"Akaden (red-colored train)" has started to come to Tokyo Metropolis. I found it at Tokyo station the other day.
What's Akaden? Is it all Greek to you? OK, let me explain. In 2021, JR East celebrated the 60th anniversary of their Katsuta Railyard. In commemoration, a special red-colored train named Akaden has been operated on the Joban and Mito lines since November, 2021. Its color design was taken from the original Akaden, namely EMU 401 series of the 1960s. The 401 series was the main fleet in Katsuta Railyard at that time. On the other hand, the modern Akaden is a revival-colored train, set K451 of the EMU E531 series. It's composed of 5 cars. I waited and waited since then, but there was no sign of its coming to Tokyo Metropolis, because set K451 had been operated only in Ibaraki Prefecture. So, I had no choice but stretched my legs far from home, and visited there myself to observe Akaden. That was in December last year.
That situation changed in April this year. JR East launched another Akaden, set K423 of the E531 series. Since then, set K423 often comes to Tokyo Metropolis. That's a "long Akaden" consisting of 10 cars including two Green Cars (the first-class cars). I saw many rail-fans taking photos of Akaden at Tokyo station. The gleaming body with rose red-colored stripes of the modern Akaden was beautiful with urban sceneries in the background. Akaden, welcome to Tokyo Metropolis! Please enjoy the megalopolis.
