JR East Series 255

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The Series 255, built by Kinki Sharyo and Tokyu Car, is one of the very first EMUs in Japan to feature a fancy AC traction motor control system called IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) VVVF (variable voltage variable frequency, or we call VFD, variable frequency drive). The EMU serves on the narrow gage (3.5 ft.) network on Japan’s existing railroad network in limited express services. The Series 255 has car body width of 9 ft. 8 in. and accommodates 4 seats in a row in standard seating arrangement. Standard consist of the EMU is 4M5T and with a combined power output of 2,040 horsepower, the Series 255 achieves a top revenue speed of 80 miles per hour.



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