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Shiosai

Japanese limited express train service

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The Shiosai (しおさい) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It runs from Tokyo and Shinjuku to Chōshi on the Bōsō Peninsula in Chiba Prefecture.

01Station stops

Shiosai services operate over the Sōbu Main Line, stopping at the stations listed below. All 7 round trips are operated daily except for one inbound trip which is not operated on Saturdays and holidays. No services operate as "Local" all-stations services in any section; this characteristic is different from that of Wakashio ltd.exp.

Tokyo - Kinshichō - Chiba - Sakura - Yachimata - Narutō - Yokoshiba - Yōkaichiba - Asahi - Iioka - Chōshi

An E257-500 series 5-car set on a Shiosai service in January 2012
An E257-500 series 5-car set on a Shiosai service in January 2012

02Rolling stock

Shiosai services are operated using Kamakura-based 6-car E259 series EMU and Makuhari-based 5-car E257-500 series EMU formations. The E257-500 series formations have no Green (first class) cars.

Past rolling stock

  • 183 series EMUs (10 March 1975 , 2005)
  • 255 series 4,9,18-car EMUs (10 December 2005 , 15 March 2024)
183 series EMU on a Shiosai service, May 2005
183 series EMU on a Shiosai service, May 2005

03Formations

Trains are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo end.

5+5-car E257 series (No. 4 only)

Car No.12345678910
Numbering KuHa E256-500MoHa E257-1500MoHa E256-500MoHa E257-500KuHa E257-500KuHa E256-500MoHa E257-1500MoHa E256-500MoHa E257-500KuHa E257-500
Accommodation Non-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedReservedReservedReservedReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

04Past formations

Trains were originally formed of 9-car 183 series EMUs, including one Green car, or 6-car sets with no Green car, but from December 1994, services were formed of 8-car 183 series sets with the Green car removed, as shown below.

8-car 183 series

Car No.12345678
Accommodation ReservedReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved

9-car 255 series

Car No.123456789
Numbering KuHa 254MoHa 254MoHa 255SaRo 255SaHa 254SaHa 255MoHa 254MoHa 255KuHa 255
Accommodation ReservedReservedReservedGreenReservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reservedNon-reserved
165 series EMU on a special Inubō revival working in November 2002
165 series EMU on a special Inubō revival working in November 2002

05History

The Shiosai service was introduced from 10 March 1975 following the completion of electrification of the Sōbu Main Line in October 1974, using 9-car 183 series EMUs, replacing five of the seven daily diesel-powered Inubō (犬吠) express services that operated between Shinjuku/Ryōgoku and Chōshi.

From the start of the November 1982 timetable revision, further 183 series EMUs were drafted in, displaced from Toki limited express services following the opening of the Joetsu Shinkansen, and the remaining Inubō express services were discontinued and absorbed into the Shiosai services, giving seven return workings daily.

From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, 255 series 9-car EMUs were introduced on Shiosai services. From the same date, services were made entirely no-smoking.

From the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, all Shiosai services started and terminated at Tokyo Station, with no services operating from Shinjuku.

From the start of the 16 March 2024 timetable revision, E259 series 6-car EMUs used on Narita Express services are scheduled to also be used on Shiosai services for six return trips. Meanwhile, E257 series trains in 5-car formations will continue to be used for one return trip. As a result, 255 series sets will no longer operate on these services.

Watch videos about ShiosaiExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article Shiosai, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

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