Keisei AE series (2009)
Encyclopedia
The is a DC
electric multiple unit
operated by Keisei Electric Railway
on Skyliner
limited express
services to and from Narita International Airport
in Japan via the new Narita Sky Access Line. The first set was delivered in May 2009, and entered service in July 2010, replacing the Keisei AE100 series
EMUs previously used on these services.
. The train design and styling was overseen by Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto
. The musical horn and in-train announcement melody are provided by Casiopea
keyboardist and Ongakukan CEO Minoru Mukaiya
.
The AE series design won the "Good Design Award
" in 2010, and in May 2011 was awarded the 2011 Blue Ribbon Award
, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club.
Cars 2, 4, 6, and 8 are each fitted with a single-arm pantograph.
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
electric multiple unit
Electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...
operated by Keisei Electric Railway
Keisei Electric Railway
The is a major private railway in Chiba and Tokyo, Japan. The name Keisei is the combination of the kanji 京 from and 成 from , which the railways main line connects. The combination uses different readings than the ones used in the city names. The railway's main line runs from Tokyo to Narita and...
on Skyliner
Skyliner
is a limited-express airport train service between Tokyo and Narita Airport. It is operated by Keisei Electric Railway and runs on the Narita Sky Access route.-Service:...
limited express
Limited express
A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...
services to and from Narita International Airport
Narita International Airport
is an international airport serving the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is located east of Tokyo Station and east-southeast of Narita Station in the city of Narita, and the adjacent town of Shibayama....
in Japan via the new Narita Sky Access Line. The first set was delivered in May 2009, and entered service in July 2010, replacing the Keisei AE100 series
Keisei AE100 series
The is a DC electric multiple unit operated by Keisei Electric Railway on City Liner limited express services to and from Narita International Airport in Japan. First delivered in 1990, the trains replaced the earlier AE series EMUs operating on Skyliner services.From July 17, 2010, all AE100...
EMUs previously used on these services.
Design
Each 8-car set consists of six motored cars and two trailers. The trains are the first Keisei trains to use bolsterless bogies, and the end cars are equipped with active suspensionActive suspension
Active or adaptive suspension is an automotive technology that controls the vertical movement of the wheels with an onboard system rather than the movement being determined entirely by the road surface...
. The train design and styling was overseen by Japanese fashion designer Kansai Yamamoto
Kansai Yamamoto
is one of the leaders in Japanese Contemporary fashion, in particular during the 1970s and 1980s.-Biography:Kansai was born in 1944 in Yokohama, Japan...
. The musical horn and in-train announcement melody are provided by Casiopea
Casiopea
, named as a misspelling of the constellation Cassiopeia, was a Japanese jazz fusion band that was formed in 1976 by guitarist Issei Noro, bassist Tetsuo Sakurai and keyboardist Hidehiko Koike. In 1977, keyboardist Minoru Mukaiya and drummer Takashi Sasaki joined the group, leaving Hidehiko out of...
keyboardist and Ongakukan CEO Minoru Mukaiya
Minoru Mukaiya
is a Japanese musician. He joined the jazz fusion band Casiopea in 1979 as keyboardist.He is also the producer of the train simulator game, Train Simulator and CEO of Ongakukan, even the first musician in Japan who plays iPad piano apps ever.-Discography:as a Keyboardist for Casiopea*Casiopea...
.
The AE series design won the "Good Design Award
Good Design Award
The is Japanese comprehensive design evaluation and commendation system, operated by Japan Industrial Design Promotion Organization . The system has its origins in the “Good Design Selection System” instituted by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan in 1957.The award system...
" in 2010, and in May 2011 was awarded the 2011 Blue Ribbon Award
Blue Ribbon Award (railway)
The is an award presented annually in Japan since 1958 by the Japan Railfan Club. It is awarded for railway vehicles that entered service in the previous year and voted by members as being the most outstanding design of the year.-Award winners:...
, presented annually by the Japan Railfan Club.
Formation
Trainsets are formed as follows.| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | M2c | M1 | M2N | M1' | T2 | T1 | M2s | M1c |
| Numbering | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 0-4 | 0-5 | 0-6 | 0-7 | 0-8 |
Cars 2, 4, 6, and 8 are each fitted with a single-arm pantograph.