E259 series

E259 series
Ne003 and Ne012 in August 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kinki Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Designer(s)	Kenji Ekuan
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Family name	N'EX
Constructed	2009 – 2010
Number built	132 cars
Dimensions	827 in (21,000 mm) (end cars) × 116 in (2,946 mm) × 144 in (3,655 mm)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Variable frequency (2-level IGBT)
Service information
In service	1 October 2009 – Present
Branding	N'EX
Formation	6 cars per set
Number in service	132 cars
Fleet numbers	Ne001 – Ne022
Preservation information
Preserved	0
Number scrapped	0

The E259 series, branded N'EX, is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the East Japan Railway Company since October 2009.

History

Branded N'EX, the E259 series sets were introduced to cope with the expected increase in ridership on the Narita Express services with the introduction of a new runway at the Narita Airport, in addition to replacing the 253 series sets on the Narita Express services. The E259 series sets were also designed to compete with the Keisei AE series sets which were designed for a similar purpose.

The first sets, Ne001 and Ne002, were delivered in April 2009; the sets began operation on 1 October 2009, slightly earlier than scheduled, with more sets delivered over the coming months and sequentially put into service. All twenty-two six-car sets are in service and are based at Kamakura Depot.

As mentioned earlier in the article, the E259 series sets are almost exclusively used on the Narita Express airport rail link service, and were designed as such for said purpose; there are no known occurrences of E259 series sets being used on standard limited express services. Set Ne002 is also used on seasonal Marine Express Odoriko services.

Design

The E259 series uses a slightly streamlined design with a "polar white" body with "horizontal carmine" (red), "stratosphere gray" and "cosmic black" accents. The "polar white" body is supposed to evoke the color of the arctic, the "horizontal carmine" accents are supposed to evoke the color of the horizon when the sun rises, the "stratosphere gray" accents are supposed to evoke the color of the stratosphere and the "cosmic black" accents are supposed to evoke the color of the universe. The N'EX logo and an airplane can be seen splashed on the cab cars. The end cars have gangways, which allows two six-car sets to couple together for twelve-car formations. The sets were designed by famed industrial designer Kenji Ekuan of GK Design Group.

Set Ne002 is slightly special in that it is used for Marine Express Odoriko seasonal services; a small Marine Express Odoriko logo can be found below the large airplane seen splashed on the front. Only set Ne002 has this sticker; this sticker cannot be found on any other set. Due to this, the set is sometimes nicknamed M'EX, short for Marine Express Odoriko.

The sets were given a new livery in 2023, featuring brushed silver accents and large "SERIES E259" logos on the sides and on the front, along with the N'EX logos.

Specifications

Construction is of steel. End cars are 21 meters long while intermediate cars are 20.5 meters long. The train's traction system consists of two-level insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives manufactured by Hitachi which make a loud hissing sound as the train accelerates from idle.

The headlights of the E259 series sets are a combination of a high-intensity discharge and shield beam headlight setup, while the taillights are LED fixtures.

The E259 series is equipped with a later version of a musical horn that is standard on most of JR East's Limited Express fleet. The musical horn is usually blasted when a set is about to depart.

Gallery

Old livery

Set Ne-002 on a Marine Express Odoriko service in 2012

References

• Wikipedia.org