{{Short description|Japanese train type}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox train | name = E501 series | image = File:Series-E501-K701.jpg | caption = A 10-car E501 series formation on a Jōban Line service, January 2020 | service = 1995–Present | manufacturer = [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]], [[Tokyu Car Corporation]] | factory = | family = | replaced = [[401 series]] | yearconstruction = 1995–1997 | yearservice = December 1995 | refurbishment = 2011–2012 | yearscrapped = 2024– | numberconstruction = | numberbuilt = 60 vehicles | numberservice = 45 vehicles (5 sets) (JR East) | numberpreserved = | numberscrapped = 5 vehicles (1 set) | formation = 5/10 cars per trainset | fleetnumbers = K701–K704, K751–K754 | capacity = | operator = {{plainlist| *{{ric|JR East|name=y}} *{{Ric|JR Kyushu|name=y}} (future) }} | depots = Katsuta | lines = {{plainlist| *{{Rcb|JR East|Joban|square}} *{{Rcb|JR East|Mito|square}} }} | carbody = Stainless steel | carlength = {{Plainlist| * {{Convert|20420|mm|ftin|abbr=on}} (end cars) * {{Convert|20000|mm|ftin|abbr=on}} (intermediate cars) }} | width = {{Convert|2890|mm|ftin|abbr=on}} | height = | floorheight = | doors = 4 pairs per side | maxspeed = {{Convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} | weight = | acceleration = {{Cvt|2.0|km/h/s}} | deceleration = {{Cvt|4.2|km/h/s}} | traction = Original: [[Gate turn-off thyristor|GTO]]–[[VVVF]] ([[Siemens Mobility|Siemens]])<br />Current: [[IGBT]]–VVVF ([[Toshiba]]) | traction motors = MT70 3-phase AC induction motor | poweroutput = {{convert|120|kW|0|abbr=on}} × 4 per motored car | transmission = Gear Ratio: 16:97 | aux = | powersupply = | hvac = | electricsystem = {{1,500 V DC}} / {{20 kV 50 Hz}} ([[overhead catenary]]) | collectionmethod = [[Pantograph (transport)|Pantograph]] | bogies = | brakes = | safety = ATS-PS | coupling = | multipleworking = | gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}} }}
The {{Nihongo|'''E501 series'''|E501系}} is a dual-voltage AC/DC [[electric multiple unit]] (EMU) train type operated on local services by [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East) in Japan since December 1995.<ref name="haraguchi2009">{{cite book |last = Haraguchi|first = Takayuki |title = Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: ＪＲ全車両 |publisher = Sekai Bunka |date = 2009 |location = Japan |page = 89|isbn = 978-4-418-09905-4}}</ref>
==Design== Built jointly by [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] and [[Tokyu Car]],<ref name="dj359">{{cite magazine| last = Saka| first = Masahiro| title = JR第1世代の車両・現況と概要|trans-title=JR 1st-generation rolling stock: Current situation and overview|magazine=Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine | volume = 43| issue = 359| page =22| publisher = Kōtsū Shimbun | location = Japan |language= ja| date = March 2014}}</ref> the design is derived from the [[209 series]] commuter EMU, and were initially operated as 10+5-car formations on [[Jōban Line]] services out of {{STN|Ueno|x}} in Tokyo, but were modified with the addition of toilets and transferred to Jōban Line and [[Mito Line]] local services in the Mito area from March 2007.<ref name="neko2009">{{cite book |title = JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 |trans-title=JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009|publisher = Neko Publishing |date = 2009 |location = Japan |pages = 391–392|isbn = 978-4-7770-0836-0}}</ref>
==Formations== ===10-car sets=== As of 1 October 2018, four ten-car sets (K701–K704) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with four motored ("M") cars and six non-powered trailer ("T") cars.<ref name="jrr2019_winter">{{cite book |script-title=ja: JR電車編成表 2019冬 |trans-title= JR EMU Formations - Winter 2019 |publisher = Kotsu Shimbunsha |date = 14 November 2018 |location = Japan |isbn = 978-4-330-93218-7}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" |- |style="background-color:#ccc;"| |colspan="10"|<div style="float:left;">← Haranomachi</div><div style="float:right;">Tsuchiura →</div> |-style="line-height: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF;" |colspan="11" style="padding:0; border:0;"| |-style="line-height: 7px; background-color: #339999;" |colspan="11" style="padding:0; border:0;"| |- ! Car No. !! 10 !! 9 !! 8 !! 7 !! 6 !! 5 !! 4 !! 3 !! 2 !! 1 |- ! Designation | Tc || T || M || M' || T' || T || T || M || M' || Tc' |- ! Numbering | KuHa E501-0 || SaHa E501-0 || MoHa E501-0 || MoHa E500-0 || SaHa E500-0 || SaHa E501-0 || SaHa E501-0 || MoHa E501-0 || MoHa E500-0 || KuHa E500-1000 |} * Cars 3 and 8 each have one single-arm pantograph.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> * Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> * Cars 1 and 10 each have a [[universal design]] toilet.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> * Car 8 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/>
===5-car sets=== As of 1 October 2018, four five-car sets (K751–K754) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with two motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/>
{| class="wikitable" |- |style="background-color:#ccc;"| |colspan="5"|<div style="float:left;">← Haranomachi</div><div style="float:right;">Oyama, Tsuchiura →</div> |-style="line-height: 3px; background-color: #FFFFFF;" |colspan="6" style="padding:0; border:0;"| |-style="line-height: 7px; background-color: #339999;" |colspan="6" style="padding:0; border:0;"| |- ! Car No. !! 5 !! 4 !! 3 !! 2 !! 1 |- ! Designation | Tc || T || M || M' || Tc' |- ! Numbering | KuHa E501-1000 || SaHa E501-0 || MoHa E501-0 || MoHa E500-0 || KuHa E500-0 |} * Cars 3 has one single-arm pantograph.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> * Cars 1 and 5 have a wheelchair space.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> * Cars 1 has a [[universal design]] toilet.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> * Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/>
==Interior== <gallery> File:E501syanai.JPG|Interior view, January 2007 </gallery>
==History== The first 10+5-car train was originally scheduled to be delivered in time for entry into service from the March 1995 timetable revision, but deliveries from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in [[Kobe]] were delayed until May due to the effects of the [[Great Hanshin earthquake]] in January of that year.<ref name="neko2009"/> The first trains ultimately entered revenue service from the start of the 1 December 1995 timetable revision.<ref name="jrr2014_summer">{{cite book |title = JR電車編成表 2014夏 |trans-title=JR EMU Formations - Summer 2014 |publisher = Kotsu Shimbunsha |date = 30 May 2014 |location = Japan |page =43 |isbn = 978-4-330-46614-9}}</ref><ref name="jrr2019_winter"/>
Between September and October 2006, modifications were made to the side windows to allow some windows to be opened.<ref name="jrr2014_summer"/> From October 2006, the fleet underwent modifications to add toilets, and from the start of the 18 March 2007 timetable revision, the E501 series trains were displaced from Jōban Line services out of Ueno by [[E531 series]] sets, and were transferred to local services on the Jōban Line north of {{STN|Tsuchiura|x}} and on the [[Mito Line]].<ref name="neko2009"/> Between 2011 and 2012, the fleet underwent a life-extension refurbishment programme, which involved replacing electrical and brake equipment.<ref name="jrr2014_summer"/> These trains were originally equipped with Siemens GTO-VVVF propulsion systems, which were similar to the [[Keikyu 2100 series]] and also produced a "[[do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do]]" scale when starting up. As part of the refurbishment, the propulsion system was changed to Toshiba IGBT-VVVF.
Between December 2014 and December 2015, all PS29 lozenge-type pantographs were replaced with single-arm pantographs.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/>
Scrapping of the E501 series fleet commenced in August 2024, starting with 5-car set K751.<ref>{{cite journal |title=JR東日本 車両のうごき（8月分） |trans-title=JR East vehicle movement (August) |journal=Japan Railfan Magazine |date=2024 |volume=764 |issue=December 2024 Issue |page=140 |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=Japanese}}</ref>
<gallery> File:L25 ME501-7.jpg|Intermediate motor car MoHa E501-7 showing the modified opening side windows, February 2009 File:JREast-E501car11-car12.JPG|The blocked-off window next to the retro-fitted toilet, January 2007 File:E501 K752 in Mito Line.jpg|5-car set K752 in December 2008 </gallery>
=== <span class="anchor" id="501 series"></span> Transfer to JR Kyushu === [[File:E501系JR九州譲渡回送.jpg|thumb|E501 series sets being delivered to JR Kyushu]] In September 2025, four cars each from sets K752 and K753 were transferred to [[Kyushu Railway Company]] (JR Kyushu).<ref name="railfan13092025">{{cite web |url=https://railf.jp/news/2025/09/13/000500.html |title=E501系8両が九州へ甲種輸送される |trans-title= |date=13 September 2025 |work=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=Japanese |access-date=13 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250913173118/https://railf.jp/news/2025/09/13/000500.html |archive-date=13 September 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2026-04-27 |title= |script-title=ja:「501系・415系車両見学会」開催 |trans-title="501 series and 415 series vehicle tour" held |url=https://railf.jp/news/2026/04/27/010000.html |access-date=2026-04-27 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |language=ja |publication-place=Japan}}</ref> JR Kyushu stated that the transferred sets would replace life-expired [[415-1500 series]] sets on services running through the [[Kanmon Railway Tunnel]], albeit on a provisional basis.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-10-21 |title= |script-title=ja:九州へ運ばれた「常磐線の電車」使い道あきらかに 予想は的中も「ただし…」とJR九州幹部 |trans-title=The purpose of the "Joban Line train" transported to Kyushu has been revealed; the prediction was correct, but a JR Kyushu executive added, "However..." |url=https://trafficnews.jp/post/597376 |access-date=2026-05-01 |website=Traffic News |publisher=Mediavague |language=ja |publication-place=Japan}}</ref> One set was reclassified as {{Nihongo|'''501 series'''|501系}} and received the fleet number "HM-1".<ref name=":0" />
==Build details== The build details for the fleet are as shown below.<ref name="jrr2019_winter"/> {| class="wikitable" |- ! Set No. !! Manufacturer !! Delivered !! Toilet added !! Refurbished !! Pantograph changed to single-arm !! Remarks |- | K701 || rowspan="3" | [[Kawasaki Heavy Industries]] || 23 May 1995 || 21 February 2007 || 20 January 2012 || 27 November 2015 || |- | K702 || 20 February 1997 || 26 October 2006 || 5 November 2012 || 29 October 2015 || |- | K703 || 6 March 1997 || 20 November 2006 || 27 March 2012 || 24 December 2015 || |- | K704 || rowspan="2" | [[Tokyu Car]] || 18 March 1997 || 3 October 2006 || 26 January 2011 || 13 February 2015 || |- | K751 || 28 March 1995 || 31 January 2007 || 21 August 2011 || 25 December 2014 || Scrapped in August 2024 |- | K752 || rowspan="2" | Kawasaki Heavy Industries || 21 February 1997 || 9 November 2006 || 21 May 2011 || 27 December 2014 || rowspan="2"| Transferred to JR Kyushu in September 2025<ref>{{cite web |url=https://rail.hobidas.com/rmnews/524838/ |title=JR九州譲渡のJR東日本E501系K752編成+K753編成8両を甲種輸送 |trans-title=8 JR East E501 series cars from sets K752 + K753 transferred to JR Kyushu |website=RM News |publisher=Neko Publishing |location=Japan |language=ja |date=10 September 2025 |access-date=14 September 2025}}</ref> |- | K753 || 7 March 1997 || 6 December 2006 || 25 April 2011 || 5 December 2014 |- | K754 || Tokyu Car || 19 March 1997 || 22 January 2007 || 1 September 2011 || 24 December 2014 || Converted to ''E501 SAKIGAKE'' train in October 2023<ref name="SAKIGAKE"/> |}
==''E501 SAKIGAKE''== [[File:E501 SAKIGAKE Hitachi-20250830.jpg|thumb|The ''E501 SAKIGAKE'' set in August 2025]] On 25 October 2023, JR East announced that a 5-car E501 series train has been modified to become the ''E501 SAKIGAKE'' train. This particular set received a new livery that inspires the image of red and white plum blossoms. The interior features tables for customers to eat and have drinks while onboard the train as well as a refrigerator that stores the cold drinks.<ref name="SAKIGAKE">{{cite web |title=E501 系電車を活用した新しいイベント専用車両 「E501 SAKIGAKE(さきがけ)」がデビューします! |trans-title=A new event-specific vehicle "E501 SAKIGAKE" will debut using an E501 series train! |url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/mito/20231025_mt01.pdf |publisher=East Railway Japan Company |access-date=6 March 2024 |location=Japan |language=Japanese |date=25 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250420230952/https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/mito/20231025_mt01.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> The set that underwent the conversion is K754 and it entered service from 23 November 2023 on a special trip on the Jōban and Mito lines between {{STN|Mito|x|Ibaraki}} and {{STN|Yūki|x}} stations.<ref>{{cite web |title=「E501 SAKIGAKEさきがけ」による団体運転 |trans-title=Group driving by “E501 SAKIGAKE” |url=https://railf.jp/news/2023/11/24/052100.html |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |access-date=6 March 2024 |location=Japan |language=Japanese |date=24 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250125001250/https://railf.jp/news/2023/11/24/052100.html |archive-date=25 January 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{clear}}
==References== {{reflist}}
==Further reading== * {{cite book |script-title=ja: 首都圏新系列車両PROFILE |trans-title=Tokyo Area New-generation Rolling Stock Profile |publisher = Ikaros Publishing |date = 15 April 2011 |location = Japan |language = ja |isbn = 978-4-86320-436-2|title = 首都圏新系列車両 Profile: 209/E231/E233系グループの全貌}}
==External links== {{Commons category|JR East E501|E501 series}} * [http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/e501.html JR East E501 series] {{in lang|ja}}
{{JR East EMU}} {{JR Kyushu rolling stock}}
[[Category:Electric multiple units of Japan]] [[Category:East Japan Railway Company]] [[Category:Train-related introductions in 1995]] [[Category:20 kV AC multiple units]] [[Category:1500 V DC multiple units of Japan]] [[Category:Kawasaki multiple units]] [[Category:Tokyu Car multiple units]]