E653 series

• E653-0 series: Original (eight 7-car and four 4-car) AC/DC sets built from 1997 for use on Joban Line Fresh Hitachi limited express services
• E653-1000 series: 7-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2013 and 2014 for use on Inaho limited express services from September 2013
• E653-1100 series: 4-car sets modified from E653-0 series between 2014 and 2015 for use on Shirayuki limited express services from March 2015 and on Inaho services from March 2022

From their introduction in 1997, the E653 series trains operated on Fresh Hitachi limited express services between Ueno in Tokyo and Iwaki via the Joban Line as seven-, seven + four-, and seven + seven-car formations, but were withdrawn from regular scheduled services from the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.^[3]

From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653 series sets displaced from Fresh Hitachi services by new E657 series sets were phased in on Inaho services operating between Niigata and Akita, replacing JNR-era 485 series EMUs and reclassified E653-1000 series.^[4] The Inaho fleet consists of eight seven-car E653-1000 series sets modified with the addition of a Green (first class) car and a new livery evoking images of the sunset, rice plants, and the sea.^[5]

From the start of the timetable revision on 12 March 2022, four-car E653-1100 series sets began operating on Inaho limited express services for one round trip.^[6]

From the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015, four-car E653-1100 series sets were introduced on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between Niigata and Arai.^[7]

As of 1 April 2017^[update], the fleet consists of eight seven-car sets (U101 to U108) and four four-car sets (H201 to H204), all based at Niigata Depot.^[8]

The reformed seven-car Inaho E653-1000 series sets (U101 to U108) are based at Niigata Depot and formed as follows, with four motored ("M") cars and three non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Akita (northern) end.^[8]

• Cars 2 and 5 each have one PS32 single-arm pantograph.^[8]
• Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 have toilets.^[8]

The reformed four-car Inaho and Shirayuki E653-1100 series sets (H201 to H204) are formed as follows, with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Arai end.^[8]

Car 2 is equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.^[8]

The original Fresh Hitachi seven-car sets were formed as follows, with car 1 at the south (Ueno) end.^[3]

• Cars 2 and 5 each had one PS32 single-arm pantograph.^[3]
• Cars 1, 3, 4, and 6 had toilets.^[3]

The original Fresh Hitachi four-car sets were formed as follows, with car 8 at the south (Ueno) end.^[3]

Car 9 was equipped with one PS32 single-arm pantograph.^[3]

All cars in the original E653-0 series sets were standard class with 2+2 seating and 910 mm (36 in) seat pitch.^[9]

• 
  Original E653 series interior view (standard class) in January 2010
• 
  Original E653 series standard class seating

The Green (first class) cars in E653-1000 series sets have 2+1 seating, arranged with pairs of seats on the seaward side and single seats on the landward side.^[10] Seat rows are aligned with the windows, giving a seat pitch of 1,820 mm (72 in), double that for standard class, and additional privacy is added by partitions between each seat row.^[10] The Green car seats 18 passengers.^[4]

• 
  The interior of an E653-1000 series Green car
• 
  Green car seating
• 
  The mini-lounge area in a Green car

E653 series were introduced from 1 October 1997.^[3] The refreshment vending machines were discontinued from 31 March 2008.^[3]

From 17 March 2012, the E653 series trains were gradually phased out from Fresh Hitachi services with the introduction of new E657 series ten-car EMUs.^[11] Original plans were for some E653 series sets to be reassigned to new limited express services operating on the Jōban Line between Iwaki and Sendai,^[9] with three four-car sets due to be repainted into a new "hamakaidō" (浜街道, coastway) blue livery for use on services between Iwaki and Sendai and the rest of the fleet transferred elsewhere.^[12] These plans were abandoned following the suspension of services north of Iwaki on the Joban Line after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

From the start of the revised timetable on 28 September 2013, reformed E653-1000 series seven-car sets were introduced on Inaho services, operating between Niigata and Akita.^[3] Set U102 was the first E653-1000 series to enter revenue service, being used on a special E653 Series Uetsu Line Debut (E653系羽越線デビュー号) charter service between Niigata and Sakata on 14 September 2013.^[13]

The sub-fleet of four four-car sets were renumbered as E653-1100 series sets for use on new Shirayuki limited express services operating between Niigata and Arai from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2015.^[7] These sets received a new livery consisting of ivory white with vermillion and blue stripes intended to evoke an image of the sunset over the Sea of Japan.^[7] The interiors were refitted with new seat covers, similar to those used in the E7 series and W7 series shinkansen trains.^[7]

The fleet of E653-1000 series sets used on Inaho services is undergoing a programme of reliverying beginning in 2017, with sets each receiving different colour liveries.^[14] Set U106 received an all-over ultramarine livery, returning to service in October 2017,^[15] and set U107 received an all-over deep pink (Japanese rose (ハマナス, hamanasu)) livery, returning to service in December 2017.^[16]

• 
  Set U106 in ultramarine livery in March 2019
• 
  Set U107 in deep-pink livery in August 2019

On 19 October 2018, JR East announced that one E653-1000 series seven-car set would be reliveried to the Japanese National Railways limited express livery 485 series trains previously used on Hitachi limited express services.^[17] The set involved was U108, which completed conversion and repainting work on 7 November 2018 and was subsequently renumbered as set K70 upon transfer to Katsuta Depot.^[18] This set returned to service on 2 February 2019 on a charter service between Mito and Iwaki stations on the Jōban Line.^[19]

On 4 August 2023, JR East announced that one more seven-car set would be repainted into a Light Blue Fresh Hitachi livery which was not seen before and be used for special services in the Greater Tokyo area.^[20] Set U102 received the new livery and was transferred to Katsuta Depot as set K71. It re-entered service on 14 October 2023.^[21]

• 
  Set K70 (formerly U108) in JNR Limited Express livery in August 2023
• 
  Set K71 (formerly U102) in Light Blue Fresh Hitachi livery in April 2024

To commemorate the 120th anniversary of Niigata Station in May 2024 as well as the 100th anniversary of the full opening of the Uetsu Main Line in July of the same year, E653-1100 series set H202 was repainted in the Kaminuttari colour, reminiscent of the livery used for 485 series trains formerly operated in the Niigata area.^[22] It went into revenue service on 21 April 2024.^[23]

The manufacturers and build dates for the fleet are as shown below.^[8][24]

• 
  Red livery 7-car set K305 in May 2008
• 
  Blue livery 7-car set K302 in April 2003
• 
  Yellow livery 7-car set K303 in April 2006
• 
  Green livery 7-car set K304 in May 2008
• 
  Orange livery 4-car set K352 in March 2007
• 
  7-car E653-1000 series EMU set U101 in March 2014
• 
  4-car E653-1100 series set H202 in March 2015

Wikimedia Commons has media related to E653 series.

• E653 series Fresh Hitachi at the Wayback Machine (archived 17 January 2013) (in Japanese)