Tuesday 25 August 2020

Local Train in the Aomori Area

Set N6 of the EMU JR East 701 series arrives at Shin-Aomori station on the Ou main line    

On the way back from Hakkoda Mountain during my summer vacation, I came across a local train, the EMU JR East 701 series, at Shin-Aomori station on the Ou main line. I took several photos of it as a memory of my trip.

The EMU JR East 701 series is a standard commuter train in Tohoku District. It was launched in 1993 to replace the old commuter EMUs and the passenger coaches pulled by locomotives. Different from the trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area, the 701 series is an AC (alternate current) train. It has 20,000 V AC and 50 Hz electric systems. As you know, most of the trains in the Tokyo metropolitan area are operated by direct current (DC) electric systems. The AC trains always make me feel "I have come pretty far from home".

The body color of the 701 series varies by area. It has pink and purple colored stripes in the Aomori and Akita areas, while the other areas' ones have a number of other colors. This color variation is joyful for rail fans like me. Strange colored local trains always make me excited while traveling. With regard to the specification, the 701 series has a high level of efficiency. Specifically, the recently-built group has a brand new system, such as IGBT-VVVF electric control and regenerative braking. The greatest contribution of launching this train was to speed up travel time and provide air-conditioners.

The EMU 701 series has built a new generation in Tohoku District.

Set N6 of the EMU JR East 701 series stands at Shin-Aomori station on the Ou main line