E331 series
Japanese train type
title: "E331 series" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["electric-multiple-units-of-japan", "east-japan-railway-company", "train-related-introductions-in-2007", "articulated-passenger-trains", "experimental-vehicles", "tokyu-car-multiple-units", "kawasaki-multiple-units", "1500-v-dc-multiple-units-of-japan", "scrapped-emus"] description: "Japanese train type" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E331_series" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese train type ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox train"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | E331 series |
| image | E331 Soga 20100503.jpg |
| imagesize | 300px |
| caption | E331 series set AK1 in service on the Keiyo Line in May 2010 |
| manufacturer | Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation |
| service | 2007–2011 |
| successor | E233-5000 series |
| yearconstruction | 2006 |
| yearservice | 18 March 2007 |
| yearscrapped | 2014 |
| numberbuilt | 14 vehicles (1 set) |
| formation | 14 cars per trainset |
| numberscrapped | 14 vehicles |
| fleetnumbers | AK1 |
| operator | JR East |
| depots | Keiyo (Shin-Narashino) |
| lines | Keiyo Line |
| carbody | Stainless steel |
| carlength | 13.4 m (cars 2-6, 9-13) |
| 16.5 m (cars 1, 7, 8, 14) | |
| width | 2989 mm |
| doors | 3 pairs per side |
| maxspeed | 120 km/h |
| traction | Variable frequency (IGBT) |
| gauge | |
| electricsystem | 1,500 V DC overhead catenary |
| bogies | DT73/TR257/TR258 |
| safety | ATS-P, ATS-SN |
| :: |
| name = E331 series | image = E331 Soga 20100503.jpg | imagesize = 300px | caption = E331 series set AK1 in service on the Keiyo Line in May 2010 | manufacturer = Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation | service = 2007–2011 | family = | replaced = | successor = E233-5000 series | refurbishment = | yearconstruction = 2006 | yearservice = 18 March 2007 | yearscrapped = 2014 | numberconstruction = | numberbuilt = 14 vehicles (1 set) | numberservice = | formation = 14 cars per trainset | numberscrapped = 14 vehicles | fleetnumbers = AK1 | capacity = | operator = JR East | depots = Keiyo (Shin-Narashino) | lines = Keiyo Line | carbody = Stainless steel | carlength = 13.4 m (cars 2-6, 9-13) 16.5 m (cars 1, 7, 8, 14) | width = 2989 mm | height = | doors = 3 pairs per side | maxspeed = 120 km/h | weight = | acceleration = | deceleration = | traction = Variable frequency (IGBT) | poweroutput = | gauge = | electricsystem = 1,500 V DC overhead catenary | bogies = DT73/TR257/TR258 | brakes = | safety = ATS-P, ATS-SN | coupling =
The E331 series was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train introduced experimentally from 2007 on commuter services on the Keiyo Line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Only one trainset was built, and it differed significantly from other JR commuter EMUs in having articulated cars with shared bogies and using direct-drive motors.
Bogies
The 14-car set was mounted on a total of 16 bogies: four TR257 trailer bogies (cars 1, 7, 8, 14), six TR258 shared trailer bogies, and six DT73 shared motor bogies.
File:E331 TR257 car 8 Kunitachi 20140325.JPG|TR257 trailer bogie File:E331 TR258 Kunitachi 20140325.JPG|TR258 shared trailer bogie File:E331 DT73 Kunitachi 20140325.JPG|DT73 shared motor bogie
Formation
The lone set, AK1, consisted of two 7-car half-sets, and is formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.
::data[format=table]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Designation | Numbering | Weight (t) | Capacity (total/seated) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tc' | M | T2 | M | T | M | T4 | T3 | M | T2 | M | T | M | Tc | |||||
| KuHa E330-1 | MoHa E331-6 | SaHa E331-502 | MoHa E331-5 | SaHa E331-2 | MoHa E331-4 | SaHa E331-1001 | SaHa E330-1 | MoHa E331-3 | SaHa E331-501 | MoHa E331-2 | SaHa E331-1 | MoHa E331-1 | KuHa E331-1 | |||||
| 25.11 | 16.1 | 16.7 | 16.1 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 20.2 | 21.5 | 16.1 | 16.7 | 16.1 | 16.5 | 16.1 | 24.11 | |||||
| 115/34 | 107/34 | 133/46 | 107/34 | 115/34 | ||||||||||||||
| :: |
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/E331_Omiya_20061114.JPG" caption="SaHa E330-1 (car 8) in November 2006"] ::
- Cars 3 and 10 (SaHa E331-502 and SaHa E331-501) were each fitted with one PS37 single-arm pantograph.
- Cars 1 and 14 seated 36 when the seats are configured in transverse mode.
Interior
Cars 2 to 13 had longitudinal seating, while the end cars 1 and 14 had transverse seating bays which could be rotated and rearranged longitudinally against the train sides to provide increased standing space during peak hours.
File:E331 interior 20070318 (1).jpg|General interior view File:E331 interior 20070318 (2).jpg|5-person bench seat File:L25 TcE330-seat.jpg|Transverse seating bay in car 1 File:E331-VIS.JPG|LCD passenger information display
History
Incorporating new technology tested on the earlier experimental E993 series "AC Train", the E331 series was delivered to JR East in March 2006. Cars 1 to 7 were built by Tokyu Car Corporation in Yokohama, and cars 8 to 14 were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe.
Following extensive test running, the set entered revenue service on the Keiyo Line between Tokyo and from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007, used only on weekend services. From April, the set was taken out of service, and in October 2007, the seven Kawasaki-built cars were returned to their manufacturer for modifications, and in March 2008, the seven Tokyu Car cars were also returned to Tokyu Car for modifications. The set was returned to service on 23 December 2008.
The set was removed from revenue service in May 2009, returning to service on 3 April 2010. It was subsequently removed from service again, and remained stored out of service at Shin-Narashino Depot from early 2011 before finally being hauled to Nagano Works in March 2014 for scrapping.
File:E331 cars 1-7 Yamate 20060309.JPG|Cars 1 to 7 on delivery from Tokyu Car's Yokohama factory, March 2006 File:E331 Keiyo Line 20100627.jpg|The E331 series set in service on the Keiyo Line, June 2010 File:E331 Platform Sign.jpg|A sticker on the Keiyo Line platform at Tokyo Station marking the door position for E331 series trains, April 2008 File:E331 AK1 Kunitachi 20140325.JPG|The E331 series set being hauled to JR East's Nagano Works in March 2014
References
References
- (2009). "JR全車輌ハンドブック2009". Neko Publishing.
- (June 2006). "E331系一般形直流電車". Koyusha Co., Ltd..
- (June 2006). "JR東日本 E331系一般型直流電車（量産先行者/京葉線）". Kōtsū Shimbun.
- (December 2006). "JR電車編成表 '07冬号". JRR.
- (15 April 2011). "首都圏新系列車両PROFILE". Ikaros Publishing.
- link. (19 December 2008). News release. East Japan Railway Company – Chiba Branch
- (5 April 2010). "E331系ケヨAK1編成が営業運転に". Koyusha Co., Ltd..
- (27 March 2014). "E331系AK1編成長野へ配給". Neko Publishing Co., Ltd..
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