Planning a trip to Japan for November

[bronzeonion]

Hello Mr bronzeonion,

 

You are fortuitous to have travelled on the 215系 Holiday View Yamanashi.  I've ridden this train. I take green car because the fixed seats in a standard car are a little too upright for my liking.  Only 4 consists were manufactured.  They are 20 years old.

 

Only 4? Wow! You're too right about the standard class seats, it did get a little bit achey by the time I got to Mitaka, didn't help that my bay of 4 was filled completely by the time the train got to Otsuki where the train became really quite crowded indeed.

[miyakoji]

Yeah, Japanese and English wikipedias say 4 10-car sets built by Nippon Sharyo.  I usually don't think of JR East buying from Nippon Sharyo.

[Ochanomizu]

Hello,

 

I like the colour scheme and concept for 215系, but it is not practical for commuter or express service because of the stairs and narrow doors.

[bronzeonion]

<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote'data-author="Ochanomizu" data-cid="90052" data-time="1385609694"><p>

Hello,<br />

<br />

I like the colour scheme and concept for 215系, but it is not practical for commuter or express service because of the stairs and narrow doors.</p></blockquote>

 

It seems to be when JR East were trying out double deck commuter stock like the 415 series driving car on the Joban line from around the same time