The E653 series is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit train type operated byEast Japan Railway Company in Japan on limited express services since 1997. Originally used on Joban LineFresh Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and, they were reallocated to for use on Inaho limited express services from 2013 and on Shirayuki limited express services from 2015.
Variants
E653-0 series: Original AC/DC sets built from 1997 for use on Joban Line Fresh Hitachi limited express services
E653-1000 series: 7-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2013 and 2014 for use on Inaho limited express services from September 2013
E653-1100 series: 4-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2014 and 2015 for use on Shirayuki limited express services from March 2015
Operations
1997-2013 ''Fresh Hitachi''
From their introduction in 1997, the E653 series trains operated on Fresh Hitachi limited express services between in Tokyo and via the Joban Line as seven-, seven + four-, and seven + seven-car formations, but were withdrawn from regular scheduled services from the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.
2013- ''Inaho''
From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653 series sets displaced from Fresh Hitachi services by new E657 series sets were phased in on Inaho services operating between Niigata and Akita, replacing JNR-era 485 series EMUs and reclassified E653-1000 series. The Inaho fleet consists of eight seven-car E653-1000 series sets modified with the addition of a Green car and a new livery evoking images of the sunset, rice plants, and the sea.
2015- ''Shirayuki''
From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015, four-car E653-1100 series sets were introduced on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between and.
Formations
, the fleet consists of eight seven-car sets and four four-car sets, all based at Niigata Depot.
''Inaho'' E653-1000 series 7-car sets U101–U108
The reformed seven-car Inaho E653-1000 series sets are based at Niigata Depot and formed as follows, with four motored cars and three non-powered trailer cars, and car 1 at the Akita end.
''Shirayuki'' E653-1100 series 4-car sets H201–H204
The reformed four-car Shirayuki E653-1100 series sets are formed as follows, with two motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars, and car 1 at the Arai end.
Car No.
1
2
3
4
Designation
T'c
M1
M2
Tc
Numbering
KuHa E652-110x
MoHa E653-110x
MoHa E652-110x
KuHa E653-110x
Car 2 is equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.
Original (''Fresh Hitachi'') 7-car sets K301–K308
The original Fresh Hitachi seven-car sets were formed as follows, with car 1 at the south end.
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Designation
T'c
M1
M2
T
M1
M2
Tc
Numbering
KuHa E652
MoHa E653
MoHa E652
SaHa E653
MoHa E653
MoHa E652
KuHa E653
Cars 2 and 5 each had one PS32 single-arm pantograph.
Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 had toilets.
Original (''Fresh Hitachi'') 4-car sets K351–K354
The original Fresh Hitachi four-car sets were formed as follows, with car 8 at the south end.
Car No.
8
9
10
11
Designation
T'c
M1
M2
Tc
Numbering
KuHa E652-100
MoHa E653
MoHa E652
KuHa E653-100
Car 9 was equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.
Interior
E653-0 series
All cars in the original E653-0 series sets were standard class with 2+2 seating and seat pitch.
E653-1000 series
The Green cars in E653-1000 series sets have 2+1 seating, arranged with pairs of seats on the seaward side and single seats on the landward side. Seat rows are aligned with the windows, giving a seat pitch of, double that for standard class, and additional privacy is added by partitions between each seat row. The Green car seats 18 passengers.
History
E653 series were introduced from 1 October 1997. The refreshment vending machines were discontinued from 31 March 2008. From 17 March 2012, the E653 series trains were gradually phased out from Fresh Hitachi services with the introduction of new E657 series ten-car EMUs. Original plans were for some E653 series sets to be reassigned to new limited express services operating on the Joban Line between and, with three four-car sets due to be repainted into a new "hamakaidō" blue livery for use on services between Iwaki and Sendai and the rest of the fleet transferred elsewhere. These plans were abandoned following the suspension of services north of Iwaki on the Joban Line after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653-1000 series seven-car sets were introduced on Inaho services, operating between Niigata and Akita. Set U102 was the first E653-1000 series to enter revenue service, being used on a special E653 Series Uetsu Line Debut charter service between Niigata and Sakata on 14 September 2013. The sub-fleet of four four-car sets were renumbered as E653-1100 series sets for use on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between and from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015. These sets received a new livery consisting of ivory white with vermillion and blue stripes intended to evoke an image of the sunset over the Sea of Japan. The interiors were refitted with new seat covers, similar to those used in the E7 series and W7 series shinkansen trains.
E653-1000 series livery changes
The fleet of E653-1000 series sets used on Inaho services is undergoing a programme of reliverying beginning in 2017, with sets each receiving different colour liveries. Set U106 received an all-over ultramarine livery, returning to service in October 2017, and set U107 received an all-over deep pink livery, returning to service in December 2017.
Fleet histories
The manufacturers and build dates for the fleet are as shown below.
