| E657 series | |
|---|---|
 Set K-15 in March 2019 | |
| In service | 2012–present |
| Manufacturer | Hitachi,J-TREC,Kinki Sharyo |
| Replaced | 651 series,E653 series |
| Constructed | 2011–2014, 2019 |
| Entered service | 3 March 2012 |
| Number built | 190 vehicles (19 sets) |
| Number in service | 190 vehicles (19 sets) |
| Formation | 10 cars per trainset |
| Fleet numbers | K-1 – K-19 |
| Capacity | 600 (Green: 30, Standard: 570) |
| Operators |  JR East |
| Depots | Katsuta |
| Lines served | Joban Line |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium alloy |
| Car length |
|
| Width | 2,946 mm (9 ft 8.0 in) |
| Height | 4,249 mm (13 ft 11.3 in) |
| Doors | 1 per side (2 on end cars) |
| Maximum speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
| Traction system | 3-coreIGBT-VVVF (Hitachi) |
| Traction motors | MT75B 140 kW (188 hp) 3-phase AC squirrel-cage induction motor (Hitachi) |
| Acceleration | 0.56 m/s2 (1.3 mph/s) |
| Deceleration | 1.4 m/s2 (3.1 mph/s) |
| Electric system(s) | 1,500 V DC and 20 kV 50 Hz AC, all fromoverhead catenary |
| Current collection | PS37Apantograph |
| Bogies | DT78 (motored), TR263 (trailer) |
| Safety system(s) | ATS-P, ATS-Ps |
| Multiple working | E655 series |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
TheE657 series (E657系) is an AC/DC dual-voltageelectric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated byEast Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan onlimited express services betweenUeno in Tokyo andIwaki on theJoban Line since March 2012.[1]
The trains replaced the651 series andE653 series EMUs previously used onSuper Hitachi andFresh Hitachi limited express services on the Joban Line. The first train in revenue service ran on 3 March 2012, in the form of a special return Super Hitachi limited express service between Ueno and Iwaki, with regular scheduled services starting from the revised timetable on 17 March 2012.[2] The initial order of sixteen 10-car sets was in service by the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.
The front end design is derived from the earlierSuper Hitachi 651 series trains, and the pale pink body colour with red lining is intended to evoke an image of theume plums for which the area served by the trains is famous.[3]
The end cars and Green (first class) cars feature fullactive suspension for improved ride quality, andyaw dampers are fitted between cars.[1]
The DT78 (motored) and TR263 (trailer) bolsterless bogies are developed from the DT77 and TR262 bogies used on theE259 series EMUs, with improvements to cope with the increased vehicle weight and provide increased snow and cold weather resistance.[4] The end bogies of the Tc driving cars are designated TR263, the inner bogies of the Tc driving cars and the Ts car are designated TR263A, and the bogies on the T1 car are designated TR262B.[4] All the bogies use tread brakes, and the trailer bogies additionally use two disc brakes per axle.[4] Wheel diameter is 860 mm (33.9 in), and the distance between wheel centres is 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in).[4]
Each unit consists of ten cars, formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Ueno end. The six "M" cars are motored.[5]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc' | M1 | M2 | T1 | Ts | M1 | M2 | M1 | M2 | Tc |
| Numbering | KuHa E656 | MoHa E657-200 | MoHa E656-200 | SaHa E657 | SaRo E657-200 | MoHa E657-100 | MoHa E656-100 | MoHa E657 | MoHa E656 | KuHa E657 |
| Weight (t) | 36.1 | 41.4 | 40.0 | 31.1 | 34.1 | 41.4 | 40.0 | 41.4 | 40.0 | 34.8 |
| Seating capacity | 44 | 68 | 64 | 72 | 30 | 66 | 64 | 68 | 64 | 60 |
Cars 2, 6, and 8 each have one PS37A single-arm pantograph.[6]
Internally, the Green car (first class) accommodation is in 2+2 abreast configuration with a seat pitch of 1.16 m (45.7 in). Standard class is arranged 2+2 with a seat pitch of 960 mm (37.8 in), compared to 970 mm (38.2 in) forSuper Hitachi 651 series trains and 910 mm (35.8 in) forFresh Hitachi E653 series trains.[1]
AC power outlets are provided at each seat, andWiMAX wireless broadband internet access is available.[1] The trains includeuniversal access toilets and security cameras.[1]
Between October 2013 and around March 2015, the fleet was scheduled to be retro-fitted with LED seat reservation status indicators above each seat.[7]
In March 2011, the first completed five cars (half a set - cars 1 to 5) were delivered fromKinki Sharyo's Osaka factory and moved toHitachi's factory inYamaguchi Prefecture.[8] The first 10-car set was then scheduled to be moved from Hitachi's factory to JR East's Katsuta Depot on the Jōban Line in April, but this was postponed until May 2011 due to the2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami.[8] Test running on the Jōban Line commenced on 27 May 2011.[9]
Seven sets were delivered for the start of the revised timetable from 17 March 2012.[2]
The first E657 series set built byJapan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC) in Yokohama, K-9, was delivered in August 2012. This was also the first train to be built for JR East by the company following its renaming from Tokyu Car Corporation.[10]
In June 2025, JR East announced its plans to introduce a new overnight express train service in 2027, which will be operated by a modified E657 series set.[11] The service is planned to operate in areas including the Tokyo metropolitan area and northern Tōhoku region.[12]
As part of its Ibaraki Destination Campaign which was planned to run between 1 October and 31 December 2023, JR East announced in November 2022 that five E657 series sets would be repainted in the liveries used with the E653 series sets during their use onFresh Hitachi limited express services.[13] The first set to be repainted, K-17, received the green "green lake" livery and returned to service in December 2022;[14] the second set to be repainted, K-12, received the red "scarlet blossom" livery and returned to service on 12 February 2023;[15] the third set to be repainted, K-2, received the yellow "narcissus" livery and returned to service on 29 April 2023; the fourth set to be repainted, K-1, received the blue "blue ocean" livery and returned to service on 10 June 2023;[16][better source needed] and the fifth and last set to be repainted, K-3, received the orange "orange persimmon" livery on 27 September 2023.[17]
The manufacturers and delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.[18]
| Set No. | Manufacturer | Date delivered |
|---|---|---|
| K-1 | Hitachi/Kinki Sharyo | 27 May 2011 |
| K-2 | 19 October 2011 | |
| K-3 | Kinki Sharyo | 18 November 2011 |
| K-4 | Hitachi | 23 December 2011 |
| K-5 | Kinki Sharyo | 19 January 2012 |
| K-6 | Hitachi | 26 January 2012 |
| K-7 | Kinki Sharyo | 11 April 2012 |
| K-8 | Hitachi | 24 February 2012 |
| K-9 | J-TREC (Yokohama) | 27 August 2012 |
| K-10 | 24 September 2012 | |
| K-11 | 29 October 2012 | |
| K-12 | Hitachi | 21 June 2012 |
| K-13 | Kinki Sharyo | 10 August 2012 |
| K-14 | 7 September 2012 | |
| K-15 | 12 October 2012 | |
| K-16 | 18 November 2012 | |
| K-17 | J-TREC (Yokohama) | 5 November 2014[19] |
| K-18 | 13 November 2019[20] | |
| K-19 | 12 December 2019[21] |
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