E233 series


The E233 series is a commuter and suburban electric multiple unit train type developed by East Japan Railway Company from the earlier E231 series and the E531 series design. The first train was introduced in December 2006 for use on the Chūō Line, followed by the E233-1000 series variant in 2007 for use on the Keihin–Tōhoku and Negishi lines, the E233-3000 series outer-suburban variant in December 2007 for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line, and narrow-bodied E233-2000 series variant for Jōban Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line inter-running services. Further variants were built for use on the Keiyō Line, Yokohama Line, Saikyō Line, and Nambu Line.

Design

The E233 series, according to the October 2005 press release, features two identical sets of the main equipment in case of failure. This is the first JR East stock to feature such backup measures. The E233 series provides for better accessibility for the disabled, and is designed to be more comfortable to ride overall than previous stock. The height between the platform and the train was reduced from the of the 201 and 209 series to. Seats are wide, compared to the of the 201 series and of the 209 series. For standing passengers the handle straps have been lowered by 50 mm compared to older train models.
This stock also features an air filtration system to remove unpleasant smells. It also features liquid crystal display information screens and automatic announcement system similar to those used on the E231 series rolling stock on the Yamanote Line.
The stock is the first JR East stock to use full-colour LEDs for the destination indicators on the sides of the carriages. This is due to the fact that the Chūō Line has numerous types of services, and colour-coding will help passengers board the correct train.

Variants

The first E233-0 series train was introduced in December 2006 for use on the Chūō Line, Ōme, and Itsukaichi lines, replacing the aging 201 series trains. The fleet of 688 E233-0 series vehicles was delivered by the end of March 2008; 42 ten-car sets T1-T42, and 15 6+4-car sets H43-H57 were constructed primarily for use on the Chūō Line, while ten four-car sets Ao458-Ao467 and 13 six-car sets Ao658-Ao670 were constructed for the Ōme Line and Itsukaichi Line. In March 2008 and April 2015, sets Ao458+Ao658 and Ao459+Ao659 were transferred to the Chūō Line and renumbered H58 and H59 respectively.
An additional five cars were built at JR East's Niitsu factory in 2009 to replace five cars from six-car set Ao661 withdrawn due to accident damage in 2008.
In 2017, six-car set Ao670 was modified to become E233-8500 series set N36 for use on the Nambu Line alongside the fleet of E233-8000 series sets.
Beginning in 2019, toilets are being installed on 58 trains in advance of Green Cars being added to the Chūō Line in 2023.
On 11 June 2020, a new ten-car set T71 was delivered from J-TREC Yokohama as an additional spare train during toilet installation and Green Car modifications.

Interior

Formations

10-car Chūō Line sets

As of 11 June 2020, 43 ten-car sets are based at Toyoda Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
As of 22 March 2020, 17 6+4-car sets are based at Toyoda Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
As of 1 October 2018, ten six-car sets and eight four-car sets are based at Toyoda Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars. Depending on the specific schedule and line, trains are operated in 4-, 6-, or 6+4-car sets.
JR East plans to add two bilevel Green cars to 58 ten-car and six-car E233-0 series EMU sets operated on the Chūō Line from fiscal 2023. The Green cars will be positioned as cars 4 and 5 in the newly formed 12- and 8-car sets.

E233-1000 series

A fleet of 83 ten-car E233 series sets was introduced on the Keihin–Tōhoku and Negishi lines from autumn 2007, replacing the 209 series EMUs previously used from 1993 until 2010. The first set was delivered in August 2007. The main difference over the earlier E233-0 series is the absence of passenger door controls.
The first set entered service on 22 December 2007.
Two cars of set 177, KuHa E233-1077 and SaHa E233-1277, were involved in a derailment in February 2014 and were scrapped in December 2016. The remaining eight cars of set 177 were scrapped in April 2018.

Interior

Formation

As of April 2018, 82 ten-car sets were based at Saitama depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.

E233-2000 series

This is a narrow-bodied variant for Jōban Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line inter-running services, replacing the 203 series and 207-900 series EMUs previously used. The first ten-car set was delivered to Matsudo Depot from Tokyu Car Corporation in May 2009. It entered service on 9 September 2009.
These trains have also been used on inter-running services on Odakyu lines since 2016. In 2017 the last set was delivered. The trains are fitted with emergency doors in the driver's cabin to allow for the evacuation of passengers in the Chiyoda Line's tunnels.
The floor height is lowered to for improved accessibility, compared to for the earlier 203 series and for the 207-900 series and 209-1000 series trains.

Interior

Formation

, the fleet consists of 19 ten-car sets, numbered 1 to 19, based at Matsudo Depot, and formed as shown below, with car 1 at the southern end.
Cars 3 and 9 are equipped with one single-arm pantograph. Car 6 is equipped with two.

Build details

The delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
1Tokyu Car20 May 2009
2Tokyu Car6 August 2010
3Tokyu Car1 September 2010
4Tokyu Car29 September 2010
5Tokyu Car3 December 2010
6Tokyu Car15 December 2010
7Tokyu Car22 December 2010
8Tokyu Car7 January 2011
9Tokyu Car19 January 2011
10Tokyu Car23 February 2011
11Tokyu Car4 March 2011
12Tokyu Car27 April 2011
13Tokyu Car10 July 2011
14Tokyu Car17 July 2011
15Tokyu Car30 July 2011
16Tokyu Car28 August 2011
17Tokyu Car19 September 2011
18Tokyu Car28 September 2011
19J-TREC 2017

E233-3000 series

The E233-3000 sub-series are outer-suburban sets formed as ten-car sets containing two bilevel Green cars and five-car sets. Sets are allocated to Kōzu and Oyama depots for use on Tōkaidō Main Line services between Tokyo and Numazu, as well as Shōnan–Shinjuku Line and Ueno–Tokyo Line through services to and from the Takasaki Line and Utsunomiya Line. The first sets entered service on 10 March 2008, and were introduced to the Shōnan–Shinjuku Line from the start of the new timetable on 14 March 2015.

Formations

Early 10-car sets

, 2 ten-car sets are based at Kōzu depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and formed as shown below with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
, 15 ten-car sets are based at Kōzu depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and 16 ten-car sets are based at Oyama depot in Tochigi Prefecture. They are formed as shown below with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
, 21 five-car sets are based at Kōzu depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and 18 five-car sets are based at Oyama depot in Tochigi Prefecture. They are formed as shown below with two motored cars and three non-powered trailer cars.
Standard-class cars have longitudinal seating with dark blue moquette seat covers. Cars 1, 2, 9, 10, 14, and 15 include transverse four-person seating bays. The two Green bilevel cars have rotating, reclining seats arranged 2+2 abreast. Seats on the lower deck and end saloons have crimson moquette seat covers, and seats on the upper deck have dark blue moquette.
The first 10+5-car E233-3000 series outer suburban set for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line was delivered from the Tokyu Car factory in Yokohama to Kōzu Depot in November 2007. This includes two bilevel Green cars. It entered revenue service on 10 March 2008, and was initially limited to use on the Tōkaidō Main Line between Tokyo and Atami. The second set was delivered in February 2010.
Subsequent sets were delivered to Tamachi Depot from September 2011, entering service from 12 November 2011. These sets incorporate a number of minor changes, including moving the second reserve pantograph from car 7 to car 3, and the addition of a toilet in car 6.
Takasaki-based ten- and five-car sets were introduced on Takasaki Line services between Ueno and Maebashi, replacing 211 series sets, and on Ryōmō Line services from 1 September 2012.

E233-5000 series

These are 10-car and 4+6-car sets for use on the Keiyō Line. The fleet consists of 20 ten-car sets and four 4+6-car sets, with the first sets entering revenue service on 1 July 2010, replacing the 201 series, 205 series, and E331 series EMUs previously used.
The first E233-5000 series set, set 501, was delivered from JR East's Niitsu factory on 10 March 2010. In addition to services on the Keiyō Line between Tokyo and, these sets are also used on Sotobō Line through services between Soga and, Uchibō Line through services between Soga and, and on Tōgane Line through services between and.

Formations

10-car sets

, 20 ten-car sets are based at Keiyō Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
, four 6+4-car sets are based at Keiyō Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.

E233-6000 series

These are eight-car sets operated in the Yokohama Line since 16 February 2014. As with the earlier Saikyo Line E233-7000 series variant, the new trains use LED interior lighting.
A total of 28 sets were delivered. The first E233-6000 series set, H016, was delivered from the J-TREC Yokohama factory in January 2014. The first set built at the J-TREC Niitsu factory, set H001, was delivered on 22 January 2014.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating with individual seat widths of Each car has priority seating at one end, and cars 1 and 8 have a wheelchair space.

Formation

As of September 2014, 28 8-car sets are based at Kamakura depot are formed with four motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
Car 4 has two single-arm PS33D pantographs, and car 7 has one.

Build details

The build details for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
H001J-TREC, Niitsu17 January 2014
H002J-TREC, Niitsu24 January 2014
H003J-TREC, Niitsu5 February 2014
H004J-TREC, Niitsu18 February 2014
H005J-TREC, Niitsu28 February 2014
H006J-TREC, Niitsu11 March 2014
H007J-TREC, Niitsu24 March 2014
H008J-TREC, Niitsu8 April 2014
H009J-TREC, Niitsu24 April 2014
H010J-TREC, Niitsu12 May 2014
H011J-TREC, Niitsu30 May 2014
H012J-TREC, Niitsu6 June 2014
H013J-TREC, Niitsu13 June 2014
H014J-TREC, Niitsu1 July 2014
H015J-TREC, Niitsu10 July 2014
H016J-TREC, Yokohama8 January 2014
H017J-TREC, Yokohama15 January 2014
H018J-TREC, Yokohama8 February 2014
H019J-TREC, Yokohama19 February 2014
H020J-TREC, Yokohama14 March 2014
H021J-TREC, Yokohama26 March 2014
H022J-TREC, Yokohama15 April 2014
H023J-TREC, Yokohama2 May 2014
H024J-TREC, Yokohama14 May 2014
H025J-TREC, Yokohama17 June 2014
H026J-TREC, Yokohama4 July 2014
H027J-TREC, Yokohama6 August 2014
H028J-TREC, Yokohama20 August 2014

E233-7000 series

These are ten-car sets operated on Kawagoe Line/Saikyō Line/Rinkai Line services between and since 30 June 2013. A total of 31 ten-car sets were delivered, displacing the fleet of 205 series EMUs previously used. These trains are the first E233 series variant to use LED interior lighting.
Seven more sets were delivered in 2019, in preparation for through running services between the Saikyō Line and the Sōtetsu Main Line via the new Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line, bringing the total number of trains to 38 ten-car sets.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating with individual seat widths of.

Formation

As of 1 January 2020, 38 ten-car sets are based at Kawagoe Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
The first E233-7000 series set was delivered to Kawagoe Depot from JR East's Niitsu factory on 9 April 2013. The first set built by J-TREC was delivered from the manufacturer's Yokohama factory in July 2013.

E233-8000 series

These are six-car sets introduced on Nambu Line services between and from 4 October 2014. A total of 35 E233-8000 series sets are on order, displacing the previous fleet of 205 series and older 209 series EMUs.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout, with wheelchair spaces in cars 1 and 6. As with the earlier Yokohama Line E233-6000 series and Saikyo Line E233-7000 series variants, the trains use LED interior lighting.

Formation

As of 2015, 35 six-car sets are based at Nakahara depot and formed with four motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
;Notes:
The first set, N1 was delivered from the J-TREC factory in Niitsu in August 2014. It entered revenue service from 4 October 2014.

Build details

The delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
N1J-TREC, Niitsu31 July 2014
N2J-TREC, Niitsu8 August 2014
N3J-TREC, Niitsu22 August 2014
N4J-TREC, Niitsu2 September 2014
N5J-TREC, Niitsu12 September 2014
N6J-TREC, Niitsu3 October 2014
N7J-TREC, Niitsu16 October 2014
N8J-TREC, Niitsu30 October 2014
N9J-TREC, Niitsu14 November 2014
N10J-TREC, Niitsu2 December 2014
N11J-TREC, Niitsu24 December 2014
N12J-TREC, Niitsu6 January 2015
N13J-TREC, Niitsu21 January 2015
N14J-TREC, Niitsu6 March 2015
N15J-TREC, Niitsu16 March 2015
N16J-TREC, Niitsu30 March 2015
N17J-TREC, Niitsu13 April 2015
N18J-TREC, Niitsu27 April 2015
N19J-TREC, Niitsu14 May 2015
N20J-TREC, Niitsu28 May 2015
N21J-TREC, Niitsu11 June 2015
N22J-TREC, Niitsu25 June 2015
N23J-TREC, Niitsu9 July 2015
N24J-TREC, Niitsu27 July 2015
N25J-TREC, Niitsu11 August 2015
N26J-TREC, Niitsu25 August 2015
N27J-TREC, Niitsu7 September 2015
N28J-TREC, Niitsu18 September 2015
N29J-TREC, Niitsu2 October 2015
N30J-TREC, Niitsu20 October 2015
N31J-TREC, Niitsu4 November 2015
N32J-TREC, Niitsu16 November 2015
N33J-TREC, Niitsu26 November 2015
N34J-TREC, Niitsu10 December 2015
N35J-TREC, Niitsu17 December 2015

E233-8500 series

In 2017, six-car Itsukaichi Line/Ōme Line set Ao670 was modified and renumbered at Omiya Works to become E233-8500 series set N36 for use on the Nambu Line alongside the fleet of E233-8000 series sets and replacing the last remaining 209 series EMU still in use there. In addition to receiving the Nambu Line livery carried by the E233-8000 series fleet, modifications included adding a WiMAX antenna and replacing the original 15-inch LCD passenger display screens with 17-inch screens. Set N36 entered service on the Nambu Line on 15 March 2017.

Formation

As of March 2017, 1 six-car set is based at Nakahara depot and formed with four motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
Keihin–Tōhoku Line E233-1000 series set 177 was derailed in a collision with a track maintenance vehicle in the early hours of 23 February 2014 near Kawasaki Station while on an empty stock train operating from Sakuragicho to Kamata. The first two cars of the ten-car train derailed, with the first car ending up on its side. The train was carrying no passengers, and the driver and conductor escaped with minor injuries. The two derailed cars from the set involved, KuHa E233-1077 and SaHa E233-1277, were formally withdrawn in December 2016.

E233 series derivatives