253 series

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253 series
A 253 series train on a Narita Express service.

In service	1991 - Present
Manufacturer	Kinki Sharyo, Tokyu Car
Number built	111 vehicles
Formation	3/6 cars per trainset
Operator	JR East
Depots	Ōfuna
Specifications
Car length	20,930 mm (end cars), 20,500 mm (intermediate cars)
Width	2,946 mm
Maximum speed	130 km/h
Gauge	1,067 mm
Voltage	1,500 V DC overhead
Braking system	Regenerative brake, Electric commanding brake
Safety systems	ATS-P, ATS-SN, ATC

The 253 series is a DC electric multiple unit operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It was introduced on March 19, 1991, and is used exclusively on the Narita Express, a limited express service to and from Narita International Airport. They were manufactured by Kinki Sharyo and Tokyu Car Corp. Sets are formed as 3-car and 6-car units, running as up to 12-car formations in service.

It was the recipient of the 32nd Laurel Prize of the Japan Railfan Club. Extra sets were built in 2002 to cope with the increase in traffic during the 2002 FIFA World Cup. These sets are classified 253-200 series, and include minor improvements over the original 253-0 and 253-100 series sets, such as LED destination indicators, conventional rotating seats in standard class, and 2+1 seating in Green cars.

The standard-class seating arrangement used in the original 253 series sets was unusual for Japanese limited express trains in consisting of European-style fixed 4-seat bays. The seats were rearranged in a fixed unidirectional layout facing 4-seat bays in the centre of each car between 2003 and 2004.

The 253 series trains are scheduled to be phased out from autumn 2009 onward following the introduction of new E259 series EMUs.^[1]