E233 series

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E233 series
First official test run of the E233 series, on September 21, 2006

Initial acceleration	3.0 km/h/s
Top speed (service)	100 km/h
Top speed (design)	120 km/h
Deceleration	5.2 km/h/s (emergency braking)
Gauge	1067 mm
Voltage	1500 V DC
Safety systems	ATS-P, ATS-SN, ATC, Digital ATC

The E233 series is a commuter EMU announced by East Japan Railway Company on 4 October 2005. The new stock will replace the aging 201 series trains on the Chūō Line and the 209 series stock on the Keihin-Tōhoku and Neigishi lines.

The first E233 series consist left Tokyu Car Corporation's factory on September 21, 2006. Test runs have already started on the Chūō Line, with the stock due to be put in service in December.

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.

[edit] Passenger services

The E233 series is the first JR East stock to use full-colour LEDs

The E233 series provides for better accessibility for the disabled, and is designed to be more comfortable to ride overall than conventional stock. The height between the platform and the train was reduced from the 80 mm of the 201 and 209 series to 30 mm. Seats are 460 mm wide, compared to the 430 mm of the 201 series and 450 mm of the 209 series.

This stock also features an air filtration system to remove unpleasant smells. It will also feature the liquid crystal display informational screens and automatic announcement system currently deployed 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.

As with the current 201 and 209 series stock, the E233 series stock is intended for short-range commuter use, so toilets will not be available on the E233 stock.

Although the stock rolled out on the Keihin-Tōhoku and Negishi lines will feature 6-door cars ("cattle wagons") as with the current 209 series stock, the Chūō line stock will not, so as to maintain seat availability when operating in 6-car and 4-car configurations.

[edit] Operation

The E233 series stock will replace all (except for the "Shikisai" special consist) 710 201 series cars operational on the Chūō, Ome, and Itsukaichi lines.

JR East also announced in September 2006 that a fleet of 83 10-car E233 series sets would also be introduced on the Keihin-Tōhoku and Negisihi lines from autumn 2007, replacing the 209 series EMUs currently used.

1,518 E233 series cars are scheduled to be built in total.