M250 series

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

M250 Series Super Rail Cargo
M250 Series Super Rail Cargo freight EMU

In service	2004 - Present
Manufacturer	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Nippon Sharyo, Toshiba
Number built	42 cars (2 full sets + spare cars)
Formation	16 cars per trainset
Operator	JR Freight
Depots	Ōi
Lines served	Tōkaidō Main Line
Specifications
Car length	20,300 mm
Width	2,800 mm
Maximum speed	130 km/h
Traction system	VVVF
Power output	220 kW x 16 = 3,520 kW
Gauge	1,067 mm
Voltage	1,500 V DC overhead
Safety systems	ATS-SF, ATS-PF

The JR Freight M250 Series Super Rail Cargo freight EMU was produced in 2002 with the objective of reducing emissions and carrying general freight for small package forwarders (such as special delivery services). The M250 Super Rail Cargo is JR Freight's first container train with distributed locomotive power. It is manufactured by Nippon Sharyo, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and Toshiba.

[edit] Overview

Sagawa Express (a property of SG Holdings) began operating one train as a reserved "Special high speed freight train" between Tokyo Freight Terminal and Ajikawaguchi Station (Osaka) on the March 13, 2004 schedule revision. (The containers are owned by Sagawa Galaxy Highways, another property of SG Holdings. Sagawa Galaxy Highways started operations as Higashinihon Travel Industries, but the name was changed on September 21, 2005.) Running with increasing frequency, it has recently become a regularly scheduled train (but with service suspended on Sundays and holidays).

The main formation has been nicknamed "Super Rail Cargo". It won the 2004 Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Eco-Products award for Eco-Service and the 2005 Japan Railfan Club Blue Ribbon Prize (making it the first non-passenger car to win since the EF66 electric locomotive in 1969).