E655 series

E655 series

The E655 series set on an imperial train working, November 2011
In service 2007–Present
Manufacturer Hitachi, Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed 2007
Number built 6 vehicles
Number in service 6 vehicles
Formation 5/6 cars per trainset
Capacity 107[1]
Operator(s) JR East
Depot(s) Oku[2]
Specifications
Car body construction Aluminium alloy
Car length 21,115 mm (69 ft 3.3 in) (end cars)
20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in) (intermediate cars)
Width 2,946 mm (9 ft 8.0 in)
Height 3,550 mm (11 ft 8 in)
Doors 1 per side
Maximum speed 130 km/h (80 mph)[1]
Electric system(s) 1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (50/60 Hz)
Current collection method Overhead catenary
Safety system(s) ATS-P, ATS-Ps
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The E655 series (E655系) is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. The single 5-car trainset is used as a luxury charter train called Nagomi (なごみ(和)), and also as the Imperial train by inserting a dedicated Imperial carriage.[1]

Formation

The trainset is normally formed as a five-car set, as shown below.[1]

  1. KuRo E655-101 (Tsc') (with diesel generator)
  2. MoRo E655-101 (M1s) (with 2 pantographs)
  3. MoRo E654-101 (M2s)
  4. MoRo E655-201 (M1s) (with 2 pantographs)
  5. KuMoRo E654-101 (M2sc)

The Imperial carriage, classified "TR" and numbered E655-1, is inserted between cars 3 and 4 for Imperial Train duties.

Cars 1 to 3 were built by Tokyu Car Corporation, and the other three cars were built by Hitachi Ltd.[2]

The E655 series unit can be hauled by a diesel locomotive on non-electrified lines, in which case power for air conditioning and lighting is supplied by the diesel generator in car 1.

Interior

Seating in cars 1 to 5 is in 2+1 configuration. The nine seats in car 3 are leather-covered.[1]

"TR" car E655-1

The special "TR" imperial train car can also operate sandwiched within other EMU trainsets, and has been test run in an E257 series set (December 2008),[3] E653 series set (April 2009),[4] and E657 series set (September 2011).[5]

History

JR East announced in June 2004 its plans to build a new VIP train which would also replace the former locomotive-hauled imperial train. The E655 series trainset was delivered in July 2007, and unveiled to the media at Ueno Station in Tokyo on 24 July 2007, before undergoing test running on various lines in the Kanto Region. The first revenue-earning service operated by the train was on 23 November 2007, when it was used for a charter service for JR East's "Otona no Kyujitsu Club" between Ueno and Kōriyama. On 13 December 2007, JR East announced that the train would be called Nagomi.[6] The first Imperial Train working was on 12 November 2008, when the train was used to convey the Japanese Imperial couple and the Spanish Royal couple between Ueno and Tsuchiura.[7]

Imperial train workings

The E655 series set on an imperial train working on the Chuo Line, October 2012

The E655 series set has been used on the following imperial train workings. (Incomplete list)

Date Route Conveying
12 November 2008 Ueno → Tsuchiura Imperial Couple and Spanish Royal Couple[7]
13 November 2011 Tokyo → Kofu Crown Prince[8]
6 October 2012 Tokyo – Kofu (return) Imperial Couple[9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "E655系特急形交直流電車" [E655 series limited-express AC/DC train]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 47 no. 559. Japan: Kōyūsha. November 2007. pp. 10–19.
  2. 1 2 JR電車編成表 2009夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2009]. Japan: JRR. June 2009. p. 79. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8.
  3. ↑ "E257系M104編成，特別車両E655-1を連結して試運転" [E257 series set M104 test run with E655-1 special car]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 6 December 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "E655-1，E653系と混結試運転" [E655-1 test run in E653 series formation]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 April 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "E657系＋E655-1が試運転" [E657 + E655-1 test run]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 28 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2011.
  6. ↑ JR East press release: "Ｅ６５５系ハイグレード車両の列車愛称決定並びに商品企画について" (13 December 2007). Retrieved on 8 July 2009. (Japanese)
  7. 1 2 両陛下、スペイン国王とお召し列車でつくば市をご訪問 [The Imperial Couple visit Tsukuba with King of Spain]. Sankei Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 10 February 2009. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  8. ↑ 中央本線で御乗用列車運転 [Imperial Train runs on Chuo Main Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 14 November 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  9. ↑ Yamabe, Shuichi (February 2013). "E655系お召し列車運転" [E655 series imperial train working]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 53 no. 622. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 82–83.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to E655 series.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 9/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.