The is a electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It began operations in the Chiba area on 13 March 2021, on the Sagami Line on 18 November 2021, and on the Nikkō Line and the Utsunomiya Line on 12 March 2022. The trains are equipped for .
Design The E131 series trains have stainless steel bodies. They have LCD passenger information displays above the doors, as well as wheelchair-accessible and stroller-accessible "free spaces" on all cars. As they are equipped for "wanman" driver-only operation, body-mounted cameras are utilized to monitor passengers boarding and alighting the train; these cameras are then fed to displays located in the driver's cab. They also feature semi-automatic doors, allowing passengers to operate the doors during driver-only operation.
Internally, the trains are equipped with security cameras and emergency call switches.
Some trains in each subseries are numbered -X80, as they have a slightly different equipment configuration due to the presence of track monitoring equipment.
Variants E131-0/-80 series: 2-car sets used on the Kashima Line, Narita Line, Sotobō Line, and Uchibō Line E131-200 series: 3-car sets used on the Chūō Main Line, Shinonoi Line, Shin'etsu Main Line, and Fujikyuko Line E131-500/-580 series: 4-car sets used on the Sagami Line (previously also used on Yokohama Line through services) E131-600/-680 series: 3-car sets used on the Nikkō Line and Utsunomiya Line E131-800 series: 4-car sets used on the Senseki Line E131-1000 series: 3-car sets used on the Tsurumi Line
History The series and its scheduled introduction into the Sotobō Line ( – ), Uchibō Line ( – Awa-Kamogawa), and Kashima Line ( – ) was announced on 5 May 2020. It was the first all-new series introduced in the region in 51 years since the 113 series in the late 1960s; the previous 211 series and 209 series were transferred from other lines. On 18 December 2020, it was further announced that the series would operate certain services on the Narita Line ( – ) and Kashima Line (Katori – Sawara).
On 17 June 2021, JR East announced that a new subseries will be introduced on the Sagami Line ( – ) in late 2021, and another subseries will be introduced into the Nikkō Line ( – ) and the Utsunomiya Line ( – ) in Spring 2022.
On 24 December 2024, JR East announced another subseries that will run on the Senseki Line in the Sendai area.
On 7 May 2026, JR East designated a new subseries to be the replacement of 211 series trains on the Chuo, Shinonoi, and Shin'etsu Lines.
E131-0/-80 series
A total of 12 two-car sets were ordered and built. Test runs began in July 2020, starting with the first two delivered sets R01 and R02. The first ten sets (R01–R10) entered passenger service on 13 March 2021.
The trains are painted in the Uchibo/Sotobo Line color scheme and formed as two-car sets with four doors per car.
Lines served The series serves the following sections of lines: Sotobō Line: – Uchibō Line: – Awa-Kamogawa Kashima Line: – Narita Line: – Katori
Formations , 12 two-car sets (R01–R12) are based at Makuhari Rolling Stock Centre in Chiba Prefecture and formed with 1 motored ("M") car and 1 trailer ("T") car.
← Kashimajingū, Kazusa-IchinomiyaNarita, Kisarazu → Designation Mc Tc' Numbering KuMoHa E131-0/-80 KuHa E130-0/-80 The KuMoHa E131 car has a single-arm pantograph. Both cars have an accessible/priority "free space". The KuHa E130 car has a universal design toilet.
Interior Passenger accommodation consists of a combination of longitudinal and transverse seating. Priority seating and wheelchair- and stroller-accessible "free spaces" are provided in each car. KuHa E130 features a universal design toilet.
Fleet details
The table below shows the details of each set. Set No. Delivery date Leading car Trailing car R01 21 July 2020 KuMoHa E131-1 KuHa E130-1 R02 KuMoHa E131-2 KuHa E130-2 R03 28 August 2020 KuMoHa E131-3 KuHa E130-3 R04 KuMoHa E131-4 KuHa E130-4 R05 10 October 2020 KuMoHa E131-5 KuHa E130-5 R06 KuMoHa E131-6 KuHa E130-6 R07 26 November 2020 KuMoHa E131-7 KuHa E130-7 R08 KuMoHa E131-8 KuHa E130-8 R09 12 February 2021 KuMoHa E131-9 KuHa E130-9 R10 KuMoHa E131-10 KuHa E130-10 R11 2 March 2021 KuMoHa E131-81 KuHa E130-81 R12 19 March 2021 KuMoHa E131-82 KuHa E130-82 Sets R11 and R12 are fitted with track monitoring equipment.
E131-200 series
Twenty 3-car sets are to be built to replace the ageing 211 series trains operated in the Nagano region from late 2026. Internally, the trains will be equipped with LED information displays instead of LCDs like previous E131 series variants. Unlike the outgoing trains, the E131-200 series trains are not planned to operate onto the JR Central network.
The first two sets, N1 and N2, were delivered from the J-TREC Niitsu plant in May 2026, followed by sets N3 and N4 later that month. The fleet first entered passenger service on 1 October 2026.
Lines served The series will serve the following sections of lines: Chūō Main Line: – Shinonoi Line: Shiojiri – Shin'etsu Main Line: Shinonoi – Fujikyuko Line
Fleet details The delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
Set No. Date delivered N1May 2026 N2 N3 N4 N5June 2026 N6N7N8N9July 2026N10N11N12N13September 2026N14N15October 2026N18
E131-500/-580 series
A total of 12 four-car trains were built for the Sagami Line; the first set (G-01) entered service on 18 November 2021 and the last set (G-12) arrived on 25 January 2022. It replaced the existing 205-500 series trains that have been in service since 1991.
These trains were also used on through services between the Sagami Line and Yokohama Line during the morning and evening rush; these services ended on 11 March 2022.
Lines served The series serves the following sections of lines: Sagami Line: – Yokohama Line: Hashimoto – (until 11 March 2022)
Formations , twelve four-car sets (G-01–G-12) are based at Kōzu Depot in Kanagawa Prefecture and formed with 2 motored ("M") cars and 2 trailer ("T") cars. Sets G-11 and G-12 are fitted with track monitoring equipment.
← Hachiōji, HashimotoChigasaki → Car No. 4 3 2 1 Designation Mc T M Tc' Numbering KuMoHa E131-500/-580 SaHa E131-500 MoHa E130-500 KuHa E130-500/-580 Cars 2 and 4 each have a single-arm pantograph. All cars have an accessible/priority "free space". Car 3 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
Interior Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal seating throughout. Priority seating and wheelchair- and stroller-accessible "free spaces" are provided in each car.
E131-600/-680 series
A total of 15 three-car trains were built for the Nikkō Line and Utsunomiya Line. The first fourteen sets (TN1–TN15) entered service on 12 March 2022, with TN1 and TN2 arriving on 11 August 2021 and the last one, TN15 arriving on 14 February 2022. It replaced the existing 205-600 series trains that have been in service since 2013.
Lines served The series serves the following sections of lines: Nikkō Line: – Utsunomiya Line: –
Formations , 15 three-car sets (TN1–TN15) are based at Oyama Depot in Tochigi Prefecture and formed with 2 motored ("M") cars and 1 trailer ("T") car (the MoHa E131 car has one motorized bogie and one trailer bogie). Sets TN14 and TN15 are fitted with track monitoring equipment.
Designation Mc M1 Tc' Numbering KuMoHa E131-600/-680 MoHa E131-600 KuHa E130-600/-680 The KuMoHa E131 car has two single-arm pantographs, while the MoHa E131 car has one. All cars have an accessible/priority "free space". The KuHa E130 car has a universal design toilet.
E131-800 series
14 four-car sets were built to replace the 205-3100 series fleet on the Senseki Line. Classified as the E131-800 series, the first of these sets entered revenue service on 1 December 2025.
The first set, N1, was delivered on 11 April 2025.
The last set, N14, was delivered in February 2026. This set and set N13 feature monitoring equipment.
E131-1000 series
JR East announced in July 2023 that it would introduce eight 3-car E131-1000 series sets on the Tsurumi Line to replace the aging 205 series fleet. Unlike other E131 series variants, these sets use straight-sided bodywork with a width of , as opposed to with previous sets. They entered service on 24 December 2023.
The first two sets, T1 and T2, were built at J-TREC's Niitsu plant and commissioned from October 2023. The last set, T8, was commissioned in December 2023. This set uniquely features track monitoring equipment.
Second Chiba Prefecture variant In September 2026, JR East announced that it would introduce 3- and 6-car E131 series trainsets from 2027 for use on Sōbu Main Line, Narita Line, Uchibō Line, Sotobō Line, and Tōgane Line services in Chiba Prefecture. Unlike the E131-0 series also operated in the region, these trains will be internally equipped with longitudinal seating throughout as well as LED passenger information displays.
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