What will happen to the old Super Azusa sets?

[ote-m]

As I understand it the E353 Series will replace the E351 sets for Super Azusa services on the Chuo Line. Will the 351 series sets be scrapped or be excess for Rinji services?

[Sacto1985]

I'd like to know, too. Since the sets will built between 1993 and 1995, they are 20 years old and may be approaching the point that it could be too expensive to refurbish for other lines, especially since the tilting mechanism is almost unique to this trainset (the new E353's use an air cushion system similar to the JR West 287 Series EMU's to "tilt" the trainset into curves).

[Steve4031]

When is this going to happen? I plan to ride this line in April 2016. I was intrigued by the super Azusa trains. What are the newer trains like?

[kvp]

It's possible to just disable the tilting and cascade them to normal Asuza traffic and that wouldn't need any refurbishments.

[200系]

As far as I know the current prospect is for at least a few displaced E351系 formations to be retained for special services. Information on how many, and which, formations will be retained doesn't seem to be available at this moment (doubt they'll retain all 10, especially the oldest 4 (S1/S21 and S2/S22) with their outdated GTO inverters) , nor is it known for how long they will be retained (special reserve formations of older stock are historically not retained for more then a few years after newer stock take over, and even that is stretching it).

 

 

 

 

I'd like to know, too. Since the sets will built between 1993 and 1995, they are 20 years old and may be approaching the point that it could be too expensive to refurbish for other lines, especially since the tilting mechanism is almost unique to this trainset

 

Not just the tilting mechanism, it's also a very small specialized series (only five 8 car formations (S1~S5) with an equal number of four car supplementary formations (S21~S25) where built) split between two sub-types (1000番台 pre-production formations using GTO-VVVF propulsion packages  (S1/S21 and S2/S22) and the 0番台 production formations (S3/S23~S5/S25) using  IGBT-VVVF propulsion packages). They are also ageing rapidly and are at least a generation or two behind in terms of technology, so it's more then likely that they are simply approaching their end of life date as far as JR East is concerned.

 

 

 

When is this going to happen? I plan to ride this line in April 2016.

 

I haven't found any info on the specific date, only that they will be replaced somewhere in 2016. If I had to guess I'd say the spring 2016 timetable revision (March 2016) would be the most logical, but that's only my own prediction.

 

 

 

It's possible to just disable the tilting and cascade them to normal Asuza traffic and that wouldn't need any refurbishments.

 

 

Of course they could, the question would be why they would though. The current E257系 formations used on Azusa services are significantly younger then the ageing E351系 formations, and even they will be replaced by new E353系 formations in the next few years (they will be cascaded down to other limited-express services though, unlike the E351系). It's not like JR East has a shortage of limited-express equipment either, and it wouldn't negate the fact that the ageing E351系 cars would be required to go through at least a general inspection program if JR east had wanted them to keep them in regular service past 2016.

[railsquid]

Thanks for the informed opinion as always :)

[Steve4031]

If the older cars get replaced, is this still a worth while trip from shinjuku yo Matsumoto? Thank you for help.

[bikkuri bahn]

If the older cars get replaced, is this still a worth while trip from shinjuku yo Matsumoto? Thank you for help.

Well, the replacement rolling stock, the e353, is a nice piece of kit, so few if any people will consider it a downgrade.

[railsquid]

I like riding that line for the scenery, not the trains, which all look pretty much the same inside anyway. If you're lucky and get a nice clear day, there'll be good views of Mt Fuji from the "back".