E351 series

The E351 series (E351系) was a tilting electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Chuo Main Line Super Azusa limited express services in Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in December 1993 (initially on Azusa services), a total of 60 vehicles were built, formed as five eight-car main sets (numbers S1 to S5) and five four-car supplementary (numbers S21 to S25) sets.

"E351" redirects here. For the food additive E 351, see Potassium malate.

E351 series
An E351 series EMU on a Super Azusa service in January 2010
In service	December 1993 – April 2018
Manufacturer	Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo
Replaced	183 series
Constructed	1993-1996
Entered service	23 December 1993
Scrapped	2017 - 2018
Number built	60 vehicles (10 sets)
Number in service	None
Number preserved	None
Number scrapped	60 vehicles (10 sets)
Successor	E353 series
Formation	4/8 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	S1–S5, S21–S25
Operator(s)	JR East
Depot(s)	Matsumoto
Line(s) served	Chuo Main Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	20,700 mm (67 ft 11 in)–21,680 mm (71 ft 2 in)
Width	2,843 mm (9 ft 3.9 in)
Doors	2 per side
Maximum speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Traction system	Variable frequency (GTO, IGBT)
Power output	3,600 kW per 12-car formation
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC overhead
Current collection method	PS31 single-arm pantograph
Bogies	DT62A (motored), TR247 (trailer)
Braking system(s)	Regenerative brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, snow-resistant brake
Safety system(s)	ATS-P, ATS-Ps
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Concept

Built jointly by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo,[1] the tilting E351 series trains were intended to replace the ageing 183 series EMUs used on Azusa Limited express services operating between Shinjuku in Tokyo and Matsumoto, and to increase speeds on the highly curved Chūō Main Line.[2]

Operations

• Super Azusa limited express services (since 3 December 1994)
• Chūō Liner rapid services (since 15 March 2008)

Between 16 March 1996 and 14 March 2008, E351 series sets were also used on Tokaido Main Line weekday morning Ohayo Liner Shinjuku 22 and evening Home Liner Odawara 27 commuter services.[3]

From 23 December 2017, the E351 series trains were replaced by new E353 series EMUs on Chuo Line limited express services, with the entire fleet phased out from regular passenger services on 16 March 2018.[4]

A special final run service was held on 7 April 2018 to commemorate the E351 series sets' retirement, after which the sets were officially withdrawn.[5]

Formations

An eight-car set with gangwayed cab car leading in January 2007

Coupled gangwayed ends at Shinjuku Station in March 2007

The fleet consisted of five four-car sets (S21–S25) and five eight-car sets (S1–S5), formed as shown below, with car 1 (car 5) at the Shinjuku or Tokyo end.[2][3]

4-car sets S21–S22

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Designation	Tc'	M1	M2	Tc'
Numbering	KuHa E351-1100	MoHa E351-1000	MoHa E350-1000	KuHa E351-1200
Seating capacity	60	52	68	52
Weight (t)	36.9	39.7	39.8	38.2

• Car 4 had a retracting gangway.
• Car 2 was fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
• Cars 2 and 4 were fitted with toilets.

4-car sets S23–S25

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Designation	Tc	M1	M2	Tc'
Numbering	KuHa E351	MoHa E351	MoHa E350	KuHa E350-100
Seating capacity	60	52	68	52
Weight (t)	38.3	38.3	37.9	36.3

• Car 4 had a retracting gangway.
• Car 2 was fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
• Cars 2 and 4 were fitted with toilets.

8-car sets S1–S2

Car No.	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Tc	M1	M2	T	Ts	M1	M2	Tc
Numbering	KuHa E351-1300	MoHa E351-1000	MoHa E350-1100	SaHa E351-1000	SaRo E351-1000	MoHa E351-1100	MoHa E350-1000	KuHa E351-1000
Seating capacity	60	60	64	64	50	55	68	52
Weight (t)	37.2	39.7	40.5	33.9	32.7	39.9	39.8	37.6

• Car 5 had a retracting gangway.
• Cars 6 and 10 were each fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
• Cars 6, 8, 10, and 12 were fitted with toilets.

8-car sets S3–S5

Car No.	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
Designation	Tc	M1	M2	T	Ts	M1	M2	Tc'
Numbering	KuHa E351-100	MoHa E351	MoHa E350-100	SaHa E351	SaRo E351	MoHa E351-100	MoHa E350	KuHa E350
Seating capacity	60	60	64	64	50	55	68	52
Weight (t)	38.9	38.3	38.4	32.0	32.0	38.9	37.9	35.2

• Car 5 had a retracting gangway.
• Cars 6 and 10 were each fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
• Cars 6, 8, 10, and 12 were fitted with toilets.

Original set formations

When first delivered, the two pairs of sets were numbered and formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Shinjuku end.[6]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8		9	10	11	12
Numbering	KuHa E351-100	MoHa E351	MoHa E350	SaHa E351	SaRo E351	MoHa E351-100	MoHa E351	KuHa E351-200		KuHa E351-300	MoHa E351	MoHa E350	KuHa E351

Interior

Both standard class and Green (first) class seating were arranged 2+2 abreast.[2]

• 
  Green car interior
• 
  Green car seating
• 
  Standard-class seating

History

Introduction

Two pairs of first-batch sets (S1+S21 and S2+S22) were delivered in 1993,[2] and were introduced on Azusa services from 23 December 1993.[7]

Super Azusa introduction

From the start of the revised timetable on 3 December 1994, four return Azusa workings were upgraded and rebranded as Super Azusa, operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto or Minami-Otari using E351 series equipment.[7]

2nd batch

Three pairs of second-batch sets were delivered in 1995,[2] and the first two pairs of sets (S1+S21 and S2+S22) were modified to bring them up to production specifications at JR East's Nagano Workshop and Nippon Sharyo, respectively, in March 1996.[3] Modifications included replacing the original PS26C lozenge-type pantographs with PS31 single-arm pantographs, and renumbering the cars in the -1000 series.[2] From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 1996, the number of Super Azusa services using E351 series equipment was increased from four return trips daily to eight return trips.[7]

1997 Ōtsuki Station collision

On 12 October 1997, the down Super Azusa 13 service from Shinjuku to Matsumoto (formed of sets S3+S23) was involved in a collision with a 201 series local train that had overrun a red signal while passing through Ōtsuki Station. Several cars were derailed and one car overturned. Five cars of set S3 were ultimately cut up on site, and replacement car bodies ordered from Hitachi. The rebuilt vehicles retained their original running numbers.

From the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007, E351 series trains were made entirely no-smoking.[3]

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2008, E351 series trains were removed from Tokaido Main Line weekday morning Ohayo Liner Shinjuku and evening Home Liner Odawara commuter services.[3]

Since the start of the revised timetable on 13 March 2010, E351 series trains no longer operate on the Oito Line.[3]

Build details

The individual build details for the fleet are as shown below.[8][9]

Batch	Set No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered	Date withdrawn
1st	S1	Hitachi	16 September 1993
	S2	Nippon Sharyo	30 September 1993	24 December 2017[10]
2nd	S3	Hitachi	19 December 1995
	S4	Hitachi	9 January 1996
	S5	Nippon Sharyo	16 January 1996	24 December 2017[10]
1st	S21	Hitachi	16 September 1993
	S22	Nippon Sharyo	16 October 1993	24 December 2017[10]
2nd	S23	Nippon Sharyo	19 December 1995
	S24	Hitachi	9 January 1996
	S25	Nippon Sharyo	16 January 1996	24 December 2017[10]

References

1. Saka, Masahiro (March 2014). "JR第1世代の車両・現況と概要" [JR 1st-generation rolling stock: Current situation and overview]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 43 no. 359. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. p. 22.
2. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 159–162. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
3. JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2011. p. 102. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.
4. 来年３月に現行車両「Ｅ３５１系」引退　スーパーあずさ、新型に [E351 series to be retired by next spring with new trains for "Super Azusa" services]. Sankei Photo (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
5. “ありがとうE351系旅行商品及び記念入場券の発売について” [Products and admission fees for the "Thank you E351 series" event] (PDF). JR East (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 22 February 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
6. JR全車輛ハンドブック1995 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1995]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1995. pp. 148–149.
7. JR特急10年の歩み [10 Years of JR Limited Express Trains]. Japan: Kousai Shuppansha. May 1997. pp. 88, 103, 130. ISBN 978-4-330-45697-3.
8. Azusa, Takeshi (April 2018). E353系の足跡 [The footprints of the E351 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 58 no. 684. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. p. 48.
9. Jr電車編成表 2018冬 JR電車編成表 2018冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2018] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 15 November 2017. p. 100. ISBN 978-4-330-84117-5.
10. JR車両のうごき [JR rolling stock changes]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 47 no. 407. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. March 2018. p. 102.

External links

• JR E351 Super Azusa (in Japanese)