Background and overview
JR East developed E257-0 series intercity DC electric multiple unit (EMU)
trains in order to displace remaining 183/189 series EMU used on "Azusa"
and "Kaiji" intercity services linking Tokyo and Kofu/Matsumoto/Minami-Otari
in 2001, although some 183 series train sets used on "Azusa"
intercity services were displaced by E351 series EMU. E257-0 series were
developed from E653 series AC/DC dual voltage intercity electric multiple
unit and E751 series AC intercity electric multiple unit with introducing
new technologies developed for E231 series. 3 nine-car sets consisting
of 5 motored vehicles and 4 trailer vehicles, and 3 two-car sets consisting
of a motored vehicle and s trailer vehicle were delivered in 2001.
Car body
The double-skinned aluminum alloy construction is incorporated into the
vehicle design. This construction introduces dovetail groove to be fitted
with equipments and interior parts as a substitute for joining them by
welding in order to reduce welding points and improve body rigidness compared
with existing method to build the body by welding skins, columns, and ribs
together for cost reduction. The soundproof floor construction having the
rubber elastic is incorporated to reduce vehicle interior noise. Trailer
end vehicles, class kuhaE257-0 and kuhaE256-0 have no gangwayed cab section,
and the other trailer end vehicles, class kuhaE257-100, have a gangwayed
cab section. Cab end employs the head-on collision accident measure that
its construction consists of crumple zone and safety cell. The cab section
of no gangwayed end vehicles has an oblong built-in classification LED
headboard at the centre of the front blow the windscreen, clusters of head
lamps of the sets use a combination of one large shield-beam headlamp combined
with a far smaller high-intensity discharge headlamp fixture are fitted
in left and right below its windscreen, and two rectangular shaped LED
trail lights below the classification LED headboard. On the other hand,
the cab section of gangwayed end vehicles has a built-in classification
LED headboard on the gangway and clusters of head lights consisting of
a shield beam and HID (high intensity discharge) lamps are fitted in right
and left of the gangway, and trapezoid shaped LED tail lights are also
located in right and left of the gangway. Further, powered end vehicles,
class kumohaE257, are equipped with a shunting control position. Anti-fall
plates and anti-yaw dampers between vehicles are also introduced excepting
the cab end. Class kuhaE257 vehicles are equipped with two 900mm wide single-leaf
sliding doors and the other vehicles are equipped with one. Small fixed
double-grazing UV cut windows per each 1st class seating or wide fixed
double-glazing UV cut windows aligned two seating bays are fitted. A LED
destination screen is fitted beside each door. An air conditioner, AU302,
rated at 36,000kcal/h/unit is fitted under their floor Electric fans of
air conditioner supply fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators
on the roof. Class kuhaE257-100 and kumoha257-0 end vehicles are equipped
with the automatic jumper coupler and class kumohaE257-0 vehicles are equipped
with a pneumatic gangway connection device to ease rush-up operations.
Their livery is white with pink, emerald green, yellow, bluish purple or
silver coloured diamond-shaped accents.
Bogies
Powered bogies are DT64A, and bogies of trailer end vehicles are TR249B, class kuhaE256 are TR249C, and class kuhaE257 are TR 249D, featuring bolster-less secondary air suspension, axle arm type journal box supporting system, the single link traction device, and the yaw dampers to ensure smooth ride characteristics even at 130km/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 5.65. Motored bogies employ single tread brake device and trailer bogies employ both single disk brake device and single tread brake device.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Class mohaE257-0 and mohaE257-100 vehicles are equipped with a 2-step variable frequency drive, SC67, employing Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). Their traction system controls 8 AC asynchronous traction motors, MT72A, with a power output of 145kW of class mohaE257 and class mohaE256 powered intermediate vehicles on vehicle basis. On the other hand, class mohaE257-1000 vehicles are equipped with a 2-step variable frequency drive, SC68, which controls 4 traction motors of themselves. Class kuhaE257, kuhaE256, and sahaE257 vehicles are equipped with a motor driven rotary-screw air compressor, MH1322-C1400S, under their floor. Class mohaE256 vehicles are equipped with an inverter auxiliary power supply, SC69, with a power output of 210kVA, and class kumohaE257 vehicles are also equipped with an inverter auxiliary power supply, SC70, with a power output of 110kVA. Class mohaE257 and kumohaE257 vehicles are equipped with a single-arm current pickup, PS36, on their roof, and a traction resistor unit under their floor. They employ the electric commanding brake with mixed regenerative-dynamic braking under low possibility of regeneration., featuring brake control of trailer priority. The end vehicles are equipped with the ATS-P, and ATS-SN signaling systems under their floor.
Accommodation
All seats are adjustable reclining. 1st class vehicles have 2+2 abreast seating with 1160mm seating pitch and standard class vehicles have 2+2 abreast seating with 960mm seating pitch. Their seating fabric features diamond-shaped accents. 1st class accommodation features wooden pattern wall and textile floor covering. A definite clearance exists between the ceiling and the partitions of a passenger saloons, conductor rooms, and toilets for air circulation to achieve uniform air-conditioning throughout. The outlets of air conditioning are located below the leading end of the overhead luggage rack and conditioned air flow horizontally. The passenger saloons employ indirect lighting featuring fluorescent bulb. Seats are equipped with the hand-grabs. A door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon is automatic, detecting by the fibre sensor. A LED display for providing passenger information is fitted above the door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon. Class kuhaE257, mohaE256, sahaE257, and sarohaE257 vehicles are equipped with a western style toilet employing the vacuum toilet system, a flashing urinal, and a washroom. A toilet of class sahoE257 is universal access with a flip-up diaper-changing station. The other toilets have a flip-up high chair. Class sahaE257 is also equipped with a catering room and a multipurpose room. Class sarohaE257 vehicles are equipped with a conductor room, and class mohaE257-100 vehicles have a free space having pipe benches. 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.
Additional delivery
JR East additionally delivered 5 nine-car sets in March 2002 and subsequently 5 nine-car sets and a two-car sets in July 2002. Finally, 3 nine-car sets and a two-car set were delivered to displace remaining 183/189 series used on "Azusa" intercity services completely in December 2002.
Modification and scrap
Surplus 13 nine-car sets displaced with E353 series for "Azusa" and "Kaiji" intercity services were modified into E257-2000 series trainsets and redeployed on Tokaido line "Odoriko" intercity services over the period from 2019 until 2021. Remaining surplus 3 nine-car sets were modified into -5000 subseries. On the other, all two-car sets were scrapped completely.
Operations
They entered 3 round-trips of "Azusa" intercity services in March, 2001. Subsequently, they replaced 183/189 series used on "Kaiji" intercity services completely in March 2002. They replaced remining 183/189 series used on "Azusa" intercity services completely. However, 4 round-trips of "Azusa" intercity services were displaced with E353 series in December 2017 and finally E257-0 series were completely withdrawn from revenue services. |
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