Press Releases（Archive）
Green Car Service Started on Joban Line Local (Suburban) Trains, Green Car Service Expanded on Utsunomiya and Takasaki Lines
East Japan Railway Company
March 7, 2006
Green
car (first-class) service is currently provided on local trains of the Shonan-Shinjuku, Tokaido, Yokosuka, Sobu (Rapid), Utsunomiya, and Takasaki lines.
Because this service has been so popular among passengers, we will add two double-deck Green cars to suburban trains on the Joban Line for service starting around spring 2007.
Green car service has also been popular on the Utsunomiya and Takasaki lines, so by July 2006, Green cars will be added to all trains arriving at and departing from Ueno. With this expanded service, there is no need to choose a particular train to enjoy first-class service.
I. Joban Line
- Trains and sections of the line scheduled for addition of Green cars
- All suburban trains arriving at and departing from Ueno Station, on the section between Ueno and Takahagi
- Car introduction plan
- Introduction will be focused on new Series E531 trains. Green cars are being added as the fourth and fifth cars from the Ueno end.
- Green cars will be placed in service gradually from early 2007, but until the official introduction of Green cars begins (around spring 2007), they will be operated as ordinary cars. We invite passengers to try Green cars for themselves during this initial period to enjoy the comfortable ride.
- Train configuration
Series E531 trains (comprising 15 or 10 cars)
Green cars will be added as the fourth and fifth cars from the Ueno end.
- Onboard service
- The "Green Car Suica System," popular on the Shonan-Shinjuku, Utsunomiya, and Takasaki lines, will be introduced. Onboard tickets will be phased out.
- "Green Attendants" will provide drinks and other refreshments during onboard service.
II. Utsunomiya and Takasaki Lines
- Green cars to be added to all trains
- Although we had planned to add Green cars to 80% of trains on the Utsunomiya and Takasaki lines (that is, trains arriving at and departing from Ueno) by early fiscal 2006, as announced in July 2003 and May 2004, Green car service has been so popular that Green cars will be added to all trains by around July 2006.
- Car introduction plan and other details
- 110 cars will be manufactured for Series E231 trains, and trains without Green cars will be replaced.
- Along with these changes, more trains will run on the Utsunomiya and Takasaki lines in 15-car configurations. Station platforms between Jichiidai and Utsunomiya on the Utsunomiya Line will be extended, and the section of the line equipped for 15-car trains will be extended from between Ueno and Koganei to between Ueno and Utsunomiya.
- Train configuration
Series E231 trains (comprising 15 or 10 cars)
Green cars will be added as the fourth and fifth cars from the Ueno end.
Reference: Background of Green car deployment on Greater Tokyo lines
| • May 1969 | First-class cars on Tokaido and Yokosuka lines were renamed "Green cars" |
| • October 1980 | Green cars were added to Sobu Rapid Service trains with the start of through service on the Yokosuka Line |
| • March 1989 | The first double-deck Green cars were added to the Tokaido Line |
| • March 1990 | Double-deck Green cars were added to the Yokosuka and Sobu Rapid Service lines. |
| • July 2004 | Double-deck Green cars were added to the Utsunomiya
and Takasaki lines. (These were operated as ordinary cars until October.) |
| • October 2004 | Double-deck Green cars were added to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line. |
Reference 1
Green Car Service on Greater Tokyo Lines
Reference 2
Green Cars of New Series E531 Train
Note: The actual exterior appearance will be different.
