Thursday, 19 June 2014

Sayonara, Red Striped Trains

Sotetsu's red striped trains are exhibited in Sagami-Otsuka Station yard
 
The coloring of trains is an important issue for Japanese railway companies. For instance, all trains on the Keio Line have the same colored stripes. They are red and blue, which stand for Keio's corporate colors. On the other hand, JR East adopts line colors to their commuter trains in Tokyo. For example, all Yamanote Line trains have green-colored stripes, while all Keihin-Tohoku Line trains have blue-colored stripes on their bodies.

In 2007, Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) established new corporate colors, blue and orange, which stand for intellect and energy. Along with the establishment of the new corporate colors, Sotetsu started to change the coloring of their trains from the old red-colored strips to the new blue and orange ones. Seven years later, only a few trains remain with the old coloring. They will disappear soon.

To say sayonara (goodbye) to the old colored trains, Sotetsu held a special event in Sagami-Otsuka Station yard at the end of last week. The remaining precious red-striped trains were exhibited there. They were the EMU 7000, the new 7000, 8000 and 9000 series. It was indeed a precious opportunity to take photographs of a whole formation of old colored trains with red-colored stripes. Needless to say, plenty of rail fans and families joined the event, and I was one of them.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Sotetsu employees who kindly held this precious event for rail fans and families in the hot and humid climate of early summer.

 
Sotetsu's red striped trains and rail fans in Sagami-Otsuka Station yard

Tuesday, 17 June 2014

EMU E127-0 Series: Train for Local Students

EMU JR East E127-0 series stands at Uchino Station on the Echigo Line
 
After my visit to Toki Messe, I headed to Niigata University in the western suburb of Niigata City. To get to this state university, the JR East Echigo Line is convenient from Niigata Station. It takes about 20 minutes to Uchino, the nearest station from the university.

Connecting Niigata and Kashiwazaki, the operating length of the Echigo Line is 83.8km. The track is 1,067mm single-gauge. The electric system is 1,500V DC overhead. The main users of the Echigo Line are local students, as there are many universities, colleges, private academies and high schools on the route. They are Niigata University, Nihon Dental University, Nihon Bunri High School and so on.

My vehicle was a 6-car train, the EMU JR East E127-0 series. It was launched as a standard commuter train for local cities in 1995. A total of 13 sets, 26 units are operated in the Niigata area. Currently, this model is only operated on the busy section between Niigata and Yoshida stations on the Echigo Line. For your information, their brothers, namely the EMU E127-100 series are seen in the Matsumoto area in Nagano Prefecture.

The E127-0 series fulfills its important role on the track as it is a mode of transportation for local students. Although JR East plans to introduce a new model this year, the E127-0 series will keep the main position as the main fleet on the Echigo Line.

The EMU JR East E127-0 series... keep up the good job for local students.

 
Side view of the Type KuMoHa E127-0 of the EMU E127 series
 
More information about the EMU JR East E127 series (in Japanese):

Sunday, 15 June 2014

Reunion with "Fresh-Hitachi" in Niigata City

EMU JR East E653-1000 series, limited express "Inaho", stands at Niigata Station

When I arrived at Niigata Station in the late afternoon, I saw a train which I hadn't seen in a long time. It was the EMU JR East E653 series known as limited express, "Fresh-Hitachi" in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

The E653 series was launched in 1997 to replace the old model, the 485 series, on the Joban Line. A total of 12 sets, 72 units, have been manufactured by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo and Tokyu Sharyo. There were five body colors, namely scarlet, blue, yellow, green and orange. It varies with the variety of train sets. They had been operated as limited express, "Fresh-Hitachi" on the Joban Line until March 15th, 2013.

After their retirement from the Joban Line, a total of 8 sets, 56 units, have been moved to the Niigata area to spend their second life on the track. The new assignment is limited express train "Inaho (rice stalk)" on the route between Niigata and Akita. Before the move, the body color was changed to orange, which stands for the beautiful sunset over the Sea of Japan. The front car has been changed to Green Car (first class). Snow-resistant and cold-resistant facilities have also been equipped on the trains.

I hope to ride the E653 series, new Inaho, in the near future and would like to see a beautiful sunset over the sea. The problem is that I am always in a rush and never have time to take a long holiday.

 
Side view of the Type KuRo E652-1000, Green Car (first class) of the E653-1000 series
 
More information about the EMU JR East E653-1000 series, limited express "Inaho" (in Japanese):

Friday, 13 June 2014

Visit to the Lagoon City by "Max Toki"

EMU JR East E4 series stands at Niigata Station on the Joetsu Shinkansen
 
I had an opportunity to visit Niigata City recently. It is located about 340km north of Tokyo, and is the main city of Niigata Prefecture. Niigata has grown as the largest city on the Sea of Japan side of the archipelago since the 16th century. It was a lagoonal area before the development.

After my assignment, I took pictures of some trains at Niigata Station on the way back home. I could see many kinds of trains there, as trains from four different routes on the JR East lines come to this station. They are Joetsu Shinkansen, the Shinetsu Main Line, the Hakushin Line and the Echigo Line trains.

Joetsu Shinkansen is the main transportation artery between Niigata and the Tokyo metropolitan area. Niigata functions as the northernmost terminal of the route. Super-express trains are operated every 15 to 30 minutes for Tokyo. The EMU E4, duplex train "Max-Toki", is one of the main fleets on the track. Although its speed is limited to a maximum of 240km/hour, up to 1,634 seats are available, if two sets of trains are connected. According to some media, the E4 series will be retired within two years, as its maximum speed is insufficient. I have a real concern about the E4 series' future.

In Niigata City, I visited Toki Messe on the Shinano River bank. It is a large convention center with a hotel and a shopping mall. I could also enjoy strolling on the riverbank under the early summer sunshine.

To be continued...

 
"Toki Messe" is located near estuary of Shinano River in Niigata City near Niigata Station
 
More information about the JR East Joetsu Shinkansen:
More information about the EMU JR East Shinkansen E4 series (in Japanese):

Wednesday, 11 June 2014

Great Success of 2014 Tram Day

Electric cars number 7022 (center) and 7001 (right) are exhibited in the Arakawa Depot
 
June 10th is Tram Day in Japan. I don't know the origin of Tram day; but it was enacted in the meeting of the 2nd National Tram Summit in 1995. Several tram operators, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Hiroshima Electric Railway and Toyama Light Rail held an event for rail fans in commemoration of Tram day this year.

I visited Arakawa Depot on the Arakawa Line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government at the end of last week. Although it was rainy, plenty of rail fans, families and couples flocked to the Depot. The main attraction of the event was a photo session in the yard. I could shoot a row of two retro-colored streetcars (unit number 7001, 7022) and a bus. Special rounded plates to celebrate "2014 Tram Day" gave pleasure to rail fans.

On the other hand, numerous precious instruments were exhibited in the factory. They were tram bodies, which were under inspection, electric motors, bogies, master controllers, switches and so on. Among others, the most popular one was a pantograph. I saw that many kids enjoyed pumping and dumping it under the guidance of engineers.

The visitors could also enjoy shopping, such as goods and stationery with tram designs. The event was indeed a great success. Specifically, all employees were very friendly. Engineers were eager to respond to visitors' questions. I am truly grateful to Arakawa Depot, the Bureau of Transportation, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government to have held this special event.

 
Demonstration of a pantograph operation in the Arakawa Depot factory