10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Series-E657-K19 Hitachi-20: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. E657系カツK15編成: えぬはち· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. E657 K1 Minami-Nagareyama 20110523: DAJF· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 4. JRE E657 LED Information board: Rsa· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 5. JRE Series-E657-K12 Hitachi-6: MaedaAkihiko· CC0
- 6. JRE Series-E657-K17 Tokiwa-60: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 7. JRE Series-E657-K1 Tokiwa-58: MaedaAkihiko· CC0
- 8. JRE Series-E657-K2 Hitachi-6: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 9. JRE Series-E657-K3 Hitachi-6: MaedaAkihiko· CC0
- 10. JR East E657-E655-1 20110928 osaki: Rsa· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The E657 series (E657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 between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki on the Joban Line since March 2012. The trains replaced the 651 series and E653 series EMUs previously used on Super Hitachi and Fresh Hitachi limited express services on the Joban Line. The first train in revenue service ran on 3 March 2012, in the form of a special return Super Hitachi limited express service between Ueno and Iwaki, with regular scheduled services starting from the revised timetable on 17 March 2012.
who runs it
base stats
Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.
fun facts
- First built 14 years ago, in 2012.
- 21.1 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Seats 600: 12 full city buses (~50 seats each).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 2012
- in service from
- 2012
- status
- in service
- number built
- 190
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Hitachi, Japan Transport Engineering Company, Kinki Sharyo
- operators
- East Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 130 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- and 20 kV 50 Hz AC, all from overhead catenary
- formation
- 10 cars per trainset
- length
- 21.1 m
- capacity
- 600 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q5322432, Wikipedia: E657 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.