Shimōsa (train)

The Shimōsa (しもうさ) is an all-stations train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between Kaihimmakuhari in Chiba Prefecture and Ōmiya in Saitama Prefecture.[1]

Shimousa

JR East E231-0 series EMU set MU35 on a Shimōsa service
Overview
Service type	Local
Locale	Chiba Prefecture and Saitama Prefecture, Japan
First service	4 December 2010
Current operator(s)	JR East
Route
Start	Kaihimmakuhari/Shin-Narashino/Nishi-Funabashi
End	Ōmiya
Line(s) used	Keiyō Line, Musashino Line, Tōhoku Main Line
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard class only
Seating arrangements	Longitudinal
Catering facilities	None
Other facilities	No toilets
Technical
Rolling stock	209-500/E231-0/E231-900 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead

Service pattern

3 services operate everyday, during the morning and evening rush hours. In the morning, 1 train originates from Shin-Narashino to Ōmiya, then returning to Kaihimmakuhari. In the evening, 2 trains originates from Shin-Narashino to Ōmiya, return to Nishi-Funabashi, then heads back to Ōmiya again, and finally return to Shin-Narashino. The timetables for weekdays and weekends are different. As a side note, the morning return train operates a one-stop service after it comes back to Kaihimmakuhari, from Kaihimmakuhari to Shin-Narashino.

Route

The trains to and from Ōmiya use one of the Musashino Line freight branches, which connects the Musashino Line (Musashi-Urawa Station) and the Tōhoku Main Line (Yono Station).[2] It also use parts of the Keiyo Line, from Minami-Funabashi to Kaihimmakuhari.

Stations served

• Ōmiya - Musashi-Urawa - Minami-Urawa - Higashi-Urawa - Higashi-Kawaguchi - Minami-Koshigaya - Koshigaya-Laketown - Yoshikawa - Yoshikawaminami - Shim-Misato - Misato - Minami-Nagareyama - Shim-Matsudo - Shin-Yahashira - Higashi-Matsudo - Ichikawaōno - Funabashihōten - Nishi-Funabashi - Minami-Funabashi - Shin-Narashino - Kaihimmakuhari（※）

※ : Only served by the morning train service

Rolling stock

Services share rolling stock with the Musashino Line and are currently operated by 209-500 series, E231-0 series, or E231-900 series 8-car EMUs with longitudinal seating throughout.[3]

• 
  JR East Musashino Line 209-500 series EMU set M73 at Omiya Station
• 
  Musashino Line 205-0 series on a Shimōsa service, at Minami-Funabashi station

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan
• Shimōsa Province, the service's namesake
• Musashino (train), a similar service linking Ōmiya and the western side of the Musashino Line and also the Chūō Main Line.

References

1. JR Timetable, February 2011 issue
2. "行楽列車"ホリデー快速"と武蔵野線ジャンクション" ["Holiday Rapid" Excursion train and Musashino Line junctions]. Japan Railfan Magazine. No. 439. Japan: Kōyūsha. November 1997. p. 30.
3. "JR北海道・JR東日本　2010年12月4日ダイヤ改正概要" [JR Hokkaido & JR East 4 December 2010 Timetable Revision Overview]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 39 no. 319. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. November 2010. p. 81.