# 215 series

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Japanese train type

215 series 215 series in February 2021 In service 1992–March 2021 Manufacturers Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo Family name Double Decker Liner Constructed 1992–1993 Entered service 4 April 1992 Scrapped 2021 Number built 40 vehicles (4 sets) Number in service None Number preserved None Number scrapped 40 vehicles (4 sets) Formation 10 cars per trainset Fleet numbers NL1–4 Capacity 1010 seated[1] Operator JR East Depot Kōzu Specifications Car body construction Stainless steel Car length 20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in) Width 2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in) Doors 2 per side Maximum speed 120 km/h (75 mph) Traction system Resistor control + field system superimposed field excitation control Electric system 1,500 V DC overhead catenary Current collection PS24 pantograph Safety systems ATS-SN, ATS-P Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The **215 series** (215系) was a [bilevel](/source/Bilevel_rail_car) suburban [electric multiple unit](/source/Electric_multiple_unit) (EMU) train type operated by [East Japan Railway Company](/source/East_Japan_Railway_Company) (JR East) in the [Kantō region](/source/Kant%C5%8D_region) of Japan from 1992[2] to 2021.

## Design

The trains were built jointly by [Hitachi](/source/Hitachi) and [Nippon Sharyo](/source/Nippon_Sharyo).[3] The trains were developed to accommodate the increasing number of long-distance commuters along the [Tōkaidō Main Line](/source/T%C5%8Dkaid%C5%8D_Main_Line) and to provide seated services and express services using the parallel freight lines. The bilevel designs are based on the Green car of the [211 series](/source/211_series) and the prototype Kuha 415-1901 of the [415 series](/source/415_series).

Excluding the leading cars, all cars are bilevel with ordinary-seating cars fitting at most 120 passengers. A set can carry up to 1010 passengers.

As the train was intended to be operated only on the warmer Tōkaidō Main Line, it was not designed to withstand the cold or snow. As such, the train operated on the [Chūō Main Line](/source/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D_Main_Line) only between spring and autumn.

## Formation

All sets consisted of 10 cars with only the first two cars at each end powered. Cars 4 and 5 were "Green" (first class) cars.[4]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Designation Mc M'D TD TSD TD M'D Mc Numbering KuMoHa 215 MoHa 214 SaHa 215-200[* 1] SaRo 214 SaRo 215 SaHa 214 SaHa 215-100[* 2] MoHa 214-100 KuMoHa 215-100

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Car 3 of Set NL1 is numbered SaHa 215-2.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Car 8 of Set NL1 is numbered SaHa 215-1.

## Interior

		- Lower level Green car seating

		- Lower level ordinary class seating

		- Priority seat in lower level ordinary class saloon

## History

The first trainset was delivered in March 1992, and entered service from 4 April 1992[4] on [Tōkaidō Main Line](/source/T%C5%8Dkaid%C5%8D_Main_Line) daytime *Acty* rapid services and evening *[Shōnan Liner](/source/Sh%C5%8Dnan_Liner)* services. Three more sets were delivered in October 1993.[4] The 215 series suffered from multiple issues related to the bilevel design while operating as the *Acty*. The bilevel design meant each car only had two doors on each side of the vehicle, and the 10 car formation was considered short on the Tokaido Main Line which mainly operated with 15-car trains. Due to these problems, it took a considerate amount of time for passengers to get on and off at each stop, and delays became noticeable.

From December 2001, the 215 series fleet was removed from Tōkaidō Line *Acty* services, and reassigned to new [Shōnan-Shinjuku Line](/source/Sh%C5%8Dnan-Shinjuku_Line) services between [Shinjuku](/source/Shinjuku_Station) and [Yokosuka](/source/Yokosuka_Station). Their use on Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services continued until 16 October 2004,[4] from which date all Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services were standardized with [E231 series](/source/E231_series) rolling stock.

From October 2004 onward, scheduled services using 215 series stock were limited to a small number of weekday *[Home Liner](/source/Home_Liner)* services, with only occasional holiday weekend workings, such as the *Holiday Rapid View Yamanashi* on the [Chūō Main Line](/source/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D_Main_Line).[4] The 215 series was ridiculed amongst Japanese railroad fans as the "[NEET](/source/NEET) Liner" as, besides the occasional limited services, the train was often moved between Shinagawa and Kōzu as an out-of-service train.

With the abolition of the *Shōnan Liner* service with the 2021 timetable revision, the 215 series sets were withdrawn from service on 12 March 2021, a day before the timetable revision. No special events were held to mark their withdrawal. No 215 series cars have been preserved, with two sets being scrapped at Nagano General Rolling Stock Center and the other two sets scrapped at the Aomori branch of the Morioka Rolling Stock Center.[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tn29012022_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tn29012022_1-1) ["あぁ～残念！ 博物館入りすることなく廃車に 悲運なJR東日本の車両3選"](https://trafficnews.jp/post/114765/3). *trafficnews.jp* (in Japanese). Mediavague Co., ltd. 29 January 2022. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220129075843/https://trafficnews.jp/post/114765/3) from the original on 29 January 2022. Retrieved 30 January 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-neko2009_2-0)** *JR全車輌ハンドブック2009* [*JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009*]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 267–268. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4-7770-0836-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4-7770-0836-0).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dj359_3-0)** Saka, Masahiro (March 2014). "JR第1世代の車両・現況と概要" [JR 1st-generation rolling stock: Current situation and overview]. *Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine* (in Japanese). **43** (359): 23.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-jrr2011_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-jrr2011_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-jrr2011_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-jrr2011_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-jrr2011_4-4) *JR電車編成表 2011夏* [*JR EMU Formations – Summer 2011*]. Japan: JRR. May 2010. p. 80. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-4-330-21211-1](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-4-330-21211-1).

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [JR East 215](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:JR_East_215).

- [215 series on JR East website](https://web.archive.org/web/20160716115949/http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/215.html) (in Japanese)

v t e Multiple-units of East Japan Railway Company Current / active Shinkansen AC EMUs E2 E3 E5 E6 E7 E8 Conventional lines (Narrow- gauge) DC EMUs Commuter E127 E129 E131 205 209 211 E231 E233 E235 Limited express 253 255 E257 E259 E261 E353 AC/DC EMUs Commuter E501 E531 Limited express E653 E655 E657 AC EMUs Commuter 701 719 E721 Limited express E751 BEMUs DC EV-E301 AC EV-E801 DMUs Diesel KiHa 40 KiHa 100/110 KiHa E120 KiHa E130 KiHa 141 Diesel-electric GV-E400 Hybrid MUs Commuter KiHa E200 HB-E210 HB-E220 Resort/deluxe trains E001 HB-E300 Non-revenue AC EMUs E926 "East-i" E956 DC EMUs 143 145 AC/DC EMUs E491 E493 DMUs Diesel KiYa E193 KiYa E195 Diesel-electric GV-E197 Future Shinkansen AC EMUs E10 Conventional lines AC EMUs E723 Fuel cell EMUs FV-E991 Retired / withdrawn Shinkansen AC EMUs 200 400 E1 E4 Conventional lines DC EMUs Commuter KuMoHa 12 KuMoHa 40 101 103 105 107 113 115 123 201 203 207 E217 301 Limited express 157 165 167 169 183 185 189 215 251 E351 AC/DC EMUs Commuter 403 415 417 453 455 457 Limited express 483 485 489 583 651 AC EMUs 715 717 DMUs KiHa 20 KiHa 30 KiHa 35 KiHa 37 KiHa 38 KiHa 45 KiHa 52 KiHa 58 KiHa 59 Non-revenue AC EMUs 925 STAR21 KuMoYa 740 KuMoYa 743 DC EMUs KuMoYa 90 193 901 E331 E993 AC/DC EMUs KuMoYa 441 443 KuYa 497 E991 DMU KiYa 191 Hybrid MU KiYa E991 DC BEMU E995 Experimental Fastech 360 E331

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