HB-E210 series

The HB-E210 series (HB-E210系) is a hybrid diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on Senseki-Tōhoku Line services in the Sendai area since 30 May 2015.[1][2]

HB-E210 series
HB-E210 series set C-3 on the Senseki-Tohoku Line in June 2015
Manufacturer	J-TREC
Built at	Yokohama
Constructed	2014–2015
Entered service	30 May 2015
Number built	16 vehicles (8 sets)
Number in service	16 vehicles (8 sets)
Formation	2 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	C-1–C-8
Capacity	262
Operator(s)	JR East
Depot(s)	Kogota
Line(s) served	Senseki-Tōhoku Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width	2,950 mm (9 ft 8 in)
Height	3,620 mm (11 ft 11 in)
Floor height	1,130 mm (3 ft 8 in)
Doors	3 pairs per side
Maximum speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Traction system	MT78 traction motors (95 kW x 2 per car)
Prime mover(s)	DMF15HZB-G (331 kW x 1 per car)
Safety system(s)	ATS-Ps
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Design

Concept

The HB-E210 series trains were developed from the earlier KiHa E200 type operated on the rural Koumi Line, but with each car having three pairs of sliding doors per side and a mixture of transverse and longitudinal seating better suited to commuter service operations.[2]

Hybrid diesel/battery operation cycle

Each car is equipped with a 331 kW 6-cylinder diesel engine and two banks of lithium-ion batteries with a capacity of 15.2 kWh when new.[3] While at standstill, energy stored in the lithium-ion batteries is used to power auxiliary facilities on the train. On starting from standstill, energy stored in the batteries is used to drive the motors via an inverter, with the engine cut out. The engine then cuts in for further acceleration and running on gradients. When braking, the motor acts as a generator, recharging the batteries.[3]

Livery

The exterior livery consists primarily of blue, the line colour for the Senseki Line, with pink highlights to evoke an image of the cherry blossom trees along the line, and smaller green highlights in JR East's corporate colour.[2]

Bogies

Each car has one DT75B motored bogie (at the Sendai end) and one TR260B trailer bogie (at the Sekimaki end).[3]

• 
  A DT75B motor bogie on the inner end of an HB-E212 car
• 
  A TR260B trailer bogie on the inner end of an HB-E211 car

Operations

An HB-E210 series on the first day of operations on the Senseki-Tōhoku Line, in 30 May 2015

The HB-E210 series trains were introduced on 30 May 2015 on new Senseki-Tōhoku Line through services operating between Sendai and Ishinomaki via a newly built link connecting the Tohoku Main Line and Senseki Line between Shiogama and Takagimachi.[1][2]

Formations

The HB-E210 series fleet consists of eight two-car sets (16 vehicles), formed as shown below, with the HB-E211 car at the Sendai (eastern) end.[3]

Numbering	HB-E211-x	HB-E212-x
Capacity (total/seated)	128/42	134/48
Weight (t)	39.6	38.4

Interior

A view of the interior in December 2015

LED lighting is used throughout.[2] The HB-E211 cars have a universal access toilet at the inner end, and the HB-E212 cars have priority seats at both sides on the inner end.[2] The floor height is 1,130 mm (44 in), compared to the standard platform height of 1,100 mm (43 in) for stations on the Senseki Line and 920 mm (36 in) for stations on the Tohoku Main Line.[2]

History

The first two sets, C-1 and C-2, on delivery from J-TREC in January 2015

The first two trains built by Japan Transport Engineering Company (J-TREC) in Yokohama were originally scheduled to be delivered in November 2014, but the delivery date was postponed until January 2015.[4][5] Test running using the first two sets delivered commenced on 16 January 2015, on the Tohoku Main Line between Kogota and Sendai.[6]

In May 2016, the HB-E210 series was awarded the 2016 Laurel Prize, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club.[7]

Build details

The build histories of individual sets are as follows.

Set No.	Manufacturer	Date delivered
C-1	J-TREC, Yokohama	January 2015[5]
C-2	J-TREC, Yokohama	January 2015[5]
C-3	J-TREC, Yokohama	February 2015
C-4	J-TREC, Yokohama	February 2015
C-5	J-TREC, Yokohama	March 2015[8]
C-6	J-TREC, Yokohama	March 2015[8]
C-7	J-TREC, Yokohama	March 2015[9]
C-8	J-TREC, Yokohama	March 2015[9]

See also

• HB-E300 series, a similar hybrid DMU train type operated by JR East on resort train services
• YC1 series, a hybrid DMU train type to be operated by JR Kyushu from 2018

References

1. "JR東日本に新型車両2形式 - E129系とディーゼルハイブリッド車両HB-E210系" [Two new train types for JR East: E129 series and diesel hybrid HB-210 series]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
2. 　JR東日本 通勤型ハイブリッド車両HB-E210系を公開 [JR East HB-E210 series hybrid commuter train unveiled]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 44 no. 371. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. March 2015. pp. 71–72.
3. HB-E210系ディーゼルハイブリッド車両 [HB-E210 series hybrid DMU]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55 no. 648. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. April 2015. pp. 62–67.
4. 臨時列車運転情報 [Unscheduled train operation information]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 44 no. 369. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. January 2015. p. 86.
5. HB-E210系が甲種輸送される [HB-E210 series delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
6. HB-E210系が東北本線で試運転 [HB-E201 series test run on Tohoku Main Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 17 January 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
7. "2016's Blue Ribbon Prize and Laurel Prize". Japan: Japan Railfan Club. May 2016. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
8. HB-E210系C-5・C-6編成が甲種輸送される [HB-E210 series sets C-5 and C-6 delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 March 2015. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
9. HB-E210系C-7・C-8編成が甲種輸送される [HB-E210 series sets C-7 and C-8 delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 March 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.

Further reading

• HB-E210系一般形ハイブリッド車両 [HB-E210 series hybrid DMU]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55 no. 649. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. May 2015. pp. 48–54.

External links

• JR East press release (2 July 2013) (in Japanese)