E233 series


The E233 series is a commuter and suburban electric multiple unit train type developed by East Japan Railway Company from the earlier E231 series and the E531 series design. The first train was introduced in December 2006 for use on the Chūō Line (Rapid), followed by the E233-1000 series variant in 2007 for use on the Keihin–Tōhoku and Negishi lines, the E233-3000 series outer-suburban variant in December 2007 for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line, and narrow-bodied E233-2000 series variant for Jōban Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line through services. Further variants were built for use on the Keiyō Line, Yokohama Line, Saikyō Line, and Nambu Line.

Design

The E233 series features two identical sets of main equipment in case of failure. This is the first JR East stock to feature such backup measures. The E233 series provides for better accessibility for the disabled, and is designed to be more comfortable to ride overall than previous stock. The height between the platform and the train was reduced from the of the 201 and 209 series to only. Seats are wide, compared to the of the 201 series and of the 209 series. For standing passengers the handle straps have been lowered by compared to older train models.
This stock also features an air filtration system to remove unpleasant smells. It also features liquid crystal display information screens and automatic announcement system similar to those previously used on the E231 series rolling stock on the Yamanote Line.
The stock is the first JR East stock to use full-colour LEDs for the destination indicators on the sides of the carriages. This is due to the fact that the Chūō Line has numerous types of services, and colour-coding will help passengers board the correct train.

Variants

The first E233-0 series train was introduced in December 2006 for use on the Chūō Line (Rapid), Ōme, and Itsukaichi lines, replacing the aging 201 series trains. The fleet of 688 E233-0 series vehicles was delivered by the end of March 2008; 42 ten-car sets, and 15 6+4-car sets were constructed primarily for use on the Chūō Line, while ten four-car sets and 13 six-car sets were constructed for the Ōme Line and Itsukaichi Line. In March 2008 and April 2015, sets Ao458+Ao658 and Ao459+Ao659 were transferred to the Chūō Line and renumbered H58 and H59 respectively.
An additional five cars were built at JR East's Niitsu factory in 2009 to replace five cars from six-car set Ao661 which were withdrawn due to accident damage in 2008.

Green Car introduction

In April 2018, JR East announced plans to add two bilevel Green cars to 58 ten-car and six-car E233-0 series EMU sets operated on the Chūō Line and through-service trains to the Ōme Line, and to install toilets on these sets ahead of Green car introductions. To compensate for train shortages brought on by toilet installations, a new ten-car set was delivered from J-TREC's Yokohama facility on 11 June 2020.
The Green cars will be positioned as cars 4 and 5 in the newly formed 12- and 8-car sets. Green car services were initially due for introduction in fiscal 2020, but this was deferred to 2023. On 27 April 2022, JR East announced that Green car introductions would again be postponed until the end of fiscal 2024 or later as a result of the global chip shortage.
The first Green cars, SaRo E233-1 and SaRo E232-1, were delivered from J-TREC's Yokohama facility from 12 July 2022. These cars use double-leaf sliding doors with a width of to allow for reduced boarding times at stations; previous designs were built using single-leaf doors with a width of. Test runs of the new Green cars were conducted, starting with set H57. The new Green cars were eventually put into service on a trial basis as of 13 October 2024.

Transfer

In 2017, six-car set Ao670 was modified to become the E233-8500 series set N36 for use on the Nambu Line alongside the fleet of E233-8000 series sets.
In December 2025, ten-car set T71 was transferred to Makuhari Depot as a six-car set and renumbered C1. Six cars from set H49 followed suit in January 2026 and became set C3.

Interior

Formations

10-car Chūō Line sets

As of 11 June 2020, 43 ten-car sets are based at Toyoda Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • MoHa E233-200 and MoHa E233-400 cars each have one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and MoHa E233 cars has two PS33D single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 has a universal design toilet.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    6+4-car Chūō Line sets

As of 22 March 2020, 17 6+4-car sets are based at Toyoda Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • Car 4 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and cars 2 and 8 each have two PS33D single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 has a universal design toilet.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    6+4-car Ōme Line and Itsukaichi Line sets

As of 1 October 2018, ten six-car sets and eight four-car sets are based at Toyoda Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars. Depending on the specific schedule and line, trains are operated in 4-, 6-, or 6+4-car sets.
  • Car 4 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and cars 2 and 8 each have two PS33D single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    E233-1000 series

A fleet of 83 ten-car E233 series sets was introduced on the Keihin–Tōhoku and Negishi lines from autumn 2007, replacing the 209 series EMUs previously used from 1993 until 2010. The first set was delivered in August 2007. The main difference over the earlier E233-0 series is the absence of passenger door controls.
The first set entered service on 22 December 2007.
Two cars of set 177, KuHa E233-1077 and SaHa E233-1277, were involved in a derailment in February 2014 and were scrapped in December 2016. The remaining eight cars of set 177 were scrapped in April 2018.
Set 103 was transferred to the Keiyō Depot for use on the Keiyō, Uchibō and Sotobō lines in January 2026.

Interior

Formation

As of April 2018, 82 ten-car sets were based at Saitama depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.

E233-2000 series

This is a narrow-bodied variant for Jōban Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line through services, replacing the 203 series and 207-900 series EMUs previously used. The first ten-car set was delivered to Matsudo Depot from Tokyu Car Corporation in May 2009. It entered service on 9 September 2009.
These trains have also been used on through services on Odakyu lines since 2016. In 2017 the last set was delivered. Like all trains running into the Tokyo Subway, these trains are fitted with emergency doors in the driver's cabin to allow for the evacuation of passengers in the Chiyoda Line's tunnels.
The floor height is lowered to for improved accessibility, compared to for the earlier 203 series and for the 207-900 series and 209-1000 series trains.

Interior

Formation

, the fleet consists of 19 ten-car sets, numbered 1 to 19, based at Matsudo Depot, and formed as shown below, with car 1 at the southern end.
Cars 3 and 9 are equipped with one single-arm pantograph. Car 6 is equipped with two.

Build details

The delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
1Tokyu Car20 May 2009
2Tokyu Car6 August 2010
3Tokyu Car1 September 2010
4Tokyu Car29 September 2010
5Tokyu Car3 December 2010
6Tokyu Car15 December 2010
7Tokyu Car22 December 2010
8Tokyu Car7 January 2011
9Tokyu Car19 January 2011
10Tokyu Car23 February 2011
11Tokyu Car4 March 2011
12Tokyu Car27 April 2011
13Tokyu Car10 July 2011
14Tokyu Car17 July 2011
15Tokyu Car30 July 2011
16Tokyu Car28 August 2011
17Tokyu Car19 September 2011
18Tokyu Car28 September 2011
19J-TREC 2017

E233-3000 series

The E233-3000 sub-series are outer-suburban sets formed as ten-car sets containing two bilevel Green cars and five-car sets. Sets are allocated to Kōzu and Oyama depots for use on Tōkaidō Main Line services between Tokyo and Numazu, as well as Shōnan–Shinjuku Line and Ueno–Tokyo Line through services to and from the Takasaki Line and Utsunomiya Line. The first sets entered service on 10 March 2008, and were introduced to the Shōnan–Shinjuku Line from the start of the new timetable on 14 March 2015.

Green car Exterior

Formations

Early 10-car sets

, 2 ten-car sets are based at Kōzu depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and formed as shown below with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • Cars 3 and 9 each have one single-arm pantograph, and car 7 has two.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Cars 1, 5, and 10 each have a toilet.
  • Car 8 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
  • Cars 4 and 5 are bilevel Green Cars.

    Standard 10-car sets

, 15 ten-car sets are based at Kōzu depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and 16 ten-car sets are based at Oyama depot in Tochigi Prefecture. They are formed as shown below with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • Cars 7 and 9 each have one single-arm pantograph, and car 3 has two.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Cars 1, 5, 6, and 10 each have a toilet.
  • Car 8 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
  • Cars 4 and 5 are bilevel Green Cars.

    5-car sets

, 21 five-car sets are based at Kōzu depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and 18 five-car sets are based at Oyama depot in Tochigi Prefecture. They are formed as shown below with two motored cars and three non-powered trailer cars.
  • Car 13 has two single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 11 and 15 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 11 has a universal design toilet.

    Interior

Standard-class cars have longitudinal seating with dark blue moquette seat covers. Cars 1, 2, 9, 10, 14, and 15 include transverse four-person seating bays. The two Green bilevel cars have rotating, reclining seats arranged 2+2 abreast. Seats on the lower deck and end saloons have crimson moquette seat covers, and seats on the upper deck have dark blue moquette.
The first 10+5-car E233-3000 series outer suburban set for use on the Tōkaidō Main Line was delivered from the Tokyu Car factory in Yokohama to Kōzu Depot in November 2007. This includes two bilevel Green cars. It entered revenue service on 10 March 2008, and was initially limited to use on the Tōkaidō Main Line between Tokyo and Atami. The second set was delivered in February 2010.
Subsequent sets were delivered to Tamachi Depot from September 2011, entering service from 12 November 2011. These sets incorporate a number of minor changes, including moving the second reserve pantograph from car 7 to car 3, and the addition of a toilet in car 6.
Takasaki-based ten- and five-car sets were introduced on Takasaki Line services between Ueno and Maebashi, replacing 211 series sets, and on Ryōmō Line services from 1 September 2012.

E233-5000 series

These are 10-car and 4+6-car sets for use on the Keiyō Line. The fleet consists of 20 ten-car sets and four 4+6-car sets, with the first sets entering revenue service on 1 July 2010, replacing the 201 series, 205 series, and E331 series EMUs previously used.
The first E233-5000 series set, set 501, was delivered from JR East's Niitsu factory on 10 March 2010. In addition to services on the Keiyō Line between Tokyo and, these sets are also used on Sotobō Line through services between Soga and, Uchibō Line through services between Soga and, and on Tōgane Line through services between and.

Formations

10-car sets

, 20 ten-car sets are based at Keiyō Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • Cars 3 and 9 each have one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and car 5 has two PS33D single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    6+4-car sets

, four 6+4-car sets are based at Keiyō Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • Car 3 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and cars 5 and 9 each have two PS33D single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    Interior

E233-6000 series

These are eight-car sets operated in the Yokohama Line since 16 February 2014. As with the earlier Saikyo Line E233-7000 series variant, the trains use LED interior lighting.
A total of 28 sets were delivered. The first E233-6000 series set, H016, was delivered from the J-TREC Yokohama factory in January 2014. The first set built at the J-TREC Niitsu factory, set H001, was delivered on 22 January 2014.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating with individual seat widths of. Each car has priority seating at one end, and cars 1 and 8 have a wheelchair space.

Formation

As of September 2014, 28 8-car sets are based at Kamakura depot are formed with four motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
Car 4 has two single-arm PS33D pantographs, and car 7 has one.

Build details

The build details for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
H001J-TREC, Niitsu17 January 2014
H002J-TREC, Niitsu24 January 2014
H003J-TREC, Niitsu5 February 2014
H004J-TREC, Niitsu18 February 2014
H005J-TREC, Niitsu28 February 2014
H006J-TREC, Niitsu11 March 2014
H007J-TREC, Niitsu24 March 2014
H008J-TREC, Niitsu8 April 2014
H009J-TREC, Niitsu24 April 2014
H010J-TREC, Niitsu12 May 2014
H011J-TREC, Niitsu30 May 2014
H012J-TREC, Niitsu6 June 2014
H013J-TREC, Niitsu13 June 2014
H014J-TREC, Niitsu1 July 2014
H015J-TREC, Niitsu10 July 2014
H016J-TREC, Yokohama8 January 2014
H017J-TREC, Yokohama15 January 2014
H018J-TREC, Yokohama8 February 2014
H019J-TREC, Yokohama19 February 2014
H020J-TREC, Yokohama14 March 2014
H021J-TREC, Yokohama26 March 2014
H022J-TREC, Yokohama15 April 2014
H023J-TREC, Yokohama2 May 2014
H024J-TREC, Yokohama14 May 2014
H025J-TREC, Yokohama17 June 2014
H026J-TREC, Yokohama4 July 2014
H027J-TREC, Yokohama6 August 2014
H028J-TREC, Yokohama20 August 2014

E233-7000 series

These are ten-car sets operated on Kawagoe Line/Saikyō Line/Rinkai Line services between and since 30 June 2013. A total of 31 ten-car sets were delivered, displacing the fleet of 205 series EMUs previously used. These trains are the first E233 series variant to use LED interior lighting.
An additional seven more sets were delivered in 2019, in preparation for through running services between the Saikyō Line and the Sōtetsu Main Line via the newly built Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line, bringing the total number of trains up to 38 ten-car sets. They began use on Sōtetsu Line services on 30 November 2019.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating with individual seat widths of.

Formation

As of 1 January 2020, all 38 ten-car sets are based at Kawagoe Depot and formed with six motored cars and four non-powered trailer cars.
  • Cars 3 and 9 each have one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and car 5 has two PS33D single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 9 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    History

The first E233-7000 series set was delivered to Kawagoe Depot from JR East's Niitsu factory on 9 April 2013. The first set built by J-TREC was delivered from the manufacturer's Yokohama factory in July 2013.

E233-8000 series

These are six-car sets introduced on Nambu Line services between and from 4 October 2014. A total of 35 E233-8000 series sets are on order, displacing the previous fleet of 205 series and older 209 series EMUs.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout, with wheelchair spaces in cars 1 and 6. As with the earlier Yokohama Line E233-6000 series and Saikyo Line E233-7000 series variants, the trains use LED interior lighting.

Formation

As of 2015, 35 six-car sets are based at Nakahara depot and formed with four motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
;Notes:
  • Car 4 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and car 2 has two single-arm pantographs.
  • Cars 1 and 6 have a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    History

The first set, N1 was delivered from the J-TREC factory in Niitsu in August 2014. It entered revenue service from 4 October 2014.

Build details

The delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No.Date delivered
N131 July 2014
N28 August 2014
N322 August 2014
N42 September 2014
N512 September 2014
N63 October 2014
N716 October 2014
N830 October 2014
N914 November 2014
N102 December 2014
N1124 December 2014
N126 January 2015
N1321 January 2015
N146 March 2015
N1516 March 2015
N1630 March 2015
N1713 April 2015
N1827 April 2015
N1914 May 2015
N2028 May 2015
N2111 June 2015
N2225 June 2015
N239 July 2015
N2427 July 2015
N2511 August 2015
N2625 August 2015
N277 September 2015
N2818 September 2015
N292 October 2015
N3020 October 2015
N314 November 2015
N3216 November 2015
N3326 November 2015
N3410 December 2015
N3517 December 2015

E233-8500 series

In 2017, six-car Itsukaichi Line/Ōme Line set Ao670 was modified and renumbered at Omiya Works to become the sole E233-8500 series set N36 for use on the Nambu Line alongside the fleet of E233-8000 series sets and replacing the last remaining 209 series EMU still in use there. In addition to receiving the Nambu Line livery carried by the E233-8000 series fleet, modifications included adding a WiMAX antenna and replacing the original LCD passenger display screens with screens. Set N36 entered service on the Nambu Line on 15 March 2017.

Formation

As of March 2017, 1 six-car set is based at Nakahara depot and formed with four motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
  • Car 4 has one PS33D single-arm pantograph, and car 2 has two single-arm pantographs.
  • Car 1 has a wheelchair space.
  • Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

    Accidents

Keihin–Tōhoku Line E233-1000 series set 177 was derailed in a collision with a track maintenance vehicle in the early hours of 23 February 2014 near Kawasaki Station while on an empty stock train operating from Sakuragicho to Kamata. The first two cars of the ten-car train derailed, with the first car ending up on its side. The train was carrying no passengers, and the driver and conductor escaped with minor injuries. The two derailed cars from the set involved, KuHa E233-1077 and SaHa E233-1277, were formally withdrawn in December 2016.

E233 series derivatives

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