Wakashio

This article is about the train service. For other uses, see Wakashio (disambiguation).

Wakashio
An E257-500 series unit on a Keiyo Line Wakashio service
Overview
Service typeLimited express
LocaleChiba Prefecture
First service15 July 1972
Current operator(s)JR East
Former operator(s)JNR
Route
TerminiTokyo
Awa-Kamogawa
Distance travelled132.5 km (82.3 mi)
Service frequency12 return trips daily
Line(s) usedKeiyo Line, Sotobo Line
On-board services
Catering facilitiesTrolley service
Technical
Rolling stockE257-500 series EMU
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed120 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 Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.

Station stops

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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] From March 2018, all trains pass through Ubara and Awa-Amatsu stations.[3]

Tokyo - Shin-Kiba※- Kaihimmakuhari※ - Soga - Toke※ - Ōami - Mobara - Kazusa-Ichinomiya - Ōhara - Onjuku - Katsuura - Kazusa-Okitsu※ - Awa-Kominato - Awa-Kamogawa
※:Some trains pass through these stations.

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

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

Rolling stock

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

Past

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  • 183 series 9-car EMUs (15 July 1972 – October 2004)
  • 255 series 9-car EMUs (since 2 July 1993 – 15 March 2024[4])
  • A 183 series EMU in May 2002
    A 183 series EMU in May 2002

Formations

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Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.[1][5][6]

9-car 255 series

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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 Reserved Reserved Reserved Green Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

5-car E257 series

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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 Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

5+5-car E257 series

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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 Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Reserved Non-reserved Non-reserved

Past formations

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Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs with formed as shown below, including one Green car, as shown below.[7]

9-car 183 series

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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
  • All cars except the Green car were non-reserved for Ohayo Wakashio and Hometown Wakashio services.[7]

History

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The Wakashio service commenced on 15 July 1972, using 183 series EMUs.[8] Evening Hometown Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 16 March 1991, operating from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya.[9] New 255 series EMUs were introduced from 2 July 1993, initially branded as View Wakashio.[9] Morning Oyaho Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 3 December 1994, operating from Kazusa-Ichinomiya to Tokyo.[9] 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.[5]

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.[10] From the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision, the number of services was reduced from 15 to 13 return workings daily.[10]

With the timetable revision on 16 March 2024, the number of Wakashio services is scheduled to reduce again and all remaining regular services will only operate as 5-car formations using E257 series trains. As a result, 9- and 10-car trainsets will cease to run on these services. In addition, services to/from Shinjuku will only operate on selected Saturdays and holidays.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. April 2016. pp. 95–95, 984.
  2. ^ a b c 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. ^ Information about schedule change in March 2017- EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch、2017-12-15
  4. ^ a b "2023【ダイヤ改正日】 2024年3月16日（土） - JR東日本 (PDF)" [2023[Timetable revision date] Saturday, March 16, 2024 - JR East] (PDF) (in Japanese). JR East. 15 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ 千葉を走る列車＞わかしお：EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch (Japanese)
  7. ^ a b 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.
  8. ^ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 130.
  9. ^ a b c 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.
  10. ^ a b 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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