JR East plans to give its Yamanote line trains in Tokyo a new look from autumn 2015.
The 11-car trains will have 88 priority seats -- 28 more than the current Yamanote line cars, and there will also be priority space for passengers with baby strollers and wheelchairs.
Inside, there will be no paper ads hanging down; everything will be digital.
JR East President Tetsuro Tomita said the new train will be the model for the next generation commuter train in the greater Tokyo area, TV Asahi reported Thursday.
JR said safety systems will also be improved, allowing the control centers to check the condition of engines and brakes in real time.
© Japan Today
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ReformedBasher
You meant to write Hankyuu here in Kansai, not just Osaka?
I like the seats. a) I'm not girth-challenged, and b) the barriers lessen the chance of some "space invader" trying to see just how far he/she spread their legs apart.
sakurala
Sounds great! But more priority seating doesn't fix the problem of people not wanting to give up their seats. It would be great if the standadized their trains in the Tokyo area to allow for safety gates to be built at all the stations...but it doesn't seem like that is a goal of theirs.
papigiulio
a bit offtopic but the Hankyuu here in Osaka messed up their new train with their weird seating. They now have some barriers in between seats which costs a lot of space.
Also good on Yamanote for stopping with the hanging ads, they are always in my face with these ads...literally.
rickyvee
increasing the number of priority seats is a joke because no one ever gives up their seat, my wife, who is 7-months pregnant, tells me that only young women and foreigners give up their seat for her. too many idiots use those seats.
sighclops
The number of times I've wanted to rip those paper ads down...!
Considering the sheer volume of commuters on the Yamanote line each morning, I'm failing to see why we need more priority seats?! They should be maximising the standing space, as it's an absolute punish on a daily basis. It honestly makes you question your sanity in peak hour on it...
Tohka
Yeah, to say the Yamanote was ... unforgiving in peak hour would be a gross underestimation to say the least.
kickboard
Anna, which lines do you use?
Raymond Chuang
It should be noted that JR East Yamanote Line trains have to be a tad different than other commuter trains in the Tokyo area because of this line's emphasis on frequent service and ease of passengers getting on and off the train, especially around Tokyo, Ueno, Nippori, Ikebuburo, Shinjuku, Shibuya and Shinagawa Stations (all major transfer stations). As such, the new E235 trainset will emphasize more standing space, more space for Priority seating passengers (elderly, handicapped and mothers with baby strollers), and still four doors per side per car to make it easier to get on and off the train.
I had thought this would be perfect for the frequently overcrowded JR East Saikyo Line, but JR East just rolled out all-new trainsets on that route within the last year or so. The next place for JR East to roll out the E235 trainset will likely be the JR East Musashino Line, where the 209 trainsets now used are starting to age.
goldeneagle
Wouldn't it be better if instead of giving a new look to yamanote line. Add more trains on crowded lines like saikyo which is delayed on daily basis sometimes for hours.
Tohka
Good.. the paper ads were just ...annoying as hell.
NeoJamal
The livery reminds me of the old Odoriko train
Anna Louise
Train culture is atrocious here! Kids and young people take up all the priority seats on the train, some even dumping their school bags or shopping bags in the spaces next to them! I was so pissed off once, I decided to sit on top of a man's jacket he had thrown next to him on a crowded train, he ripped it out from under me and glared at me as if I were in the wrong! The problem here is people just let it happen so obviously the ignorant selfish ones get away with it!
nath
New look l can do without, but I guess to match the new barrier gates.
Knox Harrington
New trains are good, I guess. Gotta update at some point. More so-called priority seats are probably to cater to the many ild people who ride the trains in the midday.
Hahaha, brilliant!
I have always found peoples true character to come out when riding trains in Japan. Rude, elbowing and inconsiderate of others are some fine traits many, many people around here. My personal favorite are people standing in front of the doors on the platform when people are trying to get off.
sighclops
@Anna Louise
So true. It drives me up the wall how the kids just take up all the seats - sometimes rows at a time (the best is when an entire class gets on!). They should get the darned school bus, seriously.