary
Current collector(s)PS37A pantograph
BogiesDT78 (motored), TR263 (trailer)
Safety system(s)ATS-P, ATS-Ps
Multiple workingE655 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The E657 series (E657系) 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 between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki on the Joban Line since March 2012.[1]

The trains replaced the 651 series and E653 series 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.[2] 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 colour with red lining is intended to evoke an image of the ume plums for which the area served by the trains is famous.[3]

The end cars and Green (first class) cars feature full active suspension for improved ride quality, and yaw dampers are fitted between cars.[1]

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.[4] 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.[4] All the bogies use tread brakes, and the trailer bogies additionally use two disc brakes per axle.[4] Wheel diameter is 860 mm (33.9 in), and the distance between wheel centres is 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in).[4]

Formation

Each unit consists of ten cars, formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end. The six "M" cars are motored.[5]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Designation Tc' M1 M2 T1 Ts M1 M2 M1 M2 Tc
Numbering KuHa E656 MoHa E657-200 MoHa E656-200 SaHa E657 SaRo E657-200 MoHa E657-100 MoHa E656-100 MoHa E657 MoHa E656 KuHa E657
Weight (t) 36.1 41.4 40.0 31.1 34.1 41.4 40.0 41.4 40.0 34.8
Seating capacity 44 68 64 72 30 66 64 68 64 60

Cars 2, 6, and 8 each have one PS37A single-arm pantograph.[6]

Interior

Internally, the Green car (first class) accommodation is in 2+2 abreast configuration with a seat pitch of 1.16 m (45.7 in). Standard class is arranged 2+2 with a seat pitch of 960 mm (37.8 in), compared to 970 mm (38.2 in) for Super Hitachi 651 series trains and 910 mm (35.8 in) for Fresh Hitachi E653 series trains.[1]

AC power outlets are provided at each seat, and WiMAX wireless broadband internet access is available.[1] The trains include universal access toilets and security cameras.[1]

Between October 2013 and around March 2015, the fleet was scheduled to be retro-fitted with LED seat reservation status indicators above each seat.[7]

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's factory in Yamaguchi Prefecture.[8] 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.[8] Test running on the Jōban Line commenced on 27 May 2011.[9]

Seven sets were delivered for the start of the revised timetable from 17 March 2012.[2]

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.[10]

Special liveries

Fresh Hitachi

As part of its Ibaraki Destination Campaign which is planned to run between 1 October and 31 December 2023, JR East announced in November 2022 that five E657 series sets would be repainted in the liveries used with the E653 series sets during their use on Fresh Hitachi limited express services.[11] The first set to be repainted, K-17, received the green livery and returned to service in December 2022;[12] the second set to be repainted, K-12, received the red "scarlet blossom" livery and returned to service on 12 February 2023;[13] and the third set to be repainted, K-2, received the yellow "narcissus" livery and returned to service on 29 April 2023; and the fourth set to be repainted, K-1, received the blue "blue ocean" livery and returned to service on 10 June 2023. As of June 2023, only one orange livery left has yet to be applied as planned.[14]

Fleet/build details

The manufacturers and delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.[15]

Set No. Manufacturer Date delivered
K-1 Hitachi/Kinki Sharyo 27 May 2011
K-2 19 October 2011
K-3 Kinki Sharyo 18 November 2011
K-4 Hitachi 23 December 2011
K-5 Kinki Sharyo 19 January 2012
K-6 Hitachi 26 January 2012
K-7 Kinki Sharyo 11 April 2012
K-8 Hitachi 24 February 2012
K-9 J-TREC (Yokohama) 27 August 2012
K-10 24 September 2012
K-11 29 October 2012
K-12 Hitachi 21 June 2012
K-13 Kinki Sharyo 10 August 2012
K-14 7 September 2012
K-15 12 October 2012
K-16 18 November 2012
K-17 J-TREC (Yokohama) 5 November 2014[16]
K-18 13 November 2019[17]
K-19 12 December 2019[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e 常磐線特急に新型車両を導入！ [New trains to be introduced on Jōban Line limited express services] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 7 December 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 May 2015. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
  2. ^ a b "E657系投入にともなう651・E653系の動き" [651/E653 series changes following E657 series introduction]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 613. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. May 2012. pp. 70–71.
  3. ^ "常磐線特急、12年春から新型車 振動低減や無線LAN 出入り口に防犯カメラ" [New trains to be introduced on Jōban Line limited express services from spring 2012]. The Ibaraki Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Ibaraki Shimbun Co., Ltd. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 December 2010. Retrieved 8 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d "DT78 TR263A TR263B ／ JR東日本E657系" [DT78 TR263A TR263B / JR East E657 series]. Bogie Closeup (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  5. ^ "JR東日本 E657系特急型交直流電車" [JR East E657 series AC/DC limited express EMU]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 40, no. 328. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. August 2011. pp. 74–77.
  6. ^ JR電車編成表 2013冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. November 2012. p. 41. ISBN 978-4-330-33112-6.
  7. ^ 常磐線特急ひたち号の編成変更について [Changes to Joban Line Hitachi limited express formations] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company - Mito Division. 8 August 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2013. Retrieved 8 August 2013.
  8. ^ a b "JR東日本 E657系特急型交直流電車" [JR East E657 series AC/DC limited express EMU]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 40, no. 327. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. July 2011. pp. 68–69.
  9. ^ "E657系K-1編成が試運転" [E657 series set K-1 testrun]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 May 2011. Archived from the original on 8 August 2018. Retrieved 28 May 2011.
  10. ^ "総合車両製作所 JR東日本向け第１号車完成" [Japan Transport Engineering Company: 1st train for JR East completed]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 618. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. October 2012. p. 49.
  11. ^ JR東日本水戸支社，E657系にE653系のリバイバル塗装を実施 [JR East Mito division announces E657 series to be repainted in original E653 series liveries]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 18 November 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  12. ^ E657系K17編成が「フレッシュひたち（緑）」カラーに [E657 series set K-17 repainted in "Fresh Hitachi" (green) livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2 January 2023. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  13. ^ E657系K12編成が「フレッシュひたち（紅梅）」カラーに [E657 series set K-12 in "Fresh Hitachi (scarlet blossom)" livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 February 2023. Archived from the original on 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  14. ^ "常磐線「E657系」、5色のE653系リバイバルカラーで登場！茨城DCに合わせ12月下旬から | レイルラボ ニュース". レイルラボ(RailLab) (in Japanese). 18 November 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
  15. ^ JR電車編成表 2013夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2013. p. 41. ISBN 978-4-330-37313-3.
  16. ^ JR車両のうごき [JR rolling stock changes]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 44, no. 371. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. March 2015. p. 127.
  17. ^ "E657系K18編成が登場" [E657 series set K18 appeared]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original on 28 November 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  18. ^ "【JR東】 E657K19編成がJ-TRECを出場" [(JR East) E657 set K19 J-TREC]. rail.hobidas.com (in Japanese). Neko Publishing. 14 December 2019. Archived from the original on 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

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