E001 series

E001 series
Train Suite Shiki-shima

The first seven cars on delivery from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in September 2016
In service 1 May 2017 (scheduled)
Manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries/J-TREC
Built at Kobe/Yokohama
Constructed 2016
Number built 1 set (10 vehicles)
Formation 10 cars per trainset
Operator(s) JR East
Depot(s) Oku
Specifications
Car body construction Stainless steel/aluminium
Car length 20,800 mm (68 ft 3 in)
Width 2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Height 4,070 mm (13 ft 4 in)
Maximum speed 110 km/h (70 mph)
Traction system Variable frequency (IGBT)
Safety system(s)
  • ATC
  • ATS-P
  • ATS-PS
  • ATS-DN
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The E001 series (E001系), branded Train Suite Shiki-shima (TRAIN SUITE 四季島 Toran Suiito Shikishima, pronounced [toɽaɴ suiito ɕikiɕima]) is a hybrid electric/diesel deluxe sleeping-car excursion train on order by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan for entry into service from 1 May 2017.[1]

Design

The train styling is being overseen by industrial designer Ken Okuyama.[2] The train uses a new "EDC" electric/diesel hybrid propulsion system, enabling the train to operate as an electric multiple unit under overhead electric wires or use two diesel generators in the end cars to power the train's traction motors on non-electrified routes.[3]

Cars 1 to 4 and 8 to 10 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, while the three bilevel cars 5 to 7 were built by J-TREC in Yokohama.[4] The Kawasaki-built cars have aluminium bodies, while the three J-TREC-built cars have stainless steel bodies.[5]

Train formation

The ten-coach train consists of six sleeping cars, a lounge car, a dining car, and observation cars at either end of the train.[2] Five of the sleeping cars each have three private suite rooms, while one car (car 5) has two deluxe suites - a split-level "maisonette" type and a single-level "flat" type.[2] The train formation is as shown below, formed of six motored ("M") cars and four non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the southern end.[4] All suites have a shower and toilet. The two deluxe suites also each have a bathtub.[6] One suite in car 4 is universal access.[4]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Designation M M M T T T T M M M
Numbering E001-1 E001-2 E001-3 E001-4 E001-5 E001-6 E001-7 E001-8 E001-9 E001-10
Car type Observation car Sleeping car Sleeping car Sleeping car Sleeping car Dining car Lounge Sleeping car Sleeping car Observation car
Weight (t) 64.1 55.4 51.3 49.5 44.6 50.1 50.5 51.8 55.4 63.9
Capacity 6 6 6 6 4 18 18 6 6 6
Facilities Diesel generator 3 suites 3 suites 3 suites 2 deluxe suites 3 suites 3 suites Diesel generator
Manufacturer Kawasaki HI Kawasaki HI Kawasaki HI Kawasaki HI J-TREC J-TREC J-TREC Kawasaki HI Kawasaki HI Kawasaki HI

Planned itineraries

The train will operate on two-day and four-day circular tours from spring to autumn, and on three-day tours during the winter period, as shown below.[7]

2-day itinerary (spring - autumn)

Day 1
Ueno → Enzan → Obasute (overnight onboard train)
Day 2
Aizu-Wakamatsu → Ueno

4-day itinerary (spring - autumn)

Atsumi Onsen hot spring resort in spring
Day 1
Ueno → Nikko (overnight onboard train)
Day 2
Hakodate → Datemombetsu → Noboribetsu (overnight at hotel accommodation)
Day 3
Higashi-Muroran → Tōya → Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto → Aomori → Hirosaki (overnight onboard train)
Day 4
Tsuruoka → Atsumi Onsen → Niitsu → Higashi-Sanjo → Ueno

3-day itinerary (winter)

Matsushima Bay
Day 1
Ueno → Shiroishi → Matsushima (overnight onboard train)
Day 2
Aomori → Hirosaki (overnight onboard train)
Day 3
Naruko-Onsen → Ueno

History

An initial artist's impression of the train published in June 2013, and later changed

JR East first announced its plans to build a new luxury cruising train in June 2013, designed by Ken Okuyama, and provisionally scheduled to enter service some time after spring 2016.[3] A year later, in June 2014, JR East published more detailed plans for the new train, with a revised exterior design and service entry date scheduled for spring 2017.[2] The train's name and logo design were officially announced in October 2014.[8] Details of the planned itineraries were published in December 2015.[7]

The first seven cars (1 to 4 and 8 to 10) of the ten-car trainset were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in September 2016.[9] Main line test running commenced on 14 September 2016 on the Joban Line as a seven-car formation.[10] Cars 5 to 7 were delivered from the J-TREC factory in Yokohama on 27 September 2016.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 豪華寝台列車「トランスイート四季島」2017年5月1日デビューへ 料金も発表 [Luxury sleeping car train "Train Suite Shiki-shima" to debut on 1 May 2017 - fares also announced] (in Japanese). Japan: Tetsudo Shimbun. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 JR東日本、クルーズトレインのデザイン公表 - 運行開始は2017年春頃に変更 [JR East cruise train design unveiled - Operation start changed to spring 2017]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 JR東日本のクルーズトレイン、2016年運行開始へ - 新開発「EDC方式」導入 [JR East cruise train to enter service in 2016 - Using new EDC system]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 TRAIN SUITE 四季島 [Train Suite Shiki-shima]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56 no. 667. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. November 2016. p. 58-67.
  5. ↑ Iharu, Kaoru (28 August 2016). 謎の枠、表記…　少しずつベール脱ぐ東西の新クルーズ列車、見えてきた「こだわり」 [Mysterious boxes and symbols... New East/West cruise trains gradually unveiled]. Traffic News (in Japanese). Japan: Mediavague Co., Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  6. ↑ クルーズトレインの列車デザインについて [Details of cruise train] (pdf). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company. 3 June 2014. Retrieved 19 February 2015.
  7. 1 2 「TRAIN SUITE 四季島」の運行ルートの概要が発表される [Train Suite Shiki-shima route outlines published]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 3 December 2015. Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  8. ↑ JR東日本のクルーズトレイン、列車名が「トランスイート 四季島」に決まる [JR East cruise train name announced: "Train Suite Shiki-shima"]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 7 October 2014. Archived from the original on 4 August 2016. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Ueshin, Daisuke (6 September 2016). JR東日本「トランスイート四季島」神戸を出発、機関車の牽引で東海道本線へ [JR East "Train Suite Shiki-shima" leaves Kobe, locomotive-hauled to Tokaido Line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. Archived from the original on 7 September 2016. Retrieved 7 September 2016.
  10. ↑ E001系"四季島" 試運転実施 [E001 series "Shiki-shima" undergoes test running]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 15 September 2016. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  11. ↑ Ueshin, Daisuke (27 September 2016). JR東日本「トランスイート四季島」全車両出そろう - 中間車3両を都内へ輸送 [JR East "Train Suite Shiki-shima" vehicles all completed]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. Archived from the original on 27 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.

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