The JR East Yamanote Line is famous for being Japan's busiest railway. 11-car trains are frequently operated all day long. It's looped through several sub-center areas of Tokyo. The route length is 34 kilometers and the train covers the entire route in about 60 minutes. What's new with this urban line?
Firstly, a new station named Takanawa Gateway was inaugurated on March 14th this year. It's the 30th station opened on the Yamanote line for the first time in 49 years. It was planned by famous architect Kuma Kengo, who also designed several railway stations such as Keio's Takao-sanguchi and JR East's Hoshakuji. Its open roof ceiling is expansive. There is a kiosk with an unmanned AI payment system named TOUCH TO GO in the station yard as I posted before.
Secondly, an old train, the EMU 231-500 series was totally replaced by the E235 series by January this year. The E235 series is a new model on the Yamanote line for the first time in 13 years. A total of 50 sets (550 units) are currently operated. Most of them were newly built by J-TREC Niitsu Factory, but 48 units (the Type SaHa E235-4600) were modified from the Type SaHa E231-4600 of the EMU E231 series. JR East plans that the EMU 235 series will also be introduced onto the Yokosuka line in autumn 2020.
It's mid-spring in Tokyo. Following the cherry, azalea flowers were fully bloomed. We can find them along the Yamanote line tracks as well. Seasons revolve.
Official promotion movie, the Yamanote line (Tokyo moving round):