Narita Express (N'EX) is an airport access train on the JR East lines. There are two international airports in the Tokyo metropolitan area. One is Tokyo International Airport, known as "Haneda". The other is the New Tokyo International Airport, which is called "Narita". N'EX is the airport access train of the latter. Although it's a very important means of transport, a large number of N'EX trains had been suspended since May 2020 due to decreasing passengers. Needless to say, it's because of the COVID-19 calamity.
What's new with N'EX? Firstly, the number of N'EX trains has been recovered since October 2022. That's because COVID-19 calmed down. I often come across N'EX in the downtown area. I'm so happy to shoot it. Secondly, the new body design appeared in March 2023. According to JR East, the N'EX train will be used not only as airport access trains but also as inter-city express trains in the future. For that purpose, there is a large logo, "SERIES E259", on the side body instead of the airplane illustration. That explanation is a bit hard to understand for me.
Incidentally, the formal name of N'EX is the EMU JR East E259 series. It was launched in 2009 to replace the old model, namely the 253 series. It has state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at that time, such as 140 kW three phase induction motors with a variable frequency drive electric control system. The maximum speed of the E259 series is 130 kilometers per hour.
