253 series
Encyclopedia
The is a DC
electric multiple unit
operated by East Japan Railway Company
(JR East). It was introduced on 19 March 1991 for use exclusively on the Narita Express
, a limited express
service to and from Narita International Airport
. The 253 series trains were withdrawn from Narita Express services on 30 June 2010, and some trains are to be re-employed on Nikkō
and Kinugawa
limited express services from June 2011.
and Tokyu Car Corporation
. Sets were formed as 3-car and 6-car units, running as up to 12-car formations in service. From 1 October 2009, all 3-car sets were removed from Narita Express operations.
It was the recipient of the 32nd Laurel Prize
of the Japan Railfan Club. Extra sets were built in 2002 to cope with the increase in traffic during the 2002 FIFA World Cup
. These sets were classified 253-200 series, and included minor improvements over the original 253-0 and 253-100 series sets, such as LED destination indicators, conventional rotating seats in standard class, and 2+1 seating in Green Car
s.
Each MoHa 253 car was equipped with one PS26 lozenge-type pantograph.
EMUs, with the last trains operating until 30 June 2010. Most trains were subsequently withdrawn and scrapped, but two 6-car sets, Ne201 and Ne202, were converted in late 2010 to become 253-1000 series (see below), and two 3-car sets, Ne107 and Ne108, were sold to the Nagano Electric Railway
(see below).
and Kinugawa
limited express services jointly operated with Tobu Railway
from 4 June 2011, replacing the 485 series
and 189 series EMUs currently used. Refurbishment will include entirely new interiors with monoclass seating configured with seat pitch increased from 1,020 mm to 1,100 mm, as well as replacement of main equipment. The total seating capacity for each 6-car set will be 290. Onboard announcements and passenger information displays will be in four languages, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
The M2 and M3 cars are each fitted with one PS26A lozenge-type pantograph.
for use on new Snow Monkey limited express services. The two sets, reclassified as 2100 series
, entered service from February 2011 after modifications to allow wanman driver only operation.
(3 car set) and Kato Precision Railroad Models
(3 & 6 car sets).
Densha de Go! Final, which runs on a (real-life) once-daily Narita Express service on the Chūō Main Line
from Takao Station
to Shinjuku Station
.
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
operated by East Japan Railway Company
East Japan Railway Company
is the largest passenger railway company in the world and one of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo....
(JR East). It was introduced on 19 March 1991 for use exclusively on the Narita Express
Narita Express
, abbreviated as N'EX, is a limited express train service operated since 1991 by East Japan Railway Company , serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations. Services are approximately half-hourly in the mornings and evenings, and hourly through the middle of the day...
, a limited express
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
service to and from Narita International Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
. The 253 series trains were withdrawn from Narita Express services on 30 June 2010, and some trains are to be re-employed on Nikkō
Nikkō (train)
The is a limited express train service in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company and Tobu Railway between in Tokyo and in Tochigi Prefecture.-Semi-express Nikkō:...
and Kinugawa
Kinugawa (train)
The and are limited express train services in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company and Tobu Railway between in Tokyo and in Tochigi Prefecture.-History:...
limited express services from June 2011.
Design
They were manufactured by Kinki SharyoKinki Sharyo
is an Osaka, Japan-based manufacturer of railroad vehicles. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation.In business since 1920 and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945...
and Tokyu Car Corporation
Tokyu Car Corporation
is a manufacturer of heavy rail cars in Japan. The company is based in Kanazawa Ward, Yokohama, Japan, and a member of Tokyu Group. Tokyu Car manufactures rail vehicles not only for Tokyu Corporation but for other Japanese operators, including various Japan Railways Group companies and...
. Sets were formed as 3-car and 6-car units, running as up to 12-car formations in service. From 1 October 2009, all 3-car sets were removed from Narita Express operations.
It was the recipient of the 32nd Laurel Prize
Laurel Prize
The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1961 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by the selection committee as having the most outstanding functional and design features....
of the Japan Railfan Club. Extra sets were built in 2002 to cope with the increase in traffic during the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
. These sets were classified 253-200 series, and included minor improvements over the original 253-0 and 253-100 series sets, such as LED destination indicators, conventional rotating seats in standard class, and 2+1 seating in Green Car
First class travel
First class is the most luxurious class of accommodation on a train, passenger ship, airplane, or other conveyance. It is usually much more expensive than business class and economy class, and offers the best amenities.-Aviation:...
s.
Nikkō/Kinugawa (from June 2011)
- Tōhoku Main Line
- Tōbu Nikkō Line
- Yamanote Freight LineYamanote LineThe is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
Narita Express (1991–2010)
- Chūō Main LineChuo Main LineThe , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It runs between Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faster, while the Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the fastest rail...
(Rapid service) - Narita LineNarita LineThe is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company .The main line runs between Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station , and is sometimes referred to as the...
(Airport branch) - Sōbu Main Line
- Yamanote Freight LineYamanote LineThe is commuter rail loop line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company . It is one of Tokyo's busiest and most important lines, connecting most of Tokyo's major stations and urban centres, including the Yūrakuchō/Ginza area, Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Ikebukuro, with all but two of its...
- Yokosuka LineYokosuka LineThe is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company .The Yokosuka Line connects in Chūō, Tokyo and in Yokosuka, Kanagawa...
1st batch
63 coaches (21 trains in 3-car formation) were manufactured in 1990 and entered service in 1991. The types of coaches were the KuRo 253 (Green Car driving trailer), MoHa 253 (trailer) and KuMoHa 252 (driving trailer) coaches. 3-car sets were sometimes joined together to form 6-car sets of two 3-car trains joined together.2nd-4th batches
36 coaches were manufactured in 1992 to 1996 to cope with an increase in passenger traffic on the Narita Express, eventually enabling the 253 series trains to run in 12-car formation as well as the older 3/6-car formation. Minor changes were observed in the interior, notably that the seats now have two colours, black and red, and that the luggage racks are entirely coated with gloss instead of the grayish racks of the first batch.5th batch
The 5th batch of 253 series trains (classified 253-200 series) consisting of two 6-car sets, Ne201 and Ne202, were delivered from Tokyu Car in 2002 in anticipation of the 2002 FIFA World Cup which was expected to further increase passenger traffic on the Narita Express. VVVF traction systems were built into these trains, and they were fitted with DT69 and TR254 bogies. The interior was rather different from previous batches overall, with LED destination indicators, conventional rotating seats in standard class, and 2+1 seating in Green cars.6-car sets Ne01–11
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M'c | M | T | M' | M1 | Tsc |
| Numbering | KuMoHa 252 | MoHa 253 | SaHa 253 | MoHa 252 | MoHa 253-100 | KuRo 253 |
6-car set Ne101
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M'c | M | T | M' | M1 | Tsc |
| Numbering | KuMoHa 252 | MoHa 253 | SaHa 253 | MoHa 252 | MoHa 253-100 | KuRo 253-100 |
6-car sets Ne201–202
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M'c | M | T | M' | M1 | Tsc |
| Numbering | KuMoHa 252-200 | MoHa 253-200 | SaHa 253-200 | MoHa 252-200 | MoHa 253-300 | KuRo 253-200 |
3-car sets Ne102–110
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M'c | M | TsRc |
| Numbering | KuMoHa 252 | MoHa 253 | KuRoHa 253 |
Each MoHa 253 car was equipped with one PS26 lozenge-type pantograph.
Interior
The standard-class seating arrangement used in the original 253 series sets was unusual for Japanese limited express trains in consisting of European-style fixed 4-seat bays. The seats were rearranged in a fixed unidirectional layout facing 4-seat bays in the centre of each car between 2003 and 2004.Retirement
The 253 series trains were gradually replaced on Narita Express services from October 2009 by new E259 seriesE259 series
The is a DC electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan. A total of 132 vehicles formed as 22 6-car sets were introduced from 1 October 2009 on the Narita Express limited express services to and from Narita International Airport...
EMUs, with the last trains operating until 30 June 2010. Most trains were subsequently withdrawn and scrapped, but two 6-car sets, Ne201 and Ne202, were converted in late 2010 to become 253-1000 series (see below), and two 3-car sets, Ne107 and Ne108, were sold to the Nagano Electric Railway
Nagano Electric Railway
The is a private railway based in Nagano, Japan. The company and its lines are commonly referred to as .-History:Nagano Electric Railway consists of two lines in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture. The original Nagano Electric Railway was built in 1926 connecting Gondō in Nagano City with Suzaka...
(see below).
253-1000 series
The two newest-built sets, Ne201 and Ne202, underwent extensive refurbishment at JR East's Omiya Works and Tokyu Car Corporation's Yokohama factory to become 253-1000 series sets OM-N1 and OM-N2 for use on NikkōNikkō (train)
The is a limited express train service in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company and Tobu Railway between in Tokyo and in Tochigi Prefecture.-Semi-express Nikkō:...
and Kinugawa
Kinugawa (train)
The and are limited express train services in Japan operated jointly by the East Japan Railway Company and Tobu Railway between in Tokyo and in Tochigi Prefecture.-History:...
limited express services jointly operated with Tobu Railway
Tobu Railway
is a Japanese commuter railway company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. It operates in Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba, Tochigi, and Gunma Prefectures...
from 4 June 2011, replacing the 485 series
485 series
The is a limited express electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company , and formerly also operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company in Japan.-481 series:Introduced in 1964, the 481...
and 189 series EMUs currently used. Refurbishment will include entirely new interiors with monoclass seating configured with seat pitch increased from 1,020 mm to 1,100 mm, as well as replacement of main equipment. The total seating capacity for each 6-car set will be 290. Onboard announcements and passenger information displays will be in four languages, Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean.
Formation
The 253-1000 series sets are formed as follows.| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M'c | M2 | M' | M3 | T | Tc |
| Numbering | KuMoHa 252-1000 | MoHa 253-1000 | MoHa 252-1000 | MoHa 253-1100 | SaHa 253-1000 | KuHa 253-1000 |
| Capacity | 48 | 42 | 56 | 48 | 56 | 40 |
| Weight (t) | 39.6 | 40.2 | 36.6 | 39.9 | 29.1 | 34.3 |
The M2 and M3 cars are each fitted with one PS26A lozenge-type pantograph.
Resale
Two 3-car sets, Ne107 and Ne108, were sold to the Nagano Electric RailwayNagano Electric Railway
The is a private railway based in Nagano, Japan. The company and its lines are commonly referred to as .-History:Nagano Electric Railway consists of two lines in the northern part of Nagano Prefecture. The original Nagano Electric Railway was built in 1926 connecting Gondō in Nagano City with Suzaka...
for use on new Snow Monkey limited express services. The two sets, reclassified as 2100 series
Nagano Electric Railway 2100 series
The is a DC electric multiple unit train type operated by the Nagano Electric Railway in Japan on Snow Monkey limited express services since 26 February 2011, replacing the remaining ageing 2000 series trains....
, entered service from February 2011 after modifications to allow wanman driver only operation.
Models
The 253 series is available in N gauge model form from TomixTomix
Tomix is model railway brand of the Japanese company Tomytec, a subsidiary of toy manufacturer Takara Tomy .-Product outline:...
(3 car set) and Kato Precision Railroad Models
Kato Precision Railroad Models
Kato Precision Railroad Models is a Japanese manufacturer of model railroad equipment in N and HO scales...
(3 & 6 car sets).
Other appearances
The 253 series was featured in the train simulatorTrain simulator
A train simulator is a computer based simulation of rail transport operations.-Industrial train simulations:Like flight simulators, train simulators have been produced for railway training purposes...
Densha de Go! Final, which runs on a (real-life) once-daily Narita Express service on the Chūō Main Line
Chuo Main Line
The , commonly called the Chūō Line, is one of the major trunk railway lines in Japan. It runs between Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest direct railway connection between the two cities; the coastal Tōkaidō Main Line is slightly faster, while the Tōkaidō Shinkansen is the fastest rail...
from Takao Station
Takao Station
Takao Station is the name of two train stations in Japan:* Takao Station * Takao Station...
to Shinjuku Station
Shinjuku Station
is a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,...
.