First photos of the EV-E801 series (battery-electric MUs which will operate in Akita Prefecture). Anyone know the type of JR Freight locomotive pulling the cars?
>>1030972The KiHa 110-200s on the Hachiko Line aren't that old, they're about as old as the Yokosuka/Sobu Rapid E217s and newer than the 205-0s on the Musashino Line. And the non-electrified portion is very mountainous and rural; the low passenger demand means the DMUs haven't been beaten to death. The Hachiko Line is actually located the furthest inland of any of JR East's lines within Shutoken* (obviously excluding the medium-distance Chuo Line/Shinonoi Line services). I don't even think there's a pressing reason to replace Hachiko KiHa 110-200s with KiHa-E200s or KiHa-E120s, let alone the EV-E801 (which, lest I forget to mention, runs on AC power).
The KiHa 40s on the Oga Line, on the other hand, have been operating since the late 1970s. They're well overdue for replacement.
* -
http://rail.crap.jp/r/14207.html 