The Shiosai (しおさい) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs from Tokyo and Shinjuku to Chōshi on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.
Overview | |
---|---|
Service type | Limited express |
Locale | Sōbu Main Line |
First service | 10 March 1975 |
Current operator(s) | JR East |
Former operator(s) | JNR |
Route | |
Termini | Tokyo Chōshi |
Distance travelled | 120.5 km (74.9 mi) |
On-board services | |
Catering facilities | Trolley service |
Technical | |
Rolling stock | 255 series, E257-500 series EMUs |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead |
Operating speed | 130 km/h (80 mph) |
Shiosai services operate over the Sōbu Main Line, stopping at the stations listed below. All 7 round trips are operated daily except for one inbound trip which is not operated on Saturdays and holidays. No services operate as "Local" all-stations services in any section; this characteristic is different from that of Wakashio ltd.exp.[1][2][3]
Tokyo - Kinshichō - Chiba - Sakura - Yachimata - Narutō - Yokoshiba - Yōkaichiba - Asahi - Iioka - Chōshi
Shiosai services are operated using Makuhari-based 9-car 255 series EMU and 10-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.[5][2]
E259 series 6-car EMUs (from 16 March 2024[4])
Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.[2]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Numbering | KuHa 254 | MoHa 254 | MoHa 255 | SaRo 255 | SaHa 254 | SaHa 255 | MoHa 254 | MoHa 255 | KuHa 255 |
Accommodation | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Green | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Numbering | KuHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-1500 | MoHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-500 | KuHa E257-500 | KuHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-1500 | MoHa E256-500 | MoHa E257-500 | KuHa E257-500 | |
Accommodation | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs, including one Green car, or 6-car sets with no Green car,[6] but from December 1994, services were formed of 8-car 183 series sets with the Green car removed, as shown below.[7][8]
Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Accommodation | Reserved | Reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved | Non-reserved |
The Shiosai service was introduced from 10 March 1975 following the completion of electrification of the Sōbu Main Line in October 1974, using 9-car 183 series EMUs, replacing five of the seven daily diesel-powered Inubō (犬吠) express services that operated between Shinjuku/Ryōgoku and Chōshi.[8]
From the start of the November 1982 timetable revision, further 183 series EMUs were drafted in, displaced from Toki limited express services following the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen,[9] and the remaining Inubō express services were discontinued and absorbed into the Shiosai services, giving seven return workings daily.[8]
From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, 255 series 9-car EMUs were introduced on Shiosai services.[10] From the same date, services were made entirely no-smoking.[10]
From the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, all Shiosai services started and terminated at Tokyo Station, with no services operating from Shinjuku.[11]
From the start of the 16 March 2024 timetable revision, E259 series 6-car EMUs used on Narita Express services are scheduled to also be used on Shiosai services for six return trips. Meanwhile, E257 series trains in 5-car formations will continue to be used for one return trip. As a result, 255 series sets will no longer operate on these services.[4]