Background and overview
JR East developed E233-5000 series commuter DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trains to replace superannuated 201 series EMU and 205 series EMU used on the Keiyo line. 20 ten-car sets comprising 6 powered vehicles and 4 trailer vehicles, 4 six-car sets comprising 4 powered vehicles and 2 trailer vehicles, and 4 four-car sets comprising 2 powered vehicles and 2 trailer vehicles were delivered to Keiyo depot over the period from March 2010 until July of the following year.
Car body
They have 2950mm wide body incorporating light weight stainless steel construction. Their floor level is 1130mm and 35mm lower than E231 series EMU to eliminate the level difference between platforms and the floor for accessibility. The cross member of the underframe, side column, and carline are positioned longitudinally to form ring shape construction for more intense strength against lateral collision. The bodies are unpainted and have a cherry sangria waistline and headline bands running the length of each car below and above the windows. The driver's cab is placed 185mm higher than that of E231-0 series and the cab is 560mm stretched in the longitudinal direction to feature collision energy absorption structure for the protection against obstacles at the level crossing. For this reason, the doorway behind the cab is placed 950mm further back than E231-0 series. Cab ends having a full-colour LED destination panel placed above the windscreen, and the clusters of a high intensity discharge (HID) light bulb and a rectangular LED taillight located at both sides of the destination panel are covered with a Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) painted in silver. Anti-fall plates between vehicles are also introduced excepting the cab end. They are equipped with four 1300mm wide double-leaf automatic sliding doors, two drop windows between the doors excepting centre of the vehicles, and three fixed windows at the end and the centre on each side of the vehicle. Heat absorbent double-glazing glass is employed for all windows to improve noise and thermal insulation property and prevent their windows from dew condensation. Door operating equipments featuring electric liner motor drive, TKE152, are fitted above the door header of the sliding doors Full-colour LED destination displays and loudspeakers, providing guidance broadcast for passengers waiting at a station, are fitted on each side of the body. Class kuhaE233-5500 and class kuhaE232-5500 end vehicles are equipped with the automatic jumper coupler to ease rush-up operations. An air conditioner, AU726A, rated at 50,000kcal/h is fitted on the centre of their roof. No ventilators are fitted on the roof.
Bogies
Powered bogies are DT71A besides only class mohaE232-5200 DT71B, front
trailer bogies of end vehicles are TR255, and the other trailer bogies
TR255A featuring bolster-less secondary air suspension, axle arm type journal
box supporting system, and the single link draw gear. They also prepare
to be equipped with the yaw dampers to ensure smooth ride characteristics
even at 120km/h. Their bogie frame employs bow-shape to lower the bolster
suspension. Twin Disc (TD) flexible joint employing deflecting plates made
of carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) is applied for power transmission
device. The gear ratio is 6.06. Motored bogies employ single tread brake
device adopting automatic gap-adjusting unit and trailer bogies employ
both double disk brake device and single tread brake device adopting automatic
gap-adjusting unit. TR255 also employs a parking brake device.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Class mohaE233-5000/-5200/-5400/-5600 vehicles are equipped with a 2-step Variable-frequency drive (VFD) traction system, SC85A, which controls 8 traction motors, MT75, with a power output of 140kW on vehicle basis including class mohaE232-5000/-5200/-5400/-5600 vehicles. This traction system features Intelligent Power Module (IPM). Each traction system in a train set is connected with the bus line to prevent meltdown of the overhead lines at the section break. Class mohaE232-5000/-5200/-5400/-5600 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a duplex auxiliary power unit, SC86A, with a power output of 260kVA featuring IGBT. End vehicles and class sahaE233-5500 trailer intermediate vehicles are equipped with a motor driven screw air compressor, MH3124-C1600SN3, under their floor. Class mohaE233-5000/-5200/-5400/-5600 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a single arm current pickup, PS33D. Class mohaE233-5000 and class mohaE233-5600 vehicles are also equipped with a backup current pickup. They feature Train Information Management System (TIMS) applying RS485 rated at 10Mbps and managing the traction control, in-train announcement apparatus, voice communication for train crews and passengers, air conditioner control, and so on. They employ the electric commanding brake with regenerative braking. They feature total brake control on overall a train set and regenerative brake priority by TIMS to realize regeneration rate improvement. The end vehicles are equipped with ATS-P and ATS-N signaling systems under the floor.
Accommodation
They consist of longitudinal bench seating featuring cantilever construction throughout having 450 mm wide per person. Each seat employs no sag springs supporting seat cushion and cantilever construction. E231 series and older EMU adopted baggage racks constructed by stainless steel pipes, whereas E233 series adopt baggage racks constructed by aluminum hollow plate having slits. Straps having black coloured longitudinal triangle shape are fitted throughout their body excepting priority seating area having orange coloured. A pair of 17-inch LCD showing destination or stops information on the right and video ads, and a door chime are fitted on the door header of the sliding doors. As for the device of driving cab, the control desk of the driver's cab is equipped with a one handle master controller operated by the left hand and three liquid crystal displays showing the speed meter, the pressure gauge, and the other information instead of analogue indicators.
Operations
E233-5000 series entered the revenue services on the Keiyo, Sotobo, Uchibo lines in July 2010 and now used on rapid and regional services of these lines. |
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