The E351 series (E351系) was a tiltingelectric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Chuo Main LineSuper Azusalimited express services in Japan from 1993 to 2018. First introduced in December 1993 (initially on Azusa services), a total of 60 vehicles were built, formed as five eight-car main sets (numbers S1 to S5) and five four-car supplementary (numbers S21 to S25) sets.
An eight-car set with gangwayed cab car leading in January 2007Coupled gangwayed ends at Shinjuku Station in March 2007
The fleet consisted of five four-car sets (S21–S25) and five eight-car sets (S1–S5), formed as shown below, with car 1 (car 5) at the Shinjuku or Tokyo end.[2][3]
4-car sets S21–S22
Car No.
1
2
3
4
Designation
Tc'
M1
M2
Tc'
Numbering
KuHa E351-1100
MoHa E351-1000
MoHa E350-1000
KuHa E351-1200
Seating capacity
60
52
68
52
Weight (t)
36.9
39.7
39.8
38.2
Car 4 had a retracting gangway.
Car 2 was fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
Cars 2 and 4 were fitted with toilets.
4-car sets S23–S25
Car No.
1
2
3
4
Designation
Tc
M1
M2
Tc'
Numbering
KuHa E351-0
MoHa E351-0
MoHa E350-0
KuHa E350-100
Seating capacity
60
52
68
52
Weight (t)
38.3
38.3
37.9
36.3
Car 4 had a retracting gangway.
Car 2 was fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
Cars 2 and 4 were fitted with toilets.
8-car sets S1–S2
Car No.
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Designation
Tc
M1
M2
T
Ts
M1
M2
Tc
Numbering
KuHa E351-1300
MoHa E351-1000
MoHa E350-1100
SaHa E351-1000
SaRo E351-1000
MoHa E351-1100
MoHa E350-1000
KuHa E351-1000
Seating capacity
60
60
64
64
50
55
68
52
Weight (t)
37.2
39.7
40.5
33.9
32.7
39.9
39.8
37.6
Car 5 had a retracting gangway.
Cars 6 and 10 were each fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
Cars 6 and 10 were each fitted with a PS31 single-arm pantograph.
Cars 6, 8, 10, and 12 were fitted with toilets.
Original set formations
When first delivered, the two pairs of sets were numbered and formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Shinjuku end.[4]
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Numbering
KuHa E351-100
MoHa E351
MoHa E350
SaHa E351
SaRo E351
MoHa E351-100
MoHa E351
KuHa E351-200
KuHa E351-300
MoHa E351
MoHa E350
KuHa E351
Interior
Both standard class and Green (first) class seating were arranged 2+2 abreast.[2]
E351 series trains were made entirely no-smoking on 18 March 2007.[3]
Green car interior
Green car seating
Standard-class seating
History
Introduction
Two pairs of first-batch sets (S1+S21 and S2+S22) were delivered in 1993,[2] and were introduced on Azusa services from 23 December 1993.[5]
Super Azusa introduction
From the start of the revised timetable on 3 December 1994, four return Azusa workings were upgraded and rebranded as Super Azusa, operating between Shinjuku and Matsumoto or Minami-Otari using E351 series equipment.[5]
2nd batch
Three pairs of second-batch sets were delivered in 1995,[2] and the first two pairs of sets (S1+S21 and S2+S22) were modified to bring them up to production specifications at JR East's Nagano Workshop and Nippon Sharyo, respectively, in March 1996.[3] Modifications included replacing the original PS26C lozenge-type pantographs with PS31 single-arm pantographs, and renumbering the cars in the -1000 series.[2] From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 1996, the number of Super Azusa services using E351 series equipment was increased from four return trips daily to eight return trips.[5]
1997 Ōtsuki Station collision
On 12 October 1997, the down Super Azusa 13 service from Shinjuku to Matsumoto (formed of sets S3+S23) was involved in a collision with a 201 series local train that had overrun a red signal while passing through Ōtsuki Station. Several cars were derailed and one car overturned. Five cars of set S3 were ultimately cut up on site, and replacement car bodies ordered from Hitachi. The rebuilt vehicles retained their original running numbers.
Withdrawal
The replacement of the E351 series trains by new E353 series EMUs began on 23 December 2017, with the entire fleet phased out from regular passenger services on 16 March 2018.[6]
A special final run service was held on 7 April 2018 to commemorate the E351 series sets' retirement, after which the sets were officially withdrawn.[7]
After their withdrawal, the trains were transferred to Nagano General Rolling Stock Center for scrapping. No E351 series cars have been preserved.[8]
Build details
The individual build details for the fleet are as shown below.[9][10]
^Saka, Masahiro (March 2014). "JR第1世代の車両・現況と概要" [JR 1st-generation rolling stock: Current situation and overview]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 43, no. 359. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. p. 22.
^ abcdefJēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 159–162. ISBN978-4-7770-0836-0.
^ abcde JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2011. p. 102. ISBN978-4-330-25611-5.
^ JR全車輛ハンドブック1995 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 1995]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 1995. pp. 148–149.
^ abc JR特急10年の歩み [10 Years of JR Limited Express Trains]. Japan: Kousai Shuppansha. May 1997. pp. 88, 103, 130. ISBN978-4-330-45697-3.
^来年３月に現行車両「Ｅ３５１系」引退 スーパーあずさ、新型に [E351 series to be retired by next spring with new trains for "Super Azusa" services]. Sankei Photo (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 29 October 2017. Archived from the original on 22 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
^"ありがとうE351系旅行商品及び記念入場券の発売について" [Products and admission fees for the "Thank you E351 series" event] (PDF). JR East (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 22 February 2018. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 February 2018. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
