Wakashio

Wakashio

An E257-500 series EMU on a Wakashio service in July 2010
Overview
Service type Limited express
Locale Chiba Prefecture
First service 15 July 1972
Current operator(s) JR East
Former operator(s) JNR
Route
Start Tokyo
End Awa-Kamogawa
Distance travelled 132.5 km (82.3 mi)
Service frequency 12 return trips daily
Line used Keiyo Line, Sotobo Line
On-board services
Catering facilities Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock 255 series, E257-500 series EMUs
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed 120 km/h (75 mph)

The Wakashio (わかしお) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya and Awa-Kamogawa on the Boso Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.

Station stops

Wakashio services operate over the Keiyo Line and Sotobo Line, stopping at the following stations.[1] Some services terminate at Kazusa-Ichinomiya, and some services operate as "Local" all-stations services between Katsuura and Awa-Kamogawa.[2]

Tokyo - Kaihimmakuhari - Soga - Toke - Ōami - Mobara - Kazusa-Ichinomiya - Ōhara - Onjuku - Katsuura - Ubara - Kazusa-Okitsu - Awa-Kominato - Awa-Amatsu - Awa-Kamogawa

Shinjuku Wakashio services, operating mainly at weekends only, stop at the following stations between Shinjuku and Soga.[1]

Shinjuku - Akihabara - Kinshichō - Funabashi - Tsudanuma - Chiba - Soga ... Awa-Kamogawa

Rolling stock

Wakashio services are operated using Makuhari-based 9-car 255 series EMU and 5- or 10-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.[2]

Past

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.[1][3]

9-car 255 series

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Numbering KuHa 254 MoHa 254 MoHa 255 SaRo 255 SaHa 254 SaHa 255 MoHa 254 MoHa 255 KuHa 255
Accommodation Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Green Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

5-car E257 series

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5
Numbering KuHa E256-500 MoHa E257-1500 MoHa E256-500 MoHa E257-500 KuHa E257-500
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

Car 1 is non-reserved on some services, and car 3 is reserved on some services.[1]

5+5-car E257 series

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Numbering KuHa E256-500 MoHa E257-1500 MoHa E256-500 MoHa E257-500 KuHa E257-500 KuHa E256-500 MoHa E257-1500 MoHa E256-500 MoHa E257-500 KuHa E257-500
Accommodation Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

Past formations

Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs with formed as shown below, including one Green car, as shown below.[4]

9-car 183 series

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Accommodation Reserved Reserved Reserved Green Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

History

The Wakashio service commenced on 15 July 1972, using 183 series EMUs.[5] Evening Hometown Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 16 March 1991, operating from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya.[6] New 255 series EMUs were introduced from 2 July 1993, initially branded as View Wakashio.[6] Morning Oyaho Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 3 December 1994, operating from Kazusa-Ichinomiya to Tokyo.[6] New E257-500 series EMUs were introduced from 16 October 2004, displacing the remaining 183 series trainsets.[2] From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Wakashio services were made entirely no-smoking.[3]

The opening of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line road across the Tokyo Bay in 1997 saw increased competition from long-distance bus services offering cheaper fares, resulting in decreasing ridership figures on the Wakashio services.[7] From the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision, the number of services was reduced from 15 to 13 return workings daily.[7]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. April 2016. p. 95-95, 984.
  2. 1 2 3 JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル [JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File]. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 2008. p. 66. ISBN 978-4-330-00608-6.
  3. 1 2 JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2012]. Japan: JRR. October 2011. pp. 50–51. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.
  4. 1 2 こだわりの新幹線＆特急列車ガイド [In-depth Shinkansen & Limited Express Guide]. Japan: Ikaros Publishing. August 2000. pp. 84–85. ISBN 4-87149-284-2.
  5. ↑ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 130.
  6. 1 2 3 Teramoto, Mitsuteru (July 2001). 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 [JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia]. Tokyo, Japan: Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 608–609. ISBN 4-88732-093-0.
  7. 1 2 房総特急　引き潮　高速道充実で利用者減少 [Boso limited expresses ebbing: Passenger numbers falling due to improved expressway network]. Tokyo Shimbun Web (in Japanese). Japan: The Chunichi Shimbun. 25 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
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