Press Releases（Archive）
FY2012 - FY2003

East Japan Railway Company is sequentially replacing old-style commuter and suburban railcars in the Tokyo Metropolitan area with new models, beginning with the most aged rolling stock. We have decided to replace the old-style series 201 cars used mainly on Chuo Line (rapid service) with a new model, the characteristics of which are as follows.

• The new cars incorporate backups for the main equipment, including electric equipment and safety devices. This means the train can continue running even if one out of a pair of devices fails, which enhances reliability and reduces service disruptions.
• The new model offers passengers enhanced comfort and usability. First, Universal Design has been used—the heights of luggage racks and hand straps have been lowered around priority seating and in the women-only car (designated as such only in the morning) and the priority seating areas have been made clearly visible. Air purifiers have also been introduced and seats widened for added comfort.
• The floor has been lowered to reduce the step between the train and the platform, thereby increasing accessibility for all passengers.
• The information display screens featured on Yamanote Line trains have been installed above all doors to provide passengers with service-related information, news and other information. An easy-to-read full-color display has been used to show the destination on the outside of trains, since there are different types of trains running on the Chuo Line and trains run to a variety of destinations.
• Acceleration and deceleration capability of rolling stock has been enhanced to cut journey times, and a wider train body has been used to ease congestion.
• The train body has been made more resilient.

We also asked Chuo Line (rapid service) passengers for their comments. As well as performing group interviews, we invited passengers to answer a postcard questionnaire and also conducted an Internet survey. The results were used in the design of the rolling stock and for making decisions related to equipment inside the train.