Background and overview
JR East developed the prototype next generation DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter trains classified into 901 series in 1992, featuring the concept, "half-life, half cost, half mass, no maintenance". 3 types of 901 series prototype sets were delivered and entered the revenue services to evaluate the technologies employed for 901 series and fix the specification. Finally, JR East developed mass-production type DC electric multiple unit commuter trains, 209 series as full-production type of 901 series, based on the result of extensive test and revenue running. 12 ten-car sets consisting of 4 powered vehicles and 6 trailer vehicles were delivered for Keihin-Tohoku line commuter services and 1 six-car set consisting of 4 powered vehicles and 2 trainer vehicles for Nambu line in 1993.
Car body
They have 2800mm wide body, incorporating unpainted bead-less light weight
stainless construction. The construction of the body is varied depending
on the manufacturer. Vehicles built by Tokyu Car Corporation are constructed
with the outside sheets and inner beams as usual with introducing some
improvements. Vehicles built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries are employed
"two-sheet construction method" that the pressed stainless sheet
and the outside sheet are combined together and those sheets themselves
keep the strength. They have coloured waistline and headline bands running
the length of each car below and above the windows. The colour for Keihin-Tohoku
line is sky blue and it for Nambu line consists of yellow, orange, and
brown. Cab ends are covered by a Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) painted
in white and black. Anti-fall plates between vehicles are also introduced
excepting the cab end. They are equipped with four 1300mm wide double-leaf
automatic sliding doors on each side of the vehicles. Fixed windows adopting
heat absorbent double-glazing glass are fitted between doors and drop windows
are fitted at the both ends of the body. Door operating equipments are
fitted above the door header of the sliding doors. A LED display for providing
passenger information, and a door chime are also fitted above the door
header of the all sliding doors. Traditional destination rollsigns are
fitted on the side of their body. An air conditioner, AU720A, rated at
42,000kcal/h, is fitted on the centre of their roof. No ventilators are
fitted on the roof.
Bogies
The 209 series are equipped with DT61 bogies on the powered vehicles and TR246 bogies on the trailers, featuring bolster-less secondary air suspension, axle arm type journal box supporting system, and the single link traction device. The distance between two secondary suspensions becomes 200mm narrower than former standard bogie, DT50, in order to simplify the construction of bogie frame by fitting secondary suspensions directly on the side frame of the bogie. Twin Disc (TD) flexible joint employing deflecting plates made of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is applied for power transmission device. Their brake rigging is a single tread brake for powered and both directly the single disk and the single tread brake for trailer.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Class moha209 vehicles are equipped with 3-step Variable-frequency drive (VFD) traction system, SC41A, which controls 8 traction motors, MT73, with a power output of 95kW on vehicle basis including class moha208. This traction system features modular-unit low withstand voltage Gate Turn Off (GTO) thyristor. Class moha208 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with an auxiliary power unit, SC37 with a power output of 210kVA featuring GTO thyristor under their floor. Class moha209 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a compact diamond-shaped current pickup, PS28A, on their roof. Class moha208 powered intermediate vehicles and class kuha209 trailer end vehicles are equipped with a motor driven screw air compressor, MH3096-C1600S under their floor. 209 series employ the electric commanding brake with regenerative braking.
Accommodation
Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating featuring
cantilever construction throughout, with an individual seat width of 450
mm per person. Handrails are fitted at the both end and middle of seats.
End vehicles are equipped with a wheelchair/stroller space. Their interior
panels are modularized namely employing fiber-glass reinforced plastic
(FRP) ceiling panels unified luminaire base, air conditioner duct, and
the outlet of cross flow air blower for easy rigging. A LED display for
providing passenger information, and a door chime are fitted above the
door header of the sliding doors. Roller blinds are gotten rid of by introducing
heat absorbent windowpane. As for the device of driving cab, one handle
master controller operated by the left hand, which has some improvement
on the master controller introduced for experimental B set of 901 series,
is adopted. An emergency escape port is fitted on the wall between the
passenger saloon and the driver's cab prepared for the level crossing accident.
Operations
They entered commuter revenue services of Keihin-Tohoku line in February, 1993. Then they also entered the Nambe line services in April, 1993.
Additional delivery
JR East additionally delivered 2nd batch's 209 series introducing some improvements in 2003. Door operating equipments were changed from pneumatic drive into electric screw drive. For this reason, class kuha209 trailer end vehicles are not equipped with a motor driven air compressor. Class saha209 vehicles coupled at the car's number 6 of 10-car sets were displaced with class saha208 having six 1300mm wide double-leaf automatic sliding doors, three drop windows employing heat absorbent glass at the end and the centre of the vehicles, and four fixed windows at the others on each side of the vehicle. Passenger accommodation consists of three-seater foldable longitudinal bench seating, which can be fold automatically by operation at the driver's cab. Handholds are fitted at the centre of be body between sliding doors. An air conditioner, AU722, rated at 50,000kcal/h, is fitted on the centre of their roof. Electric fans of air conditioner supply fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators on the roof. Their bogies are TR246F.
Modification
Two of fixed side windows were changed into openable. This window is divided in the ratio of one to two and larger one employs double hung windows of which upper part can moves down.
Withdrawal
209 series EMU used on Keihin-Tohoku line began to be displaced with E233-1000
series in 2007 and completely withdrawn in 2010. Some of withdrawn vehicles
were converted to 209-2000 series and 209-2100 series. Remaining surplus
vehicles were scrapped. |
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