As I posted before, Atami in Shizuoka Prefecture is well-known as a marine resort city. Visitors can enjoy hot springs, fish dishes and fireworks festivals. There’s more. Rail-fans can observe many kinds of trains at Atami station. They’re Shinkansen trains, JR East’s limited express trains, JR East and JR Central’s commuter trains, Izukyu trains and JR Freight’s freight trains. Oh, hold on please. I almost forgot one more… an overnight sleeper train, “Sunrise Express”. Observing these trains is a perk of being a rail-fan.
When I visited Atami station the other day, I found an unfamiliar train stopping at the station. What’s that train? The answer is JR Central’s new model, the EMU 315-3000 series. The 315 series was originally debuted as an 8-car train in the Nagoya area in 2022. This new model was also commissioned in the Shizuoka area in 2024 as a 4-car train named the 315-3000 series. Currently, a total of 12 sets, 48 units, are operated on the Tokaido Main line of the Shizuoka area. The 315-3000 series have laser-welded beautiful bodies. These stainless-steel bodies were shining under the spring sun. Because the ceiling is high, the interior has an open atmosphere. A wheelchair accessible restroom is installed. As for the technical specifications, a hybrid SiC-IGBT VVVF inverter (variable-frequency drive) electric control system is adopted and implemented 35 percent of electric power reduction compared to the 211 series.
Incidentally, the old EMU 211 series was retired from the Shizuoka area in February this year. The 211 series, thank you for your hard work.
