E231 series
Encyclopedia
The is an electric multiple unit
type used for commuter and outer-suburban services operated by East Japan Railway Company
(JR East) in Japan since 2000.
, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
and also at JR East's factory at Niitsu
in Niigata Prefecture
.
and E217 series
EMUs, with the main visible difference being wider bodies (2,950 mm compared to the 2,800 mm for earlier commuter trains), and the prototype train built in 1998 for trials on the Chūō-Sōbu Line
was actually classified 209-950 series, later becoming E231-900 series. Full-production E231-0 series trains were subsequently introduced on the Chūō-Sōbu Line (10-car sets) and Jōban Line
(10+5-car sets). Other variants include the 11-car E231-500 series for the Yamanote Line
, and the E231-800 series with 2,800 mm wide bodies and end doors for use on Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line
interrunning services.
From 2000 onward, the first E231-1000 series outer-suburban variant was delivered for use on Utsunomiya Line
and Takasaki Line
services north from Ueno Station
in Tokyo. These trains included transverse seating in some cars and were also equipped with toilets. Production continued into 2006 with trains delivered for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line
south from Tokyo. From 2004 onward, two bilevel Green cars were inserted into all E231-1000 series 10-car sets.
services, replacing the earlier 103 and 201 series fleet. Sets 1 to 42 were delivered between February 2000 and November 2001. Set 57 was delivered in November 2002. Sets 80 to 82 were delivered between October and November 2006. The first sets entered service on 13 March 2000. These sets each include one "six-door" SaHa E230 car (car 5).
17 10-car sets (101 to 117) and 19 5-car sets (121 to 139) based at Matsudo Depot for use on Jōban Line
services between Ueno
and Toride
, and also Narita Line
services to Narita
, replacing the earlier 103 series fleet. The fleet was delivered between November 2001 and February 2005, with the first trains entering service on 3 March 2002.
services, replacing the earlier 205 series
fleet. The first trains entered service on 21 April 2002. These trains include D-ATC digital automatic train control, and feature pairs of LCD passenger information screens above each door internally.
Each 11-car set contains two 6-door SaHa E230 trailer cars (cars 7 and 10) with six pairs of doors per side and bench seats that were folded up until 10 a.m. on weekdays to provide standing room only during the morning peak. From 22 February 2010, the seats will also be able to be used during the morning peak.
The two 6-door cars in each set are due to be replaced by a new build of 4-door trailer cars between February 2010 and August 2011, to standardize door spacing ahead of the introduction of platform doors on all Yamanote Line stations by 2017. The new cars are built to E233 series
standards, and the replacement cars (SaHa E231-4600) for car 10 have an irregular door spacing corresponding to the driving cars of Keihin-Tōhoku Line
E233-1000 series sets, which occasionally have to share the same platforms during engineering work. This results in interior seating arranged 3-7-7-5-4, instead of the normal 3-7-7-7-3 arrangement. The first batch of replacement 4-door SaHa E231-600 and SaHa E231-4600 cars were delivered from JR East's Niitsu factory on 1 February 2010.
confectionery company.
Seven 10-car sets (K1 to K7) based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chūō-Sōbu Line
and Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line
interrunning services. These sets were delivered between January and May 2003, entering service on 1 May 2003.
services.
This was the prototype E231 series set, delivered in October 1998, classified as 209-950 series. It was reclassified as E231-900 series in June 2000.
These trains are designed for longer-distance suburban services, and include toilets, transverse seating bays (in some cars only), and bilevel Green cars (10-car sets only).
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 of the carriages...
type used for commuter and outer-suburban services operated by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East) in Japan since 2000.
Design
Trains were manufactured by Tokyu Car CorporationTokyu Car Corporation
is a manufacturer of heavy rail cars in Japan. The company is based in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan, and a member of Tokyu Group. Tokyu Car manufactures rail vehicles not only for Tokyu Corporation but for other Japanese operators, including various Japan Railways Group companies and...
, Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Kawasaki Heavy Industries
is an international corporation based in Japan. It has headquarters in both Chūō-ku, Kobe and Minato, Tokyo.The company is named after its founder Shōzō Kawasaki and has no connection with the city of Kawasaki, Kanagawa....
and also at JR East's factory at Niitsu
Niitsu, Niigata
was a city located in Niigata, Japan.As of 2003, the city has an estimated population of 66,058 and the density of 843.87 persons per km². The total area is 78.28 km².The city was founded on January 1, 1951...
in Niigata Prefecture
Niigata Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Honshū on the coast of the Sea of Japan. The capital is the city of Niigata. The name "Niigata" literally means "new lagoon".- History :...
.
Variants
The type evolved from the earlier 209 series209 series
The is a commuter electric multiple unit type operated by East Japan Railway Company in the Tokyo area of Japan since 1993.The series was introduced in 1993 to replace the aging 103 series stock on the Keihin-Tōhoku and Negishi lines...
and E217 series
E217 series
The is a suburban electric multiple unit train type operated by East Japan Railway Company in the Kantō region of Japan since 1994.-Design:...
EMUs, with the main visible difference being wider bodies (2,950 mm compared to the 2,800 mm for earlier commuter trains), and the prototype train built in 1998 for trials on the Chūō-Sōbu Line
Chuo-Sobu Line
The is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
was actually classified 209-950 series, later becoming E231-900 series. Full-production E231-0 series trains were subsequently introduced on the Chūō-Sōbu Line (10-car sets) and Jōban Line
Joban Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
(10+5-car sets). Other variants include the 11-car E231-500 series for the Yamanote Line
Yamanote Line
The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
, and the E231-800 series with 2,800 mm wide bodies and end doors for use on Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line
Tokyo Metro Tozai Line
The is a rapid transit line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Its name literally means East-West Line. The line runs between Nakano Station in Nakano, Tokyo and Nishi-Funabashi Station in Funabashi, Chiba...
interrunning services.
From 2000 onward, the first E231-1000 series outer-suburban variant was delivered for use on Utsunomiya Line
Utsunomiya Line
The is the name given to a 159.9 kilometre section of the Tōhoku Main Line between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan...
and Takasaki Line
Takasaki Line
The is a Japanese railway line which runs between Ōmiya Station in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture and Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company ....
services north from Ueno Station
Ueno Station
is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
in Tokyo. These trains included transverse seating in some cars and were also equipped with toilets. Production continued into 2006 with trains delivered for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
south from Tokyo. From 2004 onward, two bilevel Green cars were inserted into all E231-1000 series 10-car sets.
E231-0 series
46 10-car sets (Sets 1-42, 57, 80-82) based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chūō-Sōbu LineChuo-Sobu Line
The is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
services, replacing the earlier 103 and 201 series fleet. Sets 1 to 42 were delivered between February 2000 and November 2001. Set 57 was delivered in November 2002. Sets 80 to 82 were delivered between October and November 2006. The first sets entered service on 13 March 2000. These sets each include one "six-door" SaHa E230 car (car 5).
17 10-car sets (101 to 117) and 19 5-car sets (121 to 139) based at Matsudo Depot for use on Jōban Line
Joban Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It begins at Nippori Station in Taitō, Tokyo and follows the Pacific coasts of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures before the line officially ends at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi...
services between Ueno
Ueno Station
is a major railway station inTokyo's Taitō ward. It is the station used to reach the Ueno district and Ueno Park -- which contains Tokyo National Museum, The National Museum of Western Art, Ueno Zoo, Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and other famous cultural facilities...
and Toride
Toride Station
is a train station located in Toride, Ibaraki, Japan.-Platforms:-Adjacent stations:-2010 knife attack:A Japanese man, identified as 27-year old, was arrested after stabbing 14 people outside of the west entrance of Toride Station on the morning of December 17, 2010...
, and also Narita Line
Narita Line
The is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .The main line runs between Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station , and is sometimes referred to as the...
services to Narita
Narita Station
is a railway station on the Narita Line in Narita, Chiba, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is located close to Keisei Narita Station.-Station layout:...
, replacing the earlier 103 series fleet. The fleet was delivered between November 2001 and February 2005, with the first trains entering service on 3 March 2002.
E231-500 series
A fleet of 52 11-car E231-500 series was delivered from January 2002 to April 2005 for use on Yamanote LineYamanote Line
The is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
services, replacing the earlier 205 series
205 series
The is a commuter electric multiple unit train type introduced in 1985 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company .- Lines on which 205 series trains operate :...
fleet. The first trains entered service on 21 April 2002. These trains include D-ATC digital automatic train control, and feature pairs of LCD passenger information screens above each door internally.
Each 11-car set contains two 6-door SaHa E230 trailer cars (cars 7 and 10) with six pairs of doors per side and bench seats that were folded up until 10 a.m. on weekdays to provide standing room only during the morning peak. From 22 February 2010, the seats will also be able to be used during the morning peak.
The two 6-door cars in each set are due to be replaced by a new build of 4-door trailer cars between February 2010 and August 2011, to standardize door spacing ahead of the introduction of platform doors on all Yamanote Line stations by 2017. The new cars are built to E233 series
E233 series
The is a commuter and suburban electric multiple unit type developed by East Japan Railway Company from the earlier E231 series and the E531 series design...
standards, and the replacement cars (SaHa E231-4600) for car 10 have an irregular door spacing corresponding to the driving cars of Keihin-Tōhoku Line
Keihin-Tohoku Line
The , is a railway line in Japan which connects the cities of Saitama, Kawaguchi, Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company network. The line's name is derived from the characters for , and the...
E233-1000 series sets, which occasionally have to share the same platforms during engineering work. This results in interior seating arranged 3-7-7-5-4, instead of the normal 3-7-7-7-3 arrangement. The first batch of replacement 4-door SaHa E231-600 and SaHa E231-4600 cars were delivered from JR East's Niitsu factory on 1 February 2010.
Interior
Promotional livery
From 7 September to 4 December 2009, E231-500 series set 502 was reliveried in an all-over brown promotional livery to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Meiji SeikaMeiji Seika
is the trade name of a pharmaceutical company in Japan, , until March 31, 2011.It was the confectionery and pharmaceutical company that manufactures a wide range of products including Hello Panda and Yan Yan...
confectionery company.
E231-800 series
Chuo-Sobu Line
The is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
and Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line
Tokyo Metro Tozai Line
The is a rapid transit line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Its name literally means East-West Line. The line runs between Nakano Station in Nakano, Tokyo and Nishi-Funabashi Station in Funabashi, Chiba...
interrunning services. These sets were delivered between January and May 2003, entering service on 1 May 2003.
E231-900 series
One 10-car set based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chūō-Sōbu LineChuo-Sobu Line
The is a railway line located in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company network, it runs on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line and Sōbu Main Line , providing service between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and...
services.
This was the prototype E231 series set, delivered in October 1998, classified as 209-950 series. It was reclassified as E231-900 series in June 2000.
E231-1000 series
10- and 5-car suburban sets based at Oyama and Kōzu depots for use on the following lines.JR East
- Ito Line
- Jōetsu LineJoetsu LineThe is a major rail line in Japan. Part of the JR East system, it runs from Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, to Miyauchi Station in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, linking the northwestern Kantō region and the Sea of Japan coast of the Chūbu region...
, Ryōmō LineRyomo LineThe is a Japanese railway line between the cities of Oyama in Tochigi Prefecture and Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture. long, the line is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company . The name refers to the fact that Gunma and Tochigi prefectures were once part of an ancient province called ,...
(TakasakiTakasaki Stationis a train station located in Yashimachō, Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture Japan. This station is used by East Japan Railway , Japan Freight Railway and Jōshin Dentetsu.-Lines:*East Japan Railway Company **Jōetsu Shinkansen...
- MaebashiMaebashi Stationis a railway station on the Ryōmō Line of East Japan Railway Company located in Maebashi, Gunma Prefecture, Japan.It is one of two main railway stations of Maebashi; the other is Chūō Maebashi Station of the Jōmō Electric Railway.- History :...
) - Shōnan Shinjuku Line
- Takasaki LineTakasaki LineThe is a Japanese railway line which runs between Ōmiya Station in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture and Takasaki Station in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture. It is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company ....
- Tōkaidō Main LineTokaido Main LineThe is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
- Utsunomiya LineUtsunomiya LineThe is the name given to a 159.9 kilometre section of the Tōhoku Main Line between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan...
- Yokosuka LineYokosuka LineThe is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company .The Yokosuka Line connects in Chūō, Tokyo and in Yokosuka, Kanagawa...
(ZushiZushi Stationis a railway station operated by East Japan Railway Company , located in Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan. It is located 8.4 kilometers from the junction at Ōfuna Station, and 57.8 kilometers from Tokyo Station.-Lines:* Yokosuka Line* Shōnan-Shinjuku Line...
- ŌfunaOfuna Stationis a railway station in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .-Lines:Ōfuna Station is served by the Tōkaidō Main Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, Negishi Line , Yokosuka Line as well as the Shonan Monorail....
)
JR Central
- Gotemba Line (Kōzu - YamakitaYamakita Stationis a railway station on the Gotemba Line of Central Japan Railway Company located in south-east Yamakita, Ashigarakami District, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.-History:...
) - Tōkaidō Main LineTokaido Main LineThe is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
(AtamiAtami Stationis an interchange railway station of Central Japan Railway Company in Atami, Shizuoka, Japan.- Lines :Atami Station is served by the Tōkaidō Main Line, Tōkaidō Shinkansen, and Itō Line. The station is 104.6 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station....
- NumazuNumazu Stationis an interchange railway station on the Tōkaidō Main Line of Central Japan Railway Company in Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. The station is 126.2 rail kilometers from Tokyo Station.- Station history:...
)
These trains are designed for longer-distance suburban services, and include toilets, transverse seating bays (in some cars only), and bilevel Green cars (10-car sets only).
See also
- E233 seriesE233 seriesThe is a commuter and suburban electric multiple unit type developed by East Japan Railway Company from the earlier E231 series and the E531 series design...
- E331 seriesE331 seriesThe is an electric multiple unit train used for commuter services operated by East Japan Railway Company . Only one trainset has been built, and it differs significantly from other JR commuter EMUs in having articulated cars with shared bogies and using direct-drive motors.-Formation:The lone set...
- E531 seriesE531 seriesThe is an electric multiple unit used by East Japan Railway Company in Japan. It was introduced by JR East on 9 July 2005 to replace the aging 403 and 415 series EMUs running on the Jōban Line from Ueno Station in Tokyo...
- Sōtetsu 10000 seriesSotetsu 10000 seriesThe is a commuter electric multiple unit train operated by Sagami Railway in Japan.-History:The trains are based on JR East's E231 series design, and were built to replace ageing 5000, 2100, and 6000 series trains. The 10000 series were constructed by Tokyu Car Corporation in Yokomaha and JR...
, an E231 series derivative