In 2004, freight trains between Tokyo and Osaka on the Tokaido Main Line carried about 2.8 million tons[which?]

[1] As a result of these considerations, a plan to increase speeds of freight trains was announced.

This plan proposed using distributed power to increase acceleration and deceleration as well as reduce axle loads.

In order to increase the available space for the containers as much as possible, the height of the vehicle frame had to be kept to 1,000mm above the top of the rails.

[1] On the other hand, there needed to be sufficient room for the traction motors and gears, which were adapted from other vehicles.

[2] For the first time in a JR Freight vehicle, brake and power are controlled by a single lever on the left-hand side.

[2] When a failure occurs, the details and appropriate actions are shown on the same display, and the vehicle state is recorded so it can be analyzed later.

[1] An automatic coupler is installed on the Mc251 driving motor cars so the train can be towed by a regular locomotive.

Running with increasing frequency, it later became a regularly scheduled train (but with service suspended on Sundays and holidays).

The M250 series won the 2004 Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation Eco-Products award for Eco-Service and the 2005 Japan Railfan Club Blue Ribbon Award, making it the first non-passenger vehicle to win since the JNR Class EF66 in 1969.