The is a dual-voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated on local services by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan since December 1995.
Design Built jointly by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Tokyu Car, the design is derived from the 209 series commuter EMU, and were initially operated as 10+5-car formations on Jōban Line services out of in Tokyo, but were modified with the addition of toilets and transferred to Jōban Line and Mito Line local services in the Mito area from March 2007.
Formations 10-car sets As of 1 October 2018, four ten-car sets (K701–K704) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with four motored ("M") cars and six non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
← HaranomachiTsuchiura → Car No. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Designation Tc T M M' T' T T M M' Tc' Numbering KuHa E501-0 SaHa E501-0 MoHa E501-0 MoHa E500-0 SaHa E500-0 SaHa E501-0 SaHa E501-0 MoHa E501-0 MoHa E500-0 KuHa E500-1000 Cars 3 and 8 each have one single-arm pantograph. Cars 1 and 10 have a wheelchair space. Cars 1 and 10 each have a universal design toilet. Car 8 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
5-car sets As of 1 October 2018, four five-car sets (K751–K754) are based at Katsuta Depot and formed with two motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
← HaranomachiOyama, Tsuchiura → Car No. 5 4 3 2 1 Designation Tc T M M' Tc' Numbering KuHa E501-1000 SaHa E501-0 MoHa E501-0 MoHa E500-0 KuHa E500-0 Cars 3 has one single-arm pantograph. Cars 1 and 5 have a wheelchair space. Cars 1 has a universal design toilet. Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
Interior
History The first 10+5-car train was originally scheduled to be delivered in time for entry into service from the March 1995 timetable revision, but deliveries from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe were delayed until May due to the effects of the Great Hanshin earthquake in January of that year. The first trains ultimately entered revenue service from the start of the 1 December 1995 timetable revision.
Between September and October 2006, modifications were made to the side windows to allow some windows to be opened. From October 2006, the fleet underwent modifications to add toilets, and from the start of the 18 March 2007 timetable revision, the E501 series trains were displaced from Jōban Line services out of Ueno by E531 series sets, and were transferred to local services on the Jōban Line north of and on the Mito Line. Between 2011 and 2012, the fleet underwent a life-extension refurbishment programme, which involved replacing electrical and brake equipment. These trains were originally equipped with Siemens GTO-VVVF propulsion systems, which were similar to the Keikyu 2100 series and also produced a "do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do" scale when starting up. As part of the refurbishment, the propulsion system was changed to Toshiba IGBT-VVVF.
Between December 2014 and December 2015, all PS29 lozenge-type pantographs were replaced with single-arm pantographs.
Scrapping of the E501 series fleet commenced in August 2024, starting with 5-car set K751.
Transfer to JR Kyushu
In September 2025, four cars each from sets K752 and K753 were transferred to Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). JR Kyushu stated that the transferred sets would replace life-expired 415-1500 series sets on services running through the Kanmon Railway Tunnel, albeit on a provisional basis. JR Kyushu formally announced in June 2026 that the sets, reclassified as , would enter revenue service in 2028. Build details The build details for the fleet are as shown below. Set No. Manufacturer Delivered Toilet added Refurbished Pantograph changed to single-arm Remarks K701 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 23 May 1995 21 February 2007 20 January 2012 27 November 2015 K702 20 February 1997 26 October 2006 5 November 2012 29 October 2015 K703 6 March 1997 20 November 2006 27 March 2012 24 December 2015 K704 Tokyu Car 18 March 1997 3 October 2006 26 January 2011 13 February 2015 K751 28 March 1995 31 January 2007 21 August 2011 25 December 2014 Scrapped in August 2024 K752 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 21 February 1997 9 November 2006 21 May 2011 27 December 2014 Transferred to JR Kyushu in September 2025 K753 7 March 1997 6 December 2006 25 April 2011 5 December 2014 K754 Tokyu Car 19 March 1997 22 January 2007 1 September 2011 24 December 2014 Converted to E501 SAKIGAKE train in October 2023
E501 SAKIGAKE
On 25 October 2023, JR East announced that a 5-car E501 series train has been modified to become the E501 SAKIGAKE train. This particular set received a new livery that inspires the image of red and white plum blossoms. The interior features tables for customers to eat and have drinks while onboard the train as well as a refrigerator that stores the cold drinks. The set that underwent the conversion is K754 and it entered service from 23 November 2023 on a special trip on the Jōban and Mito lines between and stations.
References
Further reading
External links
JR East E501 series