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Wakashio

{{Short description|Japanese limited express train service}}

{{italic title}}

{{about|the train service|other uses|Wakashio (disambiguation)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Wakashio

| image = Series-E257-500-NB18.jpg

| image_width = 300px

| caption = An E257-500 series unit on a Keiyo Line Wakashio service

| type = Limited express

| status =

| locale = Chiba Prefecture

| predecessor =

| first = 15 July 1972

| last =

| successor =

| operator = JR East

| formeroperator= JNR

| ridership =

| start = {{STN|Tokyo|x}}

| stops =

| end = {{STN|Awa-Kamogawa|x}}

| distance = {{Convert|132.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| journeytime =

| frequency = 12 return trips daily

| trainnumber =

| line_used = Keiyo Line, Sotobo Line

| class =

| access =

| seating =

| catering = Trolley service

| observation =

| entertainment=

| otherfacilities=

| stock = E257-500 series EMU

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

| el = 1,500 V DC overhead

| speed = {{Convert|120|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}

| owners =

| routenumber =

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The {{nihongo|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 {{STN|Tokyo|x}} to {{STN|Kazusa-Ichinomiya|x}} and {{STN|Awa-Kamogawa|x}} on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.

Station stops

Wakashio services operate over the Keiyo Line and Sotobo Line, stopping at the following stations.{{cite book | title=JR Timetable | publisher=Kotsu Shimbunsha | date=April 2016 | location=Japan | pages=95–95, 984 }} Some services terminate at Kazusa-Ichinomiya, and some services operate as "Local" all-stations services between Katsuura and Awa-Kamogawa. {{As of|2018|March}}, all trains pass through Ubara and Awa-Amatsu stations.[http://www.jreast.co.jp/chiba/news/pdf/pre1712_20171215-2018kaisei.pdf Information about schedule change in March 2017]- EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch、2017-12-15

{{STN|Tokyo|x}} -

{{STN|Shin-Kiba|x}}※-

{{STN|Kaihimmakuhari|x}}※ - {{STN|Soga|x}} - {{STN|Toke|x}}※ - {{STN|Ōami|x}} - {{STN|Mobara|x}} - {{STN|Kazusa-Ichinomiya|x}} - {{STN|Ōhara|x|Chiba}} - {{STN|Onjuku|x}} - {{STN|Katsuura|x}} - {{STN|Kazusa-Okitsu|x}}※ - {{STN|Awa-Kominato|x}} - {{STN|Awa-Kamogawa|x}}


※:Some trains pass through these stations.

Shinjuku Wakashio services, which operate to/from Shinjuku instead of Tokyo, operate on weekends "when there is heavy use".{{Cite web |title=20231215_c01.pdf |url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/chiba/20231215_c01.pdf |access-date=2024-12-04 |website=East Japan Railway Company}} {{As of|2024|March}}, trains no longer stop at Akihabara or Tsudanuma.{{Cite web |title=「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) |url=https://taka110.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2024/03/post-1d539a.html |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=列車とともに「こぼれ話」}} Trains now stop at the following stations:

{{STN|Shinjuku|x}} - {{STN|Kinshichō|x}} - {{STN|Funabashi|x}} - {{STN|Chiba|x}} - {{STN|Soga|x}} ... {{STN|Awa-Kamogawa|x}}

File:Shinjuku wakashio 2024-12-01.png

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

{{STN|Shinjuku|x}} - {{STN|Akihabara|x}} - {{STN|Kinshichō|x}} - {{STN|Funabashi|x}} - {{STN|Tsudanuma|x}} - {{STN|Chiba|x}} - {{STN|Soga|x}} ... {{STN|Awa-Kamogawa|x}}

Rolling stock

Wakashio services are operated using Makuhari-based 5-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.{{cite book | script-title=ja: JR新幹線＆特急列車ファイル |trans-title= JR Shinkansen & Limited Express Train File| publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun | year = 2008 | location = Japan | page = 66| isbn = 978-4-330-00608-6}}

=Past=

  • 183 series 9-car EMUs (15 July 1972 – October 2004)
  • 255 series 9-car EMUs (2 July 1993 – 15 March 2024{{cite web |title=2023【ダイヤ改正日】 2024年3月16日（土） - JR東日本 (PDF) |trans-title=2023[Timetable revision date] Saturday, March 16, 2024 - JR East |url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/chiba/20231215_c01.pdf |publisher=JR East |access-date=22 December 2023 |language=Japanese |date=15 December 2023}})

File:183 Wakashio 20020503.jpg|A 183 series EMU in May 2002

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.{{cite book |script-title=ja: JR電車編成表 2012冬 |trans-title= JR EMU Formations - Winter 2012| publisher = JRR | date = October 2011 | location = Japan | pages = 50–51| isbn = 978-4-330-25611-5}}[https://www.jreast.co.jp/chiba/railinfo/train/wakashio.html 千葉を走る列車＞わかしお：EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch (Japanese)]

=5-car E257 series=

class="wikitable"
Car No.style="background: #FFF2E6"| 1style="background: #FFF2E6"| 2style="background: #FFF2E6"|3style="background: #FFF2E6"| 4style="background: #FFF2E6"| 5
Numbering

| style="background: #FFFAF5"| KuHa E257-500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa E257-1500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa E257-500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa E257-500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| KuHa E257-500

Accommodation

| style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved

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.{{cite book | script-title=ja: こだわりの新幹線＆特急列車ガイド |trans-title= In-depth Shinkansen & Limited Express Guide| publisher = Ikaros Publishing| date = August 2000 | location = Japan| pages = 84–85| isbn = 4-87149-284-2}}

=9-car 183 series=

class="wikitable"
Car No.style="background: #FFF2E6"| 1style="background: #FFF2E6"| 2style="background: #FFF2E6"| 3style="background: #E6FFE6"| 456789
Accommodation

| style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #F5FFF5"| Green || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved

  • All cars except the Green car were non-reserved for Ohayo Wakashio and Hometown Wakashio services.

=9-car 255 series=

class="wikitable"
Car No.style="background: #FFF2E6"| 1style="background: #FFF2E6"| 2style="background: #FFF2E6"| 3style="background: #E6FFE6"| 4style="background: #FFF2E6"|56789
Numbering

| style="background: #FFFAF5"| KuHa 254 ||style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 254 ||style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa 255 || style="background: #F5FFF5"| SaRo 255 || style="background: #FFFAF5"|SaHa 254 || SaHa 255 || MoHa 254 || MoHa 255 || KuHa 255

Accommodation

| style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved || style="background: #F5FFF5"| Green || style="background: #FFFAF5"|Reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved

=5+5-car E257 series=

class="wikitable"
Car No.123style="background: #FFF2E6"|4style="background: #FFF2E6"| 5style="background: #FFF2E6"| 6style="background: #FFF2E6"| 7style="background: #FFF2E6"| 8910
Numbering

| KuHa E256-500 || MoHa E257-1500 || MoHa E256-500 ||style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa E257-500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| KuHa E257-500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| KuHa E256-500 || style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa E257-1500 ||style="background: #FFFAF5"| MoHa E256-500 || MoHa E257-500 || KuHa E257-500

Accommodation

| Non-reserved || Non-reserved || Non-reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved || style="background: #FFFAF5"| Reserved|| Non-reserved || Non-reserved

History

The Wakashio service commenced on 15 July 1972, using 183 series EMUs.{{cite book | script-title=ja: 列車名鑑1995 |trans-title= Train Name Directory 1995| publisher = Railway Journal| date = August 1995 | location = Japan| page = 130}} Evening Hometown Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 16 March 1991, operating from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya.{{cite book| last = Teramoto | first = Mitsuteru | script-title=ja: 国鉄・ＪＲ列車名大辞典 |trans-title= JNR & JR Train Name Encyclopedia| publisher = Chuoshoin Publishing Co., Ltd. | date = July 2001 | location = Tokyo, Japan | pages = 608–609| isbn = 4-88732-093-0}}

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.{{cite web |url= http://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/national/news/CK2014032502000261.html|script-title=ja:房総特急　引き潮　高速道充実で利用者減少|trans-title= Boso limited expresses ebbing: Passenger numbers falling due to improved expressway network|date= 25 March 2015|work= Tokyo Shimbun Web|publisher= The Chunichi Shimbun|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 26 March 2014 }} 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.{{cite web |title=2023【ダイヤ改正日】 2024年3月16日（土） - JR東日本 (PDF) |trans-title=2023[Timetable revision date] Saturday, March 16, 2024 - JR East |url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/chiba/20231215_c01.pdf |publisher=JR East |access-date=22 December 2023 |language=Japanese |date=15 December 2023}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category}}

  • [http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/express/255.html JR East 255 series Shiosai/Wakashio/Sazanami] {{in lang|ja}}
  • [http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/express/257wakashio.html JR East E257 series Wakashio/Sazanami/Shiosai/Ayame] {{in lang|ja}}

{{JR East trains}}

Category:Named passenger trains of Japan

Category:East Japan Railway Company

Category:Railway services introduced in 1972

Category:1972 establishments in Japan