The Wakashio (わかしお) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya and Awa-Kamogawa on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.

Wakashio

An E257-500 series unit on an Keiyo Line Wakashio service
Overview
Service type	Limited express
Locale	Chiba Prefecture
First service	15 July 1972
Current operator(s)	JR East
Former operator(s)	JNR
Route
Termini	Tokyo Awa-Kamogawa
Distance travelled	132.5 km (82.3 mi)
Service frequency	12 return trips daily
Line(s) used	Keiyo Line, Sotobo Line
On-board services
Catering facilities	Trolley service
Technical
Rolling stock	255 series, E257-500 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)

Station stops

Wakashio services operate over the Keiyo Line and Sotobo Line, stopping at the following stations.[1] Some services terminate at Kazusa-Ichinomiya, and some services operate as "Local" all-stations services between Katsuura and Awa-Kamogawa.[2] From March 2018, all trains pass through Ubara and Awa-Amatsu stations.[3]

Tokyo - Kaihimmakuhari※ - Soga - Toke※ - Ōami - Mobara - Kazusa-Ichinomiya - Ōhara - Onjuku - Katsuura - Kazusa-Okitsu※ - Awa-Kominato - Awa-Kamogawa
※:Some trains pass through these stations.

Shinjuku Wakashio services, operating mainly at weekends only, stop at the following stations between Shinjuku and Soga.[1]

Shinjuku - Akihabara - Kinshichō - Funabashi - Tsudanuma - Chiba - Soga ... Awa-Kamogawa

Rolling stock

• 255 series 9-car EMUs (since 2 July 1993)
• E257-500 series 5/10-car EMUs (since 16 October 2004)

Wakashio services are operated using Makuhari-based 9-car 255 series EMU and 5- or 10-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.[2]

Past

• 183 series 9-car EMUs (15 July 1972 – October 2004)

• 
  A 183 series EMU in May 2002

Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.[1][4][5]

9-car 255 series

5-car E257 series

Car 1 is non-reserved on some services.[1][5]

5+5-car E257 series

Cars 4,5,6,7 and 8 are non-reserved on some services.[5]

Past formations

Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs with formed as shown below, including one Green car, as shown below.[6]

9-car 183 series

• All cars except the Green car were non-reserved for Ohayo Wakashio and Hometown Wakashio services.[6]

History

The Wakashio service commenced on 15 July 1972, using 183 series EMUs.[7] Evening Hometown Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 16 March 1991, operating from Tokyo to Kazusa-Ichinomiya.[8] New 255 series EMUs were introduced from 2 July 1993, initially branded as View Wakashio.[8] Morning Oyaho Wakashio services for commuters were introduced from 3 December 1994, operating from Kazusa-Ichinomiya to Tokyo.[8] New E257-500 series EMUs were introduced from 16 October 2004, displacing the remaining 183 series trainsets.[2] From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Wakashio services were made entirely no-smoking.[4]

The opening of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line road across the Tokyo Bay in 1997 saw increased competition from long-distance bus services offering cheaper fares, resulting in decreasing ridership figures on the Wakashio services.[9] From the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision, the number of services was reduced from 15 to 13 return workings daily.[9]

See also

• List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wakashio.

• JR East 255 series Shiosai/Wakashio/Sazanami (in Japanese)
• JR East E257 series Wakashio/Sazanami/Shiosai/Ayame (in Japanese)