E653 series

The E653 series (E653系) is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services since 1997.[2] Originally used on Joban Line Fresh Hitachi limited express services between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki, they were reallocated to Niigata for use on Inaho limited express services from 2013 and on Shirayuki limited express services from 2015.

E653 series
E653-1000 series EMU set U104 on an Inaho service in July 2014
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed	1997–2005
Entered service	March 1997
Number built	72 vehicles (12 sets)
Number in service	72 vehicles (12 sets)
Predecessor	485 series
Successor	E657 series
Formation	4/7 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	U101–U108, H201–H204
Operator(s)	JR East
Depot(s)	Niigata
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	21,500 mm (70 ft 6 in) (end cars) 20,500 mm (67 ft 3 in) (intermediate cars)[1]
Width	2,946 mm (9 ft 8.0 in)
Doors	One per side
Maximum speed	130 km/h (80 mph)[1]
Traction system	Variable frequency (IGBT)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC (50/60 Hz)
Current collection method	Overhead catenary
Bogies	DT64 (motored), TR249 (trailer)
Safety system(s)	ATS-P, ATS-Ps
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Variants

• E653-0 series: Original (eight 7-car and four 4-car) AC/DC sets built from 1997 for use on Joban Line Fresh Hitachi limited express services
• E653-1000 series: 7-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2013 and 2014 for use on Inaho limited express services from September 2013
• E653-1100 series: 4-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2014 and 2015 for use on Shirayuki limited express services from March 2015

Operations

1997-2013 Fresh Hitachi

From their introduction in 1997, the E653 series trains operated on Fresh Hitachi limited express services between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki via the Joban Line as seven-, seven + four-, and seven + seven-car formations, but were withdrawn from regular scheduled services from the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.[3]

2013- Inaho

From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653 series sets displaced from Fresh Hitachi services by new E657 series sets were phased in on Inaho services operating between Niigata and Akita, replacing JNR-era 485 series EMUs and reclassified E653-1000 series.[4] The Inaho fleet consists of eight seven-car E653-1000 series sets modified with the addition of a Green (first class) car and a new livery evoking images of the sunset, rice plants, and the sea.[5]

2015- Shirayuki

From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015, four-car E653-1100 series sets were introduced on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between Niigata and Arai.[6]

Formations

As of 1 April 2017, the fleet consists of eight seven-car sets (U101 to U108) and four four-car sets (H201 to H204), all based at Niigata Depot.[7]

Inaho E653-1000 series 7-car sets U101–U108

The reformed seven-car Inaho E653-1000 series sets (U101 to U108) are based at Niigata Depot and formed as follows, with four motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Akita (northern) end.[7]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Designation	Tsc'	M1	M2	T	M1	M2	Tc
Numbering	KuRo E652-100x	MoHa E653-10xx	MoHa E652-10xx	SaHa E653-100x	MoHa E653-10xx	MoHa E652-10xx	KuHa E653-100x

• Cars 2 and 5 each have one PS32 single-arm pantograph.[7]
• Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 have toilets.[7]

Shirayuki E653-1100 series 4-car sets H201–H204

The reformed four-car Shirayuki E653-1100 series sets (H201 to H204) are formed as follows, with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Arai end.[7]

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Designation	T'c	M1	M2	Tc
Numbering	KuHa E652-110x	MoHa E653-110x	MoHa E652-110x	KuHa E653-110x

Car 2 is equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.[7]

Original (Fresh Hitachi) 7-car sets K301–K308

The original Fresh Hitachi seven-car sets were formed as follows, with car 1 at the south (Ueno) end.[3]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Designation	T'c	M1	M2	T	M1	M2	Tc
Numbering	KuHa E652	MoHa E653	MoHa E652	SaHa E653	MoHa E653	MoHa E652	KuHa E653

• Cars 2 and 5 each had one PS32 single-arm pantograph.[3]
• Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 had toilets.[3]

Original (Fresh Hitachi) 4-car sets K351–K354

The original Fresh Hitachi four-car sets were formed as follows, with car 8 at the south (Ueno) end.[3]

Car No.	8	9	10	11
Designation	T'c	M1	M2	Tc
Numbering	KuHa E652-100	MoHa E653	MoHa E652	KuHa E653-100

Car 9 was equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.[3]

Interior

E653-0 series

All cars in the original E653-0 series sets were standard class with 2+2 seating and 910 mm (36 in) seat pitch.[8]

• 
  Original E653 series interior view (standard class) in January 2010
• 
  Original E653 series standard class seating

E653-1000 series

The Green (first class) cars in E653-1000 series sets have 2+1 seating, arranged with pairs of seats on the seaward side and single seats on the landward side.[9] Seat rows are aligned with the windows, giving a seat pitch of 1,820 mm (72 in), double that for standard class, and additional privacy is added by partitions between each seat row.[9] The Green car seats 18 passengers.[4]

• 
  The interior of an E653-1000 series Green car
• 
  Green car seating
• 
  The mini-lounge area in a Green car

History

E653 series were introduced from 1 October 1997.[3] The refreshment vending machines were discontinued from 31 March 2008.[3]

From 17 March 2012, the E653 series trains were gradually phased out from Fresh Hitachi services with the introduction of new E657 series ten-car EMUs.[10] Original plans were for some E653 series sets to be reassigned to new limited express services operating on the Joban Line between Iwaki and Sendai,[8] with three four-car sets due to be repainted into a new "hamakaidō" (浜街道, coastway) blue livery for use on services between Iwaki and Sendai and the rest of the fleet transferred elsewhere.[11] These plans were abandoned following the suspension of services north of Iwaki on the Joban Line after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653-1000 series seven-car sets were introduced on Inaho services, operating between Niigata and Akita.[3] Set U102 was the first E653-1000 series to enter revenue service, being used on a special E653 Series Uetsu Line Debut (E653系羽越線デビュー号) charter service between Niigata and Sakata on 14 September 2013.[12]

The sub-fleet of four four-car sets were renumbered as E653-1100 series sets for use on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between Niigata and Arai from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015.[6] These sets received a new livery consisting of ivory white with vermillion and blue stripes intended to evoke an image of the sunset over the Sea of Japan.[6] The interiors were refitted with new seat covers, similar to those used in the E7 series and W7 series shinkansen trains.[6]

E653-1000 series livery changes

The fleet of E653-1000 series sets used on Inaho services is undergoing a programme of reliverying beginning in 2017, with sets each receiving different colour liveries.[13] Set U106 received an all-over ultramarine livery, returning to service in October 2017,[14] and set U107 received an all-over deep pink (Japanese rose (ハマナス, hamanasu)) livery, returning to service in December 2017.[15]

Fleet histories

The manufacturers and build dates for the fleet are as shown below.[7][16]

7-car sets

Set No.	Original set No.	Delivered	Manufacturer	Original colour	Conversion date	Notes
U101	K301	22 July 1997	Hitachi	Red	25 June 2013
U102	K302	4 August 1997	Hitachi	Blue	28 August 2013
U103	K303	7 August 1997	Kinki Sharyo	Yellow	31 October 2013
U104	K304	26 August 1997	Tokyu Car	Green	9 January 2014
U105	K305	4 November 1998	Hitachi	Red	18 March 2014
U106	K306	18 November 1998	Kinki Sharyo	Yellow	19 June 2014	Reliveried in all-over ultramarine in October 2017.
U107	K307	24 November 1998	Tokyu Car	Green	1 September 2014	Reliveried in all-over deep-pink in December 2017.
U108	K308/K354	25 November 1998	Hitachi	Blue	26 March 2015	Reformed from 4 cars of former set K354 and 3 intermediate cars (4-6) of former set K308.

4-car sets

Set No.	Original set No.	Delivered	Manufacturer	Original colour	Conversion date	Notes
H201	K351	18 November 1998	Kinki Sharyo	Orange	26 February 2015
H202	K352	24 November 1998	Tokyu Car	Orange	26 February 2015
H203	K353	25 November 1998	Hitachi	Orange	4 March 2015
H204	K308	27 February 2005	Hitachi	Orange	26 February 2015	Formed from cars 1-3 and 7 of former set K308

• 
  Red livery 7-car set K305 in May 2008
• 
  Blue livery 7-car set K302 in April 2003
• 
  Yellow livery 7-car set K303 in April 2006
• 
  Green livery 7-car set K304 in May 2008
• 
  Orange livery 4-car set K352 in March 2007
• 
  7-car E653-1000 series EMU set U101 in March 2014
• 
  4-car E653-1100 series set H202 in March 2015

References

1. JR全車輌ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006. ISBN 978-4-7770-0453-9.
2. Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Jr全車両: ビジュアル決定版 Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: ＪＲ全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 46. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
3. JR電車編成表 2015冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2015]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 21 November 2014. pp. 36, 42. ISBN 978-4-330-51614-1.
4. ２０１３年９月ダイヤ改正について [September 2013 timetable revision details] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company - Niigata Division. 5 July 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 9 July 2013.
5. 特急「いなほ」の車両を一新します！ [New "Inaho" limited express trains] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company - Niigata Division. 26 June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
6. 特急「しらゆき」の運転に伴うＥ653系投入について [Introduction of E653 series with operation of "Shirayuki" limited express] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: JR East Niigata Division. 27 August 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
7. Jr電車編成表 JR電車編成表 2017夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 18 May 2017. p. 36. ISBN 978-4-330-78717-6.
8. 常磐線特急に新型車両を導入！ [New trains to be introduced on Joban Line limited express services] (PDF) (in Japanese). East Japan Railway Company. 7 December 2010. Retrieved 7 December 2010.
9. "特急「いなほ」にE653系1000番代を投入" [E653-1000 series to be introduced on "Inaho" limited express services]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 42 no. 352. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. August 2013. pp. 68–69.
10. ２０１２年３月ダイヤ改正について [March 2012 Timetable Revision] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 16 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
11. JR東日本　常磐線に新型特急車両E657系を投入 [JR East to introduce new E657 series express EMUs on Joban Line]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine. Vol. 40 no. 322. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. February 2011. p. 87.
12. 「E653系羽越線デビュー号」運転 [E653 Series Uetsu Line Debut runs]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 September 2013. Retrieved 16 September 2013.
13. JR東日本，“いなほ”用E653系1000番台の塗装を変更へ [JR East Inaho E653-1000 series to be reliveried]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 October 2017. Archived from the original on 14 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
14. 瑠璃色となったE653系U106編成が営業運転を開始 [Ultramarine liveried E653 series set U106 back in revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 28 October 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
15. E653系1000番台U107編成がハマナス色に [E653-1000 series set U107 repainted in "Japanese rose" livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 28 December 2017. Archived from the original on 28 December 2017. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
16. Shibata, Togo (March 2013). さよなら651系〈スーパーひたち〉 E653系〈フレッシュひたち〉 [Farewell 651 series "Super Hitachi" & E653 series "Fresh Hitachi"]. Rail Magazine (in Japanese). No. 354. Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 39–45.

External links

• E653 series Fresh Hitachi at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 January 2013) (in Japanese)