In service 1992–Present Family name Double Decker Liner No. built 40 vehicles (4 sets) | Manufacturer Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo Constructed 1992–1993 No. in service 40 vehicles (4 sets) | |
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The 215 series (215系) is a bilevel suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in the Kantō region of Japan since 1992.
Contents
Design
The trains were built jointly by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo.
Formation
All sets consist of 10 cars with only the two cars at each end motored. Cars 4 and 5 are "Green" (first class) cars.
History
The first trainset was delivered in March 1992, and entered service from 4 April 1992 on Tōkaidō Main Line daytime Acty rapid services and evening Shōnan Liner services. Three more sets were delivered in October 1993.
From December 2001, the 215 series fleet was removed from Tōkaidō Line Acty services, and reassigned to new Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services between Shinjuku and Yokosuka. Their use on Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services continued until 16 October 2004, from which date all Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services were standardized with E231 series rolling stock.
From October 2004 onward, scheduled services using 215 series stock were limited to a small number of weekday Home Liner services, with only occasional holiday weekend workings, such as the Holiday Rapid View Yamanashi.