The Hana set was formed from six 485 series cars built in 1973 by Tokyu Car Corporation, with the conversion of the cars done at Ōmiya Works. The Hana was designed as a replacement for the aging locomotive-hauled Joyful Trains, the Edo and Nagoyaka, which were also deemed as being too slow in addition to the passenger cars being deemed close to life expiration. The set, initially numbered G6+G7, was completed at Ōmiya Works on 14 March 1997. The set entered operation on 26 April 1997.
Initially stationed at Ōyama Rolling Stock Depot, G6+G7 was moved to Takasaki Rolling Stock Center on 14 March 2015; the same day, the set was renumbered TG02. TG02 ceased operation on 30 October 2022 due to aging; it was then moved to the Kōriyama General Rolling Stock Center for scrapping on 10 November 2022 and scrapped on 11 November 2022.
Formation[]
TG02 was formed as follows:
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
Numbering
KuRo 484-4
MoRo 484-7
MoRo 485-5
MoRo 484-6
MoRo 485-4
KuRo 485-2
Former numbers
KuHa 481-28
MoHa 484-251
MoHa 485-149
MoHa 484-87
MoHa 485-87
KuHa 481-21
All cars are considered "green" first-class cars.
Specifications[]
TG02 was designed to "provide a relaxing and enjoyable space"; to achieve this it sports a newly-fabricated contoured body similar to that of the Utage, with its cross section similar to that of the 215 series. Much of the underfloor equipment remains the same pre-rebuild.
Each car's passenger compartment features a simple design with a woodgrain patterning and a sunken kotatsu structure used to make longer rides more comfortable; a lifting device is provided to make the floor fully flat depending on the purpose. Under one of the car windows is a luggage compartment, with the lid of the luggage compartment also acting as a seat. A sliding shoe rack is installed under the tatami mats, and lighting in each car can be dimmed by up to 30%.
Each car is also fitted with a karaoke machine with remote-controlled song selection, wireless microphone and automatic CD changers. A large observation area is situated behind the driver's cab with two three-seat sofas facing each other. There is a glass partition between the driver's cab and observation area to allow passengers to see the tracks ahead.