Wakashio

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.

For the ship and oil spill, see MV Wakashio oil spill

Wakashio
Overview
Service typeLimited express
LocaleChiba Prefecture
First service15 July 1972
Current operator(s)JR East
Former operator(s)JNR
Route
StartTokyo
EndAwa-Kamogawa
Distance travelled132.5 km (82.3 mi)
Service frequency12 return trips daily
Line(s) usedKeiyo Line, Sotobo Line
On-board services
Catering facilitiesTrolley service
Technical
Rolling stock255 series, E257-500 series EMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph)

Station stops

Wakashio services operate over the Keiyo Line and Sotobo Line, stopping at the following stations.[1] Some services terminate at Kazusa-Ichinomiya, and some services operate as "Local" all-stations services between Katsuura and Awa-Kamogawa.[2] From March 2018, all trains pass through Ubara and Awa-Amatsu stations.[3]

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, operating mainly at weekends only, stop at the following stations between Shinjuku and Soga.[1]

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

Rolling stock

Wakashio services are operated using Makuhari-based 9-car 255 series EMU and 5- or 10-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.[2]

Past
  • 183 series 9-car EMUs (15 July 1972 – October 2004)
  • A 183 series EMU in May 2002

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.[1][4][5]

9-car 255 series
Car No.123456789
Numbering KuHa 254MoHa 254MoHa 255SaRo 255SaHa 254SaHa 255MoHa 254MoHa 255KuHa 255
Accommodation Non-reservedReservedReservedGreenReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

5-car E257 series
Car No.12345
Numbering KuHa E256-500MoHa E257-1500MoHa E256-500MoHa E257-500KuHa E257-500
Accommodation ReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

Car 1 is non-reserved on some services.[1][5]

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

Cars 4,5,6,7 and 8 are non-reserved on some services.[5]

Past formations

Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs with formed as shown below, including one Green car, as shown below.[6]

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.[6]

History

The Wakashio service commenced on 15 July 1972, using 183 series EMUs.[7] Evening Hometown Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 16 March 1991, operating from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya.[8] New 255 series EMUs were introduced from 2 July 1993, initially branded as View Wakashio.[8] Morning Oyaho Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 3 December 1994, operating from Kazusa-Ichinomiya to Tokyo.[8] New E257-500 series EMUs were introduced from 16 October 2004, displacing the remaining 183 series trainsets.[2] From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Wakashio services were made entirely no-smoking.[4]

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.[9] From the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision, the number of services was reduced from 15 to 13 return workings daily.[9]

See also

References
  1. JR Timetable. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. April 2016. pp. 95–95, 984.
  2. 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.
  3. Information about schedule change in March 2017- EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch、2017-12-15
  4. 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.
  5. 千葉を走る列車＞わかしお：EAST JAPAN RAILWAY COMPANY Chiba branch (Japanese)
  6. 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.
  7. 列車名鑑1995 [Train Name Directory 1995]. Japan: Railway Journal. August 1995. p. 130.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
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