JRC 2015 Blue Ribbon Prize & Laurel Prize were decided !

Japan Railfan Club (President Hiroshi Suda; member approximately 3,200) selected JR-East type E7 EMU & JR-West type W7 EMU admitted as the 2015 Blue Ribbon Prize (best rolling stock) by the Blue Ribbon Prize & Laurel Prize selection committee based on the result of vote of JRC member. In addition, JR-East type EV-E301 Hybrid EMU and Hakone-Tozan Rwy. type 3000 EMU were selected as 2015 Laurel Prize by the selection committee recognized as excellence as of Laurel Prize.
About Blue Ribbon Prize and Laurel Prize is here.

2015 Blue Ribbon Prize

JR-East type E7 EMU & JR-West type W7 EMU

Both rolling stock (type E7 EMU & type W7 EMU by the joint design of JR-East & JR-West ; top character E or W designates JR-East or JR-West) are produced as the new model of Shinkansen EMU for Hokuriku Shinkansen which started commercial operation from Tokyo to Kanazawa (in Ishikawa Pref.) in March, 2015. Type E7 EMU & type W7 EMU adopt the design concept of 《the future of Japan》and have securing reliability under the severe railroad section condition of Hokuriku area, and establish new aorta to Hokuriku area. These character is strongly appealing and the committee selects as 2015 Blue Ribbon Prize.

2015 Laurel Prize

JR-East type EV-E301 Hybrid EMU

Type EV-E301 Hybrid EMU carries large-capacity lithium ion battery as a power supply for the drive, and electric drive is possible in the non-electrified section. This new power method of the hybrid system (using overhear wire in electrified zone and using large capacity battery in the non-electrified zone) is highly evaluated, and the committee selects type EV-E301 Hybrid EMU as laurel Prize.

Hakone-Tozan Rwy. type 3000 EMU

Type 3000 EMU is produced as the new type rolling stock for sightseeing of Hakone (in Kanagawa Pref.) after an interval of 25 years. Type 3000 EMU has observation window of both top part and the 4 persons’ cross seat zone of central part, and passengers enjoy the scenery of sightseeing spot《Hakone》. The committee evaluated this novel design and the latest technique of type 3000 EMU, and selects as Laurel Prize.