JR Freight Class EF510 ECO-POWER Red Thunder

Data (as of 31 Mar 2024)

History

Class EF510 is a type of dual-voltage electric locomotive, designed for freight trains on Hokuriku Main, Uetsu Main and Ou Main Lines. It is based on Class EF210, but the EF510 is dual-voltage, to replace Class EF81.

There are three groups: variant 0 (standard), variant 300 (for Kyushu) and variant 500 (initially for JR East). The Variant 500 was introduced by JR East to Sleeper Limited Express Hokutosei and Cassiopeia (Ueno - Sapporo), though all of them were resold to JR Freight when these sleeper trains were discontinued in 2016. JR Freight has been introducing the variant 300 to Kyushu since 2021.

JR Freight uses Class EH500 for freight trains on Tohoku Main Line and those running Kanmon Tunnel, which is larger and more powerful than the EF510.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

Variants 0 and 500 are allocated to Toyama, and used for freight trains between Osaka and Aomori. Some also run in Nagoya and Okayama areas. The variant 300 runs in Kyushu and will replace all Class ED76 and Class EF81 locomotives in Kyushu by 2025.

Photo

Sleeper Limited Express Hokutosei at Omiya station.