Background and overview
651 series dual voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit train used on "Super Hitachi" intercity services couldn't provide sufficient service against desired service level despite they were refurbished in 2000. In addition, E653 series dual voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit train used on "Fresh Hitachi" intercity services differ from 651 series EMU also used on "Fresh Hitachi" in door locations and no first-class services, causing difficulty for passengers to understand. Thus, JR East developed next generation dual voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit trains, E657 series, introducing basic construction developed for E259 series EMU and new technologies to improve the service level of intercity services on Johban line in 2011. E657 series train sets consist of six motored vehicles and four trailer vehicles including a 1st class vehicle having a multi-purpose room and a universal access toilet located in car's no 5 and wheel chair space located in car's no 6. JR East built eight 10-car sets over the period from May 2011 until February 2012.
Car body
The double-skinned aluminum alloy construction is incorporated into the
vehicle design. Their roof height is same as that of E259 series, excepting
the roof where the current pickup and extra high voltage equipments are
fitted is 105mm lower than the other in order to keep the insulation distance
against the extra-high voltage current feeder. The soundproof floor construction
having the combination of rubber elastic and aluminum sheet covered with
rubber sheet is incorporated to reduce vehicle interior noise. High mounted
driver's cab is constructed with fibre-reinforced plastic (FRP) having
crushable zone to absorb the impact energy of collision against obstacles
at the level crossing. Two head lights employing shield beam and HID are
fitted downward right and left of the windscreens diagonally. Two LED tail
lamps are fitted above the windscreen. Their windscreen is equipped with
a spare wiper. Anti-fall plates and anti-yaw dampers between vehicles are
also introduced excepting the cab end. Class Ekuha656 vehicles are equipped
with two 935mm wide single-leaf sliding doors and the horizontal band fixed
windows on each side of their body. The others are equipped with a single-leaf
sliding door. They are also equipped with the horizontal band fixed windows
aligned two standard class seating on each side of their body. Door operating
equipments having direct movement mechanism, closing strength attenuated
mechanism, door nipping detector and flashing alarm lamps while door opening/closing
are fitted above the door header of the sliding doors. A full coloured
LED destination screen is fitted beside each door. An air conditioner,
AU734, rated at 36,000kcal/h/unit, having an air purifier located at an
inlet filter, is fitted on their roof. Electric fans of air conditioner
supply fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators on the
roof. A traction resistor unit used on rheostatic braking is ready to be
fitted on the roof of powered intermediate vehicles. Each vehicle is equipped
with a WiMAX antenna for Wi-fi hotspot service, another WiMAX antenna for
passenger information displays, and an antenna for AM/FM radio receiver.
Their livery is snow with Spanish carmine band under the window and rose
quartz narrow skirting.
Bogies
Powered bogies are DT78, front trailer bogies of end vehicles are TR263, and rear trailer bogies of end vehicles and class SaroE267 vehicles are TR263A, and trailer bogies of class SahaE657 vehicles are TR263B, 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. TR263 and TR263A also employ pneumatic active suspension to improve ride quality. 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 double disk brake device and single tread brake device.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a traction system, CI22, which controls 4 AC traction motors, MT75B, with a power output of 140kW on vehicle basis. This traction system consists of a 3-level converter employing Insulated Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and a 2-level Variable-frequency drive (VFD) employing snubber-less IGBT. The motored intermediate cars, class mohaE657, are equipped with a traction transformer, TM33, under the floor, supplying to the traction systems which class mohaE657 and class mohaE656 vehicles are equipped with. Class mohaE656 vehicles are equipped with an auxiliary power unit, SC45, employing IGBT and having the power output of 260kVA, synchronizing with other auxiliary power supply units throughout the overall train set to achieve higher redundancy while in failure.
AC-DC switching is automatically executed by detecting an ATS-P transponder for AC-DC switching. End vehicles and class sahaE657 and kuhaE500 vehicles are equipped with a motor driven screw air compressor, MH3130-C1600S, under the floor. Class mohaE657 powered intermediate vehicles are equipped with a single-arm current pickup, PS37A, on their roof. They employ the electric commanding brake with regenerative braking and holding braking. They realize featuring total brake control on overall a train set and regenerative brake priority by train control and management system named TIMS.
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. Seat back of 1st class seating has wide tilting range and the tilting seating face function not slip a hip. Each seat is equipped with a power supply outlet at the head of the armrest. 1st class accommodation features medium coloured wooden pattern wall and textile floor covering. Standard class accommodation features natural wooden pattern wall. The passenger saloons employ indirect lighting featuring high-frequency powered fluorescent bulb. 1st class employs bulb coloured lighting and standard class daylight coloured. Seats are equipped with the hand-grabs. A door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon is automatic, detecting by the fibre sensor. A full-coloured LED display for providing passenger information is fitted above the door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon. Class kuhaE657, mohaE657 sahaE657, and saroE657 vehicles are equipped with a western style toilet employing the vacuum toilet system, a toilet seat cleaner, a flip-up diaper-changing station, and a flip-up high chair. They are also equipped with a flashing urinal, and a washroom. A toilet of class saroE657 is universal access. Class saroE657 is also equipped with a catering room, a multipurpose room, and a conductor room. A security camera is fitted at each doorway. 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 two liquid crystal displays showing the speed meter, the pressure gauge, and the other information instead of analogue indicators.
Additional delivery
8 additional sets were delivered to displace remaining E653 series EMU used on "Fresh Hitachi" intercity services over the period from August 2012 until November. Following the start of through services to Shinagawa beyond Ueno in 2015, an additional set was delivered in 2014. Finally following reopening the Johban line to Sendai after disruption caused by 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in 2020, two additional sets were delivered in 2019.
Modification
The fleet was scheduled to be retro-fitted with LED seat reservation status indicators above each seat over the period from October 2013 until around March 2015.
Operations
They entered "Super Hitachi" and "Fresh Hitachi" intercity services in March, 2012. "Super Hitachi" services were renamed simply "Hitachi", and "Fresh Hitachi" services were renamed "Tokiwa" at the service extension to Shinagawa via Tokyo-Ueno inter-running line. |
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