East Japan Railway Company (JR East) will build a multipurpose test train, the "MUE-Train," for carrying out tests to improve train performance and to examine the next-generation train control system and ground equipment condition monitoring system.
The test train was designed based on a 209 series train, which was used on the Keihin Tohoku Line. The test train will be completed in October 2008 and the running test will begin in November on the Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line).
The MUE-Train is a seven coach train. To improve the train performance, East Japan Railway will test (1) the air spring style body tilting mechanism, (2) the improvement of the braking force in rain, (3) the improvement of the dolly performance (4) high-speed data communication and (5) speed measurement of the wind caused by the train.
Each car will be assigned with some of the tests, such as assigning tests (1), (2) and (4) to car 1, tests (1) and (2) to car 2, test (3) to car 4 and test (5) to car 7, for example.
The next-generation train control system will be examined by using all the seven coaches. The devices for monitoring the conditions of the rails, the wirings and the protection system from the passenger coaches will be tested in the coaches 5, 6 and 7.
The running tests will be continued until the end of 2011. Tests for the train performance improvement will be conducted during the first half of the period, until 2009. The tests for the second half of the period will be focused on the next-generation train control system. The ground equipment condition monitoring system will be tested in both the first and the second half of the test period.
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