Double-deck first class cars for Chuo Line

On 13 October 2024, JR East began testing new green class double-deck coaches in commercial service on the Chuo Line in Tokyo. For testing, the cars were initially incorporated into a one 10-car class E233 EMU, extended then to 12-car EMU. Regular service with green cars (first class) on Chuo line will be introduced with the new timetable from March 2025. Until then, passengers will be able to use the new coaches on the before mentioned test train without having to pay the green class seat reservation fee otherwise required.

The green car service will be introduced on the Chuo Line between Tokyo and Otsuki and on the Ome Branch Line. For regular service, JR East is preparing 57 trains extended by two new double deck green class cars. To accommodate the 12-car trains, it was necessary to extend the platforms on the line as well. The new coaches will be positioned as coaches 4 and 5 in the unit.

The new double-deckers incorporated into the Class E233s are of the Types SARO E232 and SARO 233. Unlike the regular class coaches, which have a simple saloon for everyday commuting in a busy city, the green class coaches have seats with an electric socket, table, drink holder and toilet is present as well in the car. Wi-Fi is also available. Unlike the other first-class double-deckers in Tokyo’s commuting trains, these for the Chuo line have the 1,300 mm wide double-leaf sliding doors instead of 800 mm single-leaf doors. The whole project has been delayed by about two years due to the global semiconductor supply shortage. The coaches are manufactured at the J-TREC factory in Yokohama.

The double-deck first-class coaches are regularly in service on other lines in the Great Tokyo area, namely on the Tokaido Line, the Ueno-Tokyo Line, the Shonan-Shinjuku Line, the Sobu Line Rapid or the Yokosuka Line. The fare is 1,010 yen for up to 50 km, 1,260 yen for 100 km if passenger buy a ticket, or 750/1,000 yen if paid with a transport card (Suica).