Wakashio

Wakashio
An E257-500 series unit on a Keiyo Line Wakashio service
Overview
Service typeLimited express
LocaleChiba Prefecture
First service15 July 1972
Current operatorJR East
Former operatorJNR
Route
TerminiTokyo
Awa-Kamogawa
Distance travelled132.5 km (82.3 mi)
Service frequency12 return trips daily
Lines usedKeiyo Line, Sotobo Line, Chūō Line, Sōbu 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

Wakashio services operate via the Keiyo Line and Sotobo Line, between Tokyo and Awa-Kamogawa. Some services terminate at Kazusa-Ichinomiya, and some services operate as "Local" all-stations services between Katsuura and Awa-Kamogawa. As of March 2018, all trains pass through Ubara and Awa-Amatsu stations. Trains currently stop at the following stations:

Tokyo - 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 operate to/from Shinjuku instead of Tokyo. These services operate over the Chūō Line and Sōbu Line on weekends "when there is heavy use". As of March 2024, trains no longer stop at Akihabara or Tsudanuma. Trains currently stop at the following stations:

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

Shinjuku Wakashio timetable December 1, 2024

From April 2016 until March 2024, Shinjuku Wakashio services, operating mainly on weekends, stopped at the following stations between Shinjuku and Soga.

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

Rolling stock

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

Past

  • 183 series 9-car EMUs (15 July 1972 – October 2004)
  • 255 series 9-car EMUs (2 July 1993 – 15 March 2024)

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.

5-car E257 series

Car No.12345
Numbering KuHa E257-500MoHa E257-1500MoHa E257-500MoHa E257-500KuHa E257-500
Accommodation ReservedReservedReservedReservedReserved

Past formations

Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series and 255 series EMUs and 10-car E257-500 series EMU with formed as shown below, including one Green car, as shown below.

9-car 183 series

Car No.123456789
Accommodation ReservedReservedReservedGreenNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved
  • All cars except the Green car were non-reserved for Ohayo Wakashio and Hometown Wakashio services.

9-car 255 series

Car No.123456789
Numbering KuHa 254MoHa 254MoHa 255SaRo 255SaHa 254SaHa 255MoHa 254MoHa 255KuHa 255
Accommodation ReservedReservedReservedGreenReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

5+5-car E257 series

Car No.12345678910
Numbering KuHa E256-500MoHa E257-1500MoHa E256-500MoHa E257-500KuHa E257-500KuHa E256-500MoHa E257-1500MoHa E256-500MoHa E257-500KuHa E257-500
Accommodation Non-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

History

The Wakashio service commenced on 15 July 1972, using 183 series EMUs. Evening Hometown Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 16 March 1991, operating from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya. New 255 series EMUs were introduced from 2 July 1993, initially branded as View Wakashio. Morning Oyaho Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 3 December 1994, operating from Kazusa-Ichinomiya to Tokyo. New E257-500 series EMUs were introduced from 16 October 2004, displacing the remaining 183 series trainsets. From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Wakashio services were made entirely no-smoking.

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

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.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 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.
  2. ↑ Information about schedule change in March 2017- EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch、2017-12-15
  3. 1 2 3 JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. April 2016. pp. 95–95, 984.
  4. 1 2 "20231215_c01.pdf" (PDF). East Japan Railway Company. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  5. ↑ "「特急 新宿わかしお号」から「特急 新宿わかしお1・2号」＆秋葉原・津田沼は通過へ(2024.3.17)". 列車とともに「こぼれ話」. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
  6. 1 2 "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.
  7. 1 2 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.
  8. ↑ 千葉を走る列車＞わかしお：EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch (Japanese)
  9. 1 2 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.
  10. ↑ 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 130.
  11. 1 2 3 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.
  12. 1 2 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.