Background and overview
JR East developed E233-7000 series commuter DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trains to replace superannuated 205 series EMU used on the Saikyo and Kawagoe lines. 31 ten-car sets comprising 6 powered vehicles and 4 trailer vehicles were delivered to Kawagoe depot over the period from January 2013 until January 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. Bodies are unpainted and have the green 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. 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 mohaE232-200 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 mohaE233-7000/-7200/-7400 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 mohaE232-7000/-7200/-7400 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 mohaE232-7000/-7400 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a duplex auxiliary power unit, SC91, with a power output of 260kVA featuring IGBT. Class mohaE232-7000/-7200/-7400 vehicles are also equipped with and a motor driven screw air compressor, MH3124-C1600SN1, under their floor. Class mohaE233-7000/-7200/-7400 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a single arm current pickup, PS33D. Class mohaE233-7000 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 and holding 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 ATC-6/ATS-P integrated signaling system 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. LED lighting is used throughout. 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. Class kuhaE232-7000 vehicles are also equipped with two security cameras on the ceiling. 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.
Additional delivery
JR East additionally built seven 10-car sets in 2019 for the start of the through services with Sagami railway.
Modifications
JR East modified integrated onboard signaling system with the additional printed circuit board, software modification, and the wireless installation over the period from May 2015 until September of the following year to correspond to new signaling system, ATACS, introduced for the Saikyo line between Omiya and Ikebukuro.
JR East also fitted E233-7000 series with another train protection radio equipment and the train automatic stop-position controller for the start of the through services to Sagami Railway additionally.
Operations
E233-7000 series entered revenue services on Kawagoe and Saikyo lines and also Rinkai line of Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit in March 2013. They also entered Sotetsu main and Shin-Yokohama lines of Sagami Railway inter-running services via Hinkaku line.
And they are now used on Kawagoe, Saikyo, Hinkaku, Rinkai, Sotetsu main, and Shin-Yokohama lines. |
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