E233 Series
| Number of lines | Joestu Line
Mihara Line Namboku Line Tozai Line Yamate Line |
|---|---|
| Began Operation | 2022 |
| Operator(s) | KCR Harmony Rail Transit (Lamtsu) |
|---|---|
| Rolling stock | KCR-E233
E233-100 E233-200 E233-300 E233-400 |
| Track gauge | 1453mm |
|---|---|
| Electrification | 25Kv AC overhead (KCR) 1500V DC overhead (HRT Lamtsu) |
| Operating speed | 120 (Most variants) 80 (E233-300) |
The E233 Series is a family of rolling stock used by Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation (KCRC) and Harmony Rail Transit (Lamtsu). The base variant is produced and operated by KCR, although only one is in operation at the moment on the Joestu Line from Bubba Town to Mito. The KCRC E233 variant entered service on the Joestu Line on the 3rd of March 2022, with the HRT E233 variants expected to completely enter service when the Lamtsu Railway Reconstruction is complete.
Design Features
The E233 series has a stainless steel body and a significantly narrower frame than some of the other trains, allowing them to run with a lower loading gauge than similar commuter trains, such as the SP100. The exterior design was initially designed by KCRC, with the NTI variants using the same design but with differing liveries. The front of the train has a display screen for the line as well.
While the KCR E233 has 4 cars with 5 doors each, the HRT Lamtsu variants have significantly shorter cars to aid with navigating the curvy lines in Lamtsu, with each car having 4 doors instead of 5 and being 20m long instead of 25m.
Variants
- KCR E233: 4 car set used on the Joestu Line
- E233-100: 5+5 car set used on the Mihara Line
- E233-200: 10 car set used on the Namboku Line and Tozai Line
- E233-300: 10 car set used on the Yamate Line
- E233-400: 3 car set used on the Seiyo Main Line (Urban)
- E233-500: 5 car set used on the Ome Line
- E233-600: 8 car set used on the Sakura Main Line.
- E233-700: 5,6,8 car set used on the Lamtsu Main Line
- E233-800: 5,6,8 car set used on the Seiyo Main Line
- E233-900: 10 car set used on the Tozai Line
KCR E233
HRT E233
The HRT E233 has 3 variants with significantly differing properties.
E233-100
| Status | Operational |
|---|
| Type | Mihara Line |
|---|---|
| Operator(s) | Harmony Rail Transit (Lamtsu) |
| Depot(s) | Lamtsu Depot |
| Track gauge | 1435mm |
|---|---|
| Electrification | 1500V DC |
| Operating speed | 130km/h (Design) 120km/h (Service) |
The first E233 variant to run on a HRT Lamtsu line was the E233-100, introduced in 1998, replacing the aging E44 trains that had been constantly breaking down and massively impacting service on the line. The fleet of vehicles arrived in stages, from 1998 to 2022, with a total of 50 cars and 10 sets being ordered for the line, as frequency had been decreased.
In July 2022 the decision was made to add green cars to the Mihara Line rapid service, and so sets were sent to Kata Heavy Industries central plant in Kata, Misato City, with service supplemented by E233-200 sets from the Namboku and Tozai Lines. The green cars will be placed in the centre 2 cars of the 10-car consist. After the upgrade, the E233-100 will be split into another 2 variants: the E233-110, and the E233-120.
This variant is designed for consistent operation at maximum operating speed, 120km/h. They also are designed for both 5-car and 10-car service, and can navigate curves the best of all the variants. This train has a slower acceleration than the other 2 variants, however. The pantograph is on top of car 3.
| Car no | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | DT | T | M' | T | DT |
| Car no | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | DT | T | T | T | M' | M | T | T | T | DT |
E233-200
| Status | Operational |
|---|
| Type | Namboku Line Tozai Line |
|---|---|
| Operator(s) | Harmony Rail Transit (Lamtsu) |
| Depot(s) | Meguro Depot Mibu Depot |
| Track gauge | 1435mm |
|---|---|
| Electrification | 1500V DC |
| Operating speed | 140 (Design) 120 (Service) |
This variant is the most similar to the KCR E233, with only minor differences in acceleration. Like the E233-100, this variant can operate at 120km/h without significant issues. The rolling stock was ordered starting in 2002, to replace the SP100 trains that had been operating on the Namboku and Tozai Lines. The 10-car consist does not have green cars, as the Namboku line is close to maximum capacity.
Due to the hugely different climates in the region, this variant of the E233 Series has variable temperature adjustment, allowing for energy conservation in areas where there is no significant need for cooling or heating. The cars were manufactured in the New Tsihai Industries plant in New Tsihai, and shipped to Lamtsu Port, where they were subsequently checked at the Kata Heavy Industries plant.
120 cars or 12 sets of the Namboku Line livery were ordered, and 150 cars or 15 sets of the Tozai Line were ordered, replacing the SP100 in stages from 2002 to 2022. In 2022, the Tozai Line extension to Mibu required a switch of the power supply from 1500V DC to 25kv AC, so it was decided to place an order for a new E233 series for the Tozai Line, to falicitate the travel on the Mibu Branch Line. The Tozai Line E233 will then be scrapped or sold to other raiways.
| Car no | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | DT | M | T | T | M' | T | T | T | M | DT |
E233-300
| Type | Yamate Line |
|---|---|
| Operator(s) | Harmony Rail Transit (Lamtsu) |
| Depot(s) | Ofuna Depot |
| Track gauge | 1435mm |
|---|---|
| Electrification | 1500V DC |
| Operating speed | 110 (Design) 120 (Service) |
This variant is the slowest of the 3 variants, with a maximum operating speed of 110. This variant does not go faster than 80km/h in operation, but has the fastest acceleration of the variants. The variant was designed for quick acceleration to full speed, and according quick deaccellaration. the variant runs on the Yamate Line, and was the third E233 variant to be introduced in service in Lamtsu.
The E233-300 is the most advanced in terms of passenger features and comfort, having LCD displays and climate-variable cooling, allowing the inside of the train to change the temperature according to the amount of passengers there. This has led to cost-savings for HRT (Lamtsu) totalling close to 1.7 million every year.
The E233-300 is the most famous variant of the E233, due to it's position as the only rolling stock on the Yamate Line.
The E233-300 was produced natively by Kata Heavy Industries, with the design supplied by New Tsihai Industries. There were 140 cars or 14 sets ordered by Harmony Rail Transit (Lamtsu), replacing the SP100 on the Yamate Line in stages from 2008 to 2017, making the Yamate Line the first line to completely switch from existing rolling stock to the E233 series.
| Car no | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | DT | M | M' | M | T | T | M | M' | M | DT |
E233-400
This variant is similar to the E233-100, but has a wider turn radius and the worst acceleration of the 4. This is because of the motors used in this variant, which were designed to save power over long distances between stops.
E233-500
This variant is a suburban variant of the E233, which is compatible with the Aotetsu's O-ATS signalling system. It has a maximum speed of 160km/h, but only does 120 in service.
E233-600
This variant is a 8-car formation, with 2 Green Cars at the front. The variant is the only one to run on 25kv AC.