Replaced E231-500 series Number under construction 539 (49 sets) | Built at Niitsu Constructed 2015 - 2020 | |
 | ||
In service 30 November 2015 (2015-11-30) | ||
The E235 series (E235系, E235-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Yamanote Line services in Tokyo, Japan. A pre-series train was delivered in March 2015, first entering revenue service from 30 November 2015, but then taken out of service for three months before re-entering service in March 2016. The type will ultimately replace the E231-500 series trainsets in use since 2002.
Contents
Design features
The E235 series design was developed from the earlier E233 series trains, and like the E233 and E231 series trains, the new E235 series trains have stainless steel bodies. The exterior styling was overseen by the industrial design firm Ken Okuyama Design. The cars feature vertical green stripes running through the doors, as opposed to the former usage of horizontal stripes to allow easier identification of the line at platforms. Baggage racks and hand-holds have been lowered 5 cm for easier access and the seats are 1 cm wider than previous trains. The car interiors also have up to 36 digital monitors for various informational displays. The window behind the drivers cab has been lowered so children can get a better view of the operator of the cars. The temperature of each car is also monitored; the system can predict the number of passengers at upcoming stations and adjust the temperature for passenger comfort. This information is also communicated to a smart phone application, allowing customers to choose in which car to ride based on their temperature preference.
Operations
A pre-series set entered revenue service in November 2015, with the entire fleet of 52 E231-500 series trains used on the Yamanote Line scheduled to be replaced by E235 series trains before the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Formations
The E235 series trains are formed as 11-car sets with six motored ("M") cars and five non-powered trailer ("T") cars, as shown below. The SaHa E235-4600 car (car 10) is modified from a former E231-500 series SaHa E231-4600 car.
Car 3 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, car 6 has PS33H and PS36A pantographs (one used as a backup), and car 9 has one PS33H pantograph.
Interior
Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout, with an individual seat width of 460 mm (18 in) per person, compared to 450 mm (18 in) for the earlier E231-500 series. Priority seating is provided at both ends of each car (except in end cars), and a space for wheelchairs or strollers is provided at one end of each car. LED lighting is used throughout. The initial plan was for paper advertisements inside the cars to be completely abolished, replaced by 18 LCD colour advertising screens in each car, but following feedback from advertising companies and users, the first train to enter service will include traditional paper advertisements in addition to the LCD screens.
History
Details of the E235 series design were first announced in July 2014. The first, pre-series set 01, train was delivered from the J-TREC factory at Niitsu in March 2015, with test-running commencing on the Yamanote Line on 30 March.
Set number 01 entered revenue service on 30 November 2015, with a departure ceremony at Osaki Station, but was taken out of service later the same day following faults with door-close indicators and problems stopping at the correct position along the station platform. Test running on the Yamanote Line resumed from 27 December. The train returned to revenue service on the Yamanote Line on 7 March 2016.
In June 2016, JR East announced its official plans for the introduction of a fleet of 49 full-production sets (539 vehicles) between spring 2017 and spring 2020. Some units will be built as 10-car sets and use converted former E231-500 series SaHa E231-4600 cars, while some units will be built as 11-car sets.