Musashino | |
Type: | Local |
Locale: | Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture, Japan |
Predecessor: | Rapid Shinkansen Relay |
First: | 2001 (Rapid) 4 December 2010 (Local) |
Operator: | JR East |
Start: | / |
Line Used: | Tōhoku Main Line, Musashino Line, Chūō Main Line |
Class: | Standard class only |
Seating: | Longitudinal |
Catering: | None |
Otherfacilities: | No toilets |
Stock: | 209-500/E231-0/E231-900 series EMUs |
El: | 1,500 V DC overhead |
The is an all-stations train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Tokyo between on the Chuo Line or on the Musashino Line and in Saitama Prefecture.[1] It avoids passengers having to change trains at or to access the western portion of the Musashino line to/from Ōmiya. This train only operates a few services in the morning and evening peaks each day. Shimōsa is a similar service linking Ōmiya and the eastern side of the Musashino Line. The trains terminate at, and . The trains from travel on the Chuo Line. After Kunitachi station, trains will go through a cargo branch. After stopping at Shin-Kodaira, the train uses the Musashino Line. After Kita-Asaka station, the train goes by special freight non-stop tracks. After passing Nishi-Urawa station, the train turns to arriving tracks. Trains usually stop on Platforms 3 and 4 at station.
Services consist of two trains from to in the morning, together with one return working from Ōmiya to and back. In the evening, there are two services from Ōmiya to Hachiōji, and one service from Hachiōji to Ōmiya.[2]
The trains to and from Hachiōji use two of the Musashino Line freight branches: one connects the Chūō Main Line (Kunitachi Station) and the Musashino Line (Shin-Kodaira Station) and the other connects the Musashino Line (Nishi-Urawa Station) and the Tōhoku Main Line (Yono Station).[3]
Current rolling stock:
Services share rolling stock with the Musashino Line and are currently operated by 209-500 series, E231-0 series, or E231-900 series 8-car EMUs with longitudinal seating throughout.[4]
Former rolling stock:
Former rolling stock was 8-car 205 series, 6-car 115 series and 6-car 169 series
The Musashino was formed in 2001 following the renaming of the earlier Rapid Shinkansen Relay. From 1 December 2002, 6-car 115 series EMU formations based at Toyoda depot in Tokyo replaced the previous 165 and 169 series EMU formations.[5]
Prior to the 4 December 2010 timetable revision, two return workings operated on weekdays, with one return Holiday Rapid Musashino working at weekends, as shown below.[6]
From the start of the revised timetable on 4 December 2010, the Musashino ceased to be a limited-stop "rapid" service, with trains stopping at all stations, and the number of daily services increased.[7]