E653 series

The E653 series (E653系) is an AC/DC dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan on limited express services since 1997. Originally used on Joban Line Fresh Hitachi limited express services between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki, they were reallocated to Niigata for use on Inaho limited express services from 2013 and on Shirayuki limited express services from 2015.

Variants

 * E653-0 series: Original (eight 7-car and four 4-car) AC/DC sets built from 1997 for use on Joban Line Fresh Hitachi limited express services
 * E653-1000 series: 7-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2013 and 2014 for use on Inaho limited express services from September 2013
 * E653-1100 series: 4-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2014 and 2015 for use on Shirayuki limited express services from March 2015 and on Inaho services from March 2022

1997–2013 Fresh Hitachi
From their introduction in 1997, the E653 series trains operated on Fresh Hitachi limited express services between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki via the Joban Line as seven-, seven + four-, and seven + seven-car formations, but were withdrawn from regular scheduled services from the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.

2013- Inaho
From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653 series sets displaced from Fresh Hitachi services by new E657 series sets were phased in on Inaho services operating between Niigata and Akita, replacing JNR-era 485 series EMUs and reclassified E653-1000 series. The Inaho fleet consists of eight seven-car E653-1000 series sets modified with the addition of a Green (first class) car and a new livery evoking images of the sunset, rice plants, and the sea.

From the start of the timetable revision on 12 March 2022, four-car E653-1100 series sets began operating on Inaho limited express services for one round trip.

2015– Shirayuki
From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015, four-car E653-1100 series sets were introduced on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between Niigata and Arai.

Formations
, the fleet consists of eight seven-car sets (U101 to U108) and four four-car sets (H201 to H204), all based at Niigata Depot.

Inaho E653-1000 series 7-car sets U101–U108
The reformed seven-car Inaho E653-1000 series sets (U101 to U108) are based at Niigata Depot and formed as follows, with four motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Akita (northern) end.


 * Cars 2 and 5 each have one PS32 single-arm pantograph.
 * Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 have toilets.

Inaho / Shirayuki E653-1100 series 4-car sets H201–H204
The reformed four-car Inaho and Shirayuki E653-1100 series sets (H201 to H204) are formed as follows, with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Arai end.

Car 2 is equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.

Original (Fresh Hitachi) 7-car sets K301–K308
The original Fresh Hitachi seven-car sets were formed as follows, with car 1 at the south (Ueno) end.


 * Cars 2 and 5 each had one PS32 single-arm pantograph.
 * Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 had toilets.

Original (Fresh Hitachi) 4-car sets K351–K354
The original Fresh Hitachi four-car sets were formed as follows, with car 8 at the south (Ueno) end.

Car 9 was equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.

E653-0 series
All cars in the original E653-0 series sets were standard class with 2+2 seating and 910 mm seat pitch.

E653-1000 series
The Green (first class) cars in E653-1000 series sets have 2+1 seating, arranged with pairs of seats on the seaward side and single seats on the landward side. Seat rows are aligned with the windows, giving a seat pitch of 1820 mm, double that for standard class, and additional privacy is added by partitions between each seat row. The Green car seats 18 passengers.

History
E653 series were introduced from 1 October 1997. The refreshment vending machines were discontinued from 31 March 2008.

From 17 March 2012, the E653 series trains were gradually phased out from Fresh Hitachi services with the introduction of new E657 series ten-car EMUs. Original plans were for some E653 series sets to be reassigned to new limited express services operating on the Jōban Line between Iwaki and Sendai, with three four-car sets due to be repainted into a new "hamakaidō" (浜街道) blue livery for use on services between Iwaki and Sendai and the rest of the fleet transferred elsewhere. These plans were abandoned following the suspension of services north of Iwaki on the Joban Line after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653-1000 series seven-car sets were introduced on Inaho services, operating between Niigata and Akita. Set U102 was the first E653-1000 series to enter revenue service, being used on a special E653 Series Uetsu Line Debut (E653系羽越線デビュー号) charter service between Niigata and Sakata on 14 September 2013.

The sub-fleet of four four-car sets were renumbered as E653-1100 series sets for use on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between Niigata and Arai from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015. These sets received a new livery consisting of ivory white with vermillion and blue stripes intended to evoke an image of the sunset over the Sea of Japan. The interiors were refitted with new seat covers, similar to those used in the E7 series and W7 series shinkansen trains.

E653 series livery changes
The fleet of E653-1000 series sets used on Inaho services is undergoing a programme of reliverying beginning in 2017, with sets each receiving different colour liveries. Set U106 received an all-over ultramarine livery, returning to service in October 2017, and set U107 received an all-over deep pink (Japanese rose (ハマナス)) livery, returning to service in December 2017.

To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Niigata Station in May 2024 as well as the 100th anniversary of the full opening of the Uetsu Main Line in July of the same year, E653-1100 series set H202 was repainted in the Kaminuttari colour, reminiscent of the livery used for 485 series trains formerly operated in the Niigata area. It went into revenue service on 21 April 2024.

Fleet histories
The manufacturers and build dates for the fleet are as shown below.