| E531 series | |
| Imagealt: | Image of E531 series train |
| Service: | 2005–present |
| Manufacturer: | Tokyu Car Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, JR East, J-TREC |
| Replaced: | 403 series, 415 series, some E501 series |
| Yearconstruction: | 2005–2020, 2024 |
| Yearservice: | 9 July 2005 |
| Numberbuilt: |
|
| Numberservice: | 460 vehicles |
| Formation: | 5/10 cars per trainset |
| Depots: | Katsuta |
| Carbody: | Stainless steel |
| Carlength: | 20000mm |
| Width: | 2950mm |
| Floorheight: | 1130mm |
| Doors: | 4 pairs per side |
| Maxspeed: | 130km/h |
| Acceleration: | 2.5km/h/s |
| Deceleration: | 4.2km/h/s |
| Traction: | PWM 2-level IGBT–VVVF (Hitachi) |
| Traction Motors: | 4 × 140kW 3-phase AC induction motor (Hitachi) |
| Poweroutput: | 1.12MW (5-car sets) 2.24MW (10-car sets) |
| Electricsystem: | and 20 kV 50 Hz AC, both from overhead catenary |
| Collectionmethod: | PS37A single-arm pantograph |
| Bogies: | DT71 (motored) TR255 (trailer) |
| Brakes: | Regenerative brake |
| Safety: | ATS-SN, ATS-P, ATS-Ps |
The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan.[1] It was introduced by JR East on 9 July 2005 to replace the aging 403 and 415 series EMUs running on the Jōban Line from Ueno Station in Tokyo. The stock is a dual-voltage (1,500 V DC & 20 kV AC) development of the DC-only E231 series suburban EMU design, and can run at speeds of up to 130km/h in service.[2]
Trains are formed in 10-car (set numbers K401–K426) and 5-car (set numbers K451–K483, K551–K557) sets. 15-car formations are generally run between and . 10- and 5-car sets operate singly north of Tsuchiura, and 5-car sets are used on the Mito Line. 5-car cold weather sets (E531-3000 series) are used on the Tōhoku Main Line between and, to handle the change of electrification from DC to AC just north of Kuroiso.
As of 1 October 2018, 26 ten-car sets (K401–K426) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with four motored ("M") cars and six non-powered trailer ("T") cars.[3]
← Takahagi Shinagawa → | |||||||||||
| Car No. | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | T | M | M' | T' | Tsd | Tsd' | M | M' | Tc' | |
| Numbering | KuHa E531-0 | SaHa E531-0/-2000 | MoHa E531-2000 | MoHa E530-2000 | SaHa E530-2000 | SaRo E531-0 | SaRo E530-0 | MoHa E531-1000 | MoHa E530-0 | KuHa E530-0 | |
As of 3 March 2020, 33 five-car sets (K451–K483) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with two motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
← Haranomachi Oyama, Shinagawa → | ||||||
| Car No. | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | T | M | M' | Tc' | |
| Numbering | KuHa E531-1000 | SaHa E531-0 | MoHa E531-0 | MoHa E530-1000 | KuHa E530-2000 | |
As of 1 October 2018, seven five-car sets (K551–K557) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with two motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
← Haranomachi, Kuroiso Shin-Shirakawa, Shinagawa → | ||||||
| Car No. | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | T | M | M' | Tc' | |
| Numbering | KuHa E531-4000 | SaHa E531-3000 | MoHa E531-3000 | MoHa E530-4000 | KuHa E530-5000 | |
The original ten-car sets delivered without bilevel Green cars were formed as follows.[4]
Sets K401–K406
← Takahagi Ueno → | |||||||||||
| Car No. | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | T | M | M' | T' | T | T | M | M' | Tc' | |
| Numbering | KuHa E531-0 | SaHa E531-0 | MoHa E531-2000 | MoHa E530-2000 | SaHa E530-2000 | SaHa E531-2000 | SaHa E531-2000 | MoHa E531-1000 | MoHa E530-0 | KuHa E530-0 | |
← Takahagi Ueno → | |||||||||||
| Car No. | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc | T | M | M' | T' | T' | T' | M | M' | Tc' | |
| Numbering | KuHa E531-0 | SaHa E531-0 | MoHa E531-2000 | MoHa E530-2000 | SaHa E530-2000 | SaHa E530-2000 | SaHa E530-2000 | MoHa E531-1000 | MoHa E530-0 | KuHa E530-0 | |
The first E531 series trains entered service on 9 July 2005.[5]
Pairs of double-deck "Green" (first class) cars were added to the ten-car sets from 6 January 2007, and all ten-car sets included Green cars by the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007. Two trailer cars from sets K401–K411 (cars 4 and 5) were repurposed as cars 6 and 9 in sets K412–K422. As there were 12 SaHa E531-2000 cars and 10 SaHa E530-2000 cars being repurposed (the latter type has an air compressor missing from the former type), the SaHa E531-2012 car was modified to become SaHa E530-2022.
In September 2014, an additional ten-car set, K423, was delivered from the J-TREC factory in Yokohama, four years after construction of the original fleet had ceased.[6] This was followed by seven new five-car sets (K469–K475) also delivered from J-TREC in Yokohama from December 2014 to March 2015.[7] Seven cold-weather E531-3000 series sets (K551–K557) were built between October 2015 and March 2017. Later in 2017, three more 10-car sets (K424–K426) and two more five-car sets (K476 and K477) were built. Then, between 2019 and 2020, six more five-car sets (K478–K483) were built.
On 26 March 2021, set K417 was involved in a collision between and . It collided with a passenger vehicle which caught fire and caused damage to the KuHa E531-17 car (car 10).[8] The damaged car was replaced with car 10 (KuHa E531-9) from set K409, which later received a new-build end car, also numbered KuHa E531-17.[9] [10]
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Katsuta Depot, set K451 entered service on 5 November 2021 in a wrapping reminiscent of the livery of the 401 series trains.[11] Set K423 also received this wrapping in March 2023. The two sets are scheduled to carry this livery until the first quarter of 2026.[12]