E501 series

The E501 series is a dual-voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit train type operated on local services by East Japan Railway Company in Japan since December 1995.

Design

Built jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Tokyu Car, the design is derived from the 209 series commuter EMU, and were initially operated as 10+5-car formations on Jōban Line services out of in Tokyo, but were modified with the addition of toilets and transferred to Jōban Line and Mito Line local services in the Mito area from March 2007.

Formations

10-car sets

As of 1 October 2018, four ten-car sets are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with four motored cars and six non-powered trailer cars.

Cars 3 and 8 each have one single-arm pantograph.
Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.
Cars 1 and 10 each have a universal design toilet.
Car 8 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
5-car sets

As of 1 October 2018, four five-car sets are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with two motored cars and three non-powered trailer cars.

Cars 3 has one single-arm pantograph.
Cars 1 and 5 have a wheelchair space.
Cars 1 has a universal design toilet.
Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
Interior

History

The first 10+5-car train was originally scheduled to be delivered in time for entry into service from the March 1995 timetable revision, but deliveries from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe were delayed until May due to the effects of the Great Hanshin earthquake in January of that year. The first trains ultimately entered revenue service from the start of the 1 December 1995 timetable revision.
Between September and October 2006, modifications were made to the side windows to allow some windows to be opened. From October 2006, the fleet underwent modifications to add toilets, and from the start of the 18 March 2007 timetable revision, the E501 series trains were displaced from Jōban Line services out of Ueno by E531 series sets, and were transferred to local services on the Jōban Line north of and on the Mito Line. Between 2011 and 2012, the fleet underwent a life-extension refurbishment programme, which involved replacing electrical and brake equipment. These trains were originally equipped with Siemens GTO-VVVF propulsion systems, which were similar to the Keikyu 2100 series and also produced a "do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do" scale when starting up. As part of the refurbishment, the propulsion system was changed to Toshiba IGBT-VVVF.
Between December 2014 and December 2015, all PS29 lozenge-type pantographs were replaced with single-arm pantographs.
Scrapping of the E501 series fleet commenced in August 2024, starting with 5-car set K751.
In September 2025, four cars each from sets K752 and K753 were transferred to Kyushu.

Build details

The build details for the fleet are as shown below.

Set No.	Manufacturer	Delivered	Toilet added	Refurbished	Pantograph changed to single-arm	Remarks
K701	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	23 May 1995	21 February 2007	20 January 2012	27 November 2015
K702	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	20 February 1997	26 October 2006	5 November 2012	29 October 2015
K703	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	6 March 1997	20 November 2006	27 March 2012	24 December 2015
K704	Tokyu Car	18 March 1997	3 October 2006	26 January 2011	13 February 2015
K751	Tokyu Car	28 March 1995	31 January 2007	21 August 2011	25 December 2014	Scrapped in August 2024
K752	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	21 February 1997	9 November 2006	21 May 2011	27 December 2014	Transferred to JR Kyushu in September 2025
K753	Kawasaki Heavy Industries	7 March 1997	6 December 2006	25 April 2011	5 December 2014	Transferred to JR Kyushu in September 2025
K754	Tokyu Car	19 March 1997	22 January 2007	1 September 2011	24 December 2014	Converted to E501 SAKIGAKE train in October 2023

''E501 SAKIGAKE''

On 25 October 2023, JR East announced that a 5-car E501 series train has been modified to become the E501 SAKIGAKE train. This particular set received a new livery that inspires the image of red and white plum blossoms. The interior features tables for customers to eat and have drinks while onboard the train as well as a refrigerator that stores the cold drinks. The set that underwent the conversion is K754 and it entered service from 23 November 2023 on a special trip on the Jōban and Mito lines between and stations.