209 series

209 series
Consist led by C412 in July 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	JR East's Niitsu Works, JR East's Ōfuna Works (knockdown kits), Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation
Designer(s)	Kenji Ekuan
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1993 – 2004
Number built	1,016 cars
Dimensions	787 in (20,000 mm) × 113 in (2,870 mm) × 145 in (3,650 mm) (width is 117 in (2,966 mm) for 209-500 series)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Variable frequency (GTO, IGBT)
Traction system model	Mitsubishi SC41 Mitsubishi SC41A Mitsubishi SC41C Mitsubishi SC41D Mitsubishi SC88 Mitsubishi SC88A
Service information
In service	15 February 1993 – Present
Formation	4, 6, 8 or 10 cars per set
Number in service	508 cars
Fleet numbers	Ura1 – Ura52, Ura80 – Ura84, NaHa31 – NaHa36, NaHa52, NaHa54 – NaHa55, KeYo34, Hae51, Hae61 – Hae64, Hae71 – Hae72, MaTo81 – MaTo82, C501 – C512, C516, M71 – M73, C401 – C442, C601 – C626, J1
Preservation information
Preserved	0
Number scrapped	478 cars

The 209 series is a Japanese commuter electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company since February 1993.

History

The 209 series was designed in 1993 based on the prototype 901 series to replace various city commuter trains like 103 series sets on the Keihin-Tōhoku and Negishi Lines due to aging. The first set entered service on 15 February 1993 on the Keihin-Tōhoku Line. The original concept of the 209 series was to create a low-cost, minimal lifespan train that would be replaced rather than rebuilt when they were deemed "life-expired"; they are actually somewhat fulfilling this role as they are slowly being replaced by newer trains, although some sets have actually been rebuilt.

A variant of the 209 series, the 209-950 series, was built in 1998 and entered service on 27 March 1999 on the Chūō-Sōbu Line to test out the then-new insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drive and the then-new TIMS passenger information system. The set was converted into E231-900 series set B901 in June 2000 after various modifications were done; as of July 2020 the set operates on the Musashino Line under the fleet number MU1.

Nambu Line-based 209-2200 series set NaHa53 was converted into Bōsō Bicycle Base set J1 in April 2017. This is a dedicated train for carrying cyclists and their bicycles from Ryōgoku in Tokyo to various destinations on the Uchibō, Sōtobo and Narita Lines and the Sōbu Main Line on the Bōsō Peninsula. The set entered service on 6 January 2018.

Some Keihin-Tōhoku Line 209 series cars were converted into three two-car training sets for use in the Ōmiya, Yokohama and Hachiōji Depots, with others being converted into the specialized MUE Train set. Two ex-Narita area sets were purchased by the Izukyu Corporation in 2021, intended to be converted.

Design

The 209 series uses a modern design with an unpainted stainless steel body very much like most JR East commuter trains. Each set has a different color scheme to indicate which area the sets serve.

It is the first of JR's "new series trains" and served as the basis for the 701, E127, E217, E231 and E501 series sets, with the E231 series sets later becoming the blueprint for successive trains developed by JR East and other JR companies.

The 209-500 series cars look extremely similar to the E231-0 series sets, but can be differentiated by their lack of six-door cars and painted white fronts as opposed to stainless steel fronts.

Variations

Livery variations

Operating area	Front end	Body side
Keihin-Tōhoku Line/Negishi Line
Chūō-Sōbu Line
Jōban Line/Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line through-running
Musashino Line
Keiyō Line
Narita Line/Sōbu Main Line/Sotobō Line/Uchibō Line
Nambu Line
Kawagoe Line/Hachikō Line

Cab design variations

There are four cab design variations of the 209 series. One is used for the 209-0 series sets (shared with the 209-2000, 209-2100, 209-2200 and 209-3000 series sets), another is used for the 209-1000 series sets, a third is used for the 209-500 series sets (shared with the 209-950 and 209-3500 series set) and the last is used on the 209-3100 series sets (which were actually converted from surplus TWR 70-000 series sets).

Five 209 series sets and a TWR 70-000 series set exhibited at the Kawagoe Depot Open Day in November 2017; L–R: 209 series "MUE Train", 209-2500 series set Hae64, Chūō-Sōbu Line 209-500 series set C504, Musashino Line 209-500 series set M72, 209-3100 series set Hae72, TWR 70-000 series set Z8

MaTo81 in November 2015

209-950 series set 62 on the Chūō-Sōbu Line in 1999; currently operating as E231-900 series set MU1

J1 in March 2018

Specifications

Construction is of stainless steel. Cars are 20 meters long and 2.87 meters wide (2.96 meters wide for the 209-500 series). Almost all variants of the 209 series use gate turn-off thyristor variable frequency drives manufactured by Mitsubishi which have a distinctive roaring sound akin to a car shifting gears when the train accelerates from idle. Some sets have since been refurbished to use insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives also manufactured by Mitsubishi that produce a hissing noise.

The 209-950 series prototype set used two types of IGBT drives; a two-level IGBT drive by Hitachi, and a three-level IGBT drive by Mitsubishi. Both types of drives are now used by various E231 series sets. The two-level Hitachi IGBT drive made a shrill whine as the train accelerated from idle while the three-level Mitsubishi IGBT drive made a distinctive, wind-like noise (both recordings taken from E231-900 series set B901, now MU1, which the 209-950 series set was converted into).

References

• Wikipedia.org