Sorry for jumping from one topic to another. On my way back home from Chiba City last month, I luckily came across a limited express train, EMU JR East 255 series, "Boso View Express". I'm going to give an update about this expert train today.
To start, let me quickly review the EMU 255 series. Boso is a large peninsula in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo. It's situated between the Pacific Ocean and Tokyo Bay. Boso is well known as a resort area to enjoy marine activities. To get to this resort, JR East's limited express train is convenient. Along with the E257-500 series, the 255 series is the representative train operated between Tokyo and Boso Peninsula. It was launched in 1993 to replace the old models, EMU 183 and 189 series. One set of the 255 series consists of 4 motorcars and 5 trailers. 5 sets, 45 cars in total, were built by Tokyu Sharyo and Kinki Sharyo from 1993 to 1994. Its nickname is the Boso View Express.
What's new with the 255 series? It has already been operated for 29 years. The electric control system was replaced from the GTO-VVVF (Gate Turn-Off thyristor-variable frequency drive) to the IGBT-VVVF (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor-variable frequency drive) system from 2014 to 2015. The auxiliary power supplies have also been changed to the new model. JR East plans to operate the 255 series at least until the year 2023, but the company has not announced any further plans yet.
I quietly await the announcement.
