415 series

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415 series
401 series/403 series/421 series/423 series
A 415 series train on the Jōban Line approaching Abiko Station in July 2006
ManufacturerHitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation, JR-West
Constructed1971–1991
Entered service1971
Number built674 vehicles
SuccessorE531 series
Formation3/4/7 cars per trainset
OperatorsJNR (1971–1987)
JR East (1987–2016)
JR Kyushu (1987–present)
JR-West (1991-2021)
Lines servedVarious
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel/stainless steel
Car length19.5–20 m (63 ft 11+11⁄16 in – 65 ft 7+3⁄8 in)
Width2,950 mm (9 ft 8+1⁄8 in)
Height3.654–3.67 m (11 ft 11+7⁄8 in – 12 ft 1⁄2 in)
Maximum speed100 km/h (62.1 mph)
Traction systemResistor control (401 series and 421 series sets) MT46
(403 series and 415 series sets) MT54
Power output100 kW (MT46B) (401 series)[1]
120 kW
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC / 20 kV AC 50 Hz/60 Hz overhead catenary
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 415 series (415系, 415-kei) is a dual-voltage AC/DC outer-suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1971 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and later operated in Japan by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu), and West Japan Railway Company (JR-West).

Variants[edit]

The 415 series was introduced in 1971, and has since spawned six variants, as listed below.

  • 415-0 series
  • 415-100 series
  • 415-500 series
  • 415-700 series
  • 415-800 series
  • 415-1500 series

The 415 series is descended from the 401, 403, 421 and 423 series.[citation needed]

401/421 series[edit]

401 series / 421 series
A Joban Line 401 series set in January 1985
A 421 series train on Sanyō Main Line in March 1978
In service1960–1991 (401 series)
1960–1996 (421 series)
ManufacturerTokyu Car Corporation
Kinki Sharyo (421 series)
Nippon Sharyo (401 series)
Kawasaki Sharyo
Hitachi
Constructed1960–1966
Entered service1960
Refurbished1964–1966 (SaYa 420 for 421 series)
Scrapped1978–1991 (401 series)
1979–1996 (421 series)
Number built401 series: 100 vehicles (25 sets)
421 series: 92 vehicles (23 sets)
Number in serviceNone
Number preservedNone
Number scrapped100 vehicles (401 series)
92 vehicles (421 series)
SuccessorE501 series, 811 series, 813 series
Formation4 cars per trainset
Operators401 series:
JNR(1960–1987)
JR East(1987–1991)
421 series:
JNR(1960–1987)
JR Kyushu(1987–1996)
Lines served401 series:
Joban Line
421 series:
Sanyo Main Line
Kagoshima Main Line
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel body
Width2,900 mm (9 ft 6+3⁄16 in)
Doors3 pairs per side
Maximum speedService:100 km/h (62 mph)
Design:110 km/h (68 mph)
Traction systemResistor control
Traction motorsMT46B
Power output100kW per motor
TransmissionGear ratio: 17:82
Power supply20kVA Motor Generator
Electric system(s)401 series: 1,500 V DC & 20 kV AC (50 Hz)
421 series: 1,500 V DC & 20 kV AC (60 Hz)
Current collector(s)Pantograph
BogiesDT21B (motored)
TR62 (trailer for 401 series)
TR64 (trailer for 421 series)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 401 series & 421 series was introduced for Joban Line and Sanyo Main Line respectively[citation needed] in 1960[1] and produced until 1966.[citation needed] They were introduced on the Jōban Line.[citation needed] They were equipped with MT46B motors with 100 kW (130 hp) of power output.[1] The last 401 series trains were withdrawn in 1991,[citation needed] while the last 421 series trains operated by JR Kyushu remained and withdrawn from service until 1996.[citation needed]

403/423 series[edit]

The first 403 series set was introduced in 1965, along with the similar 423 series. The 403 series was capable of running on railway lines with 1.5 kV DC and 20 kV AC 50Hz, while 423 series is capable of 1.5 kV and 20 kV AC 60Hz railway electrification. The last 423 series was withdrawn in 2001, while the 403 series remained in service until 2008.[citation needed]

415-0 series[edit]

This was the original version of the 415 series train, and was manufactured from 1971 to 1974, and had air-conditioners installed in 1977. The Jōban Line and Mito Line trains were withdrawn in March 2007 in favour of the new E531 series trains, but 415-0 series were still in operation with JR Kyushu as of January 2013.[2]

Kyushu[edit]

The first 415-0 series sets allocated to Kyushu were 4-car units delivered in December 1974. These were formed KuHa 411-300 + MoHa 415 + MoHa 414 + KuHa 411-300.[2] Originally delivered in the JNR livery of brick red ("Red No. 13") with cream ("Cream No. 4") warning panels on the cab ends, these sets were repainted between 1986 and 1987 into a new livery of white with blue bodyside stripe, carried up until the present day.[2] Some sets later received life-extension refurbishment with transverse seating replaced by longitudinal seating.[2]

Livery variations[edit]

JR Kyushu set FM5 was re-painted in the old JNR livery in 2000 to commemorate the millennium celebrations in Japan. It operated in this livery until it was withdrawn in 2012.[2]

  • JR Kyushu 415-0 series set FM5 in JNR-era livery, June 2006
    JR Kyushu 415-0 series set FM5 in JNR-era livery, June 2006
  • Interior of a 415-0 series trainset
    Interior of a 415-0 series trainset

415-100 series[edit]

This subseries was introduced in 1978, and most of the trains are operated by JR Kyushu, although a few trainsets were operated by JR East on the Jōban Line (the latter were withdrawn in March 2007, again in favour of the E531 series trains). The 415-100 series trainsets were built in the same exterior style as the 113-2000 series trains, but the seat pitch for transverse seating was increased from 1,420 mm to 1,490 mm, and toilets were fitted only in the KuHa 411-200 cars.[2]

Kyushu[edit]

The first 415-100 series sets allocated to Kyushu were 4-car units delivered from September 1978. These were formed KuHa 411-100 + MoHa 415-100 + MoHa 414-100 + KuHa 411-200.[2] Some sets later received life-extension refurbishment with transverse seating replaced by longitudinal seating.[2]

  • JR Kyushu 415-100 series in August 2017
    JR Kyushu 415-100 series in August 2017

415-500 series[edit]

The 415-500 sub-series was introduced from January 1982 on the Jōban Line, based at Katsuta Depot. These units had all longitudinal seating.[2] Five 4-car sets were transferred to Minami-Fukuoka Depot in 1987 for use on Kagoshima Main Line duties, but these were all transferred to Kagoshima Depot by March 2007.[2] A further two 4-car sets were transferred from JR East to JR Kyushu, entering service in March 2009.[2]

After serving for more than a decade in service, the remaining cars in this subseries are set to undergo retirement after the timetable revision on 23 September 2022.[3]

  • JR Kyushu 415-500 series in January 2022
    JR Kyushu 415-500 series in January 2022

415-700 series[edit]

Only seven cars were manufactured, and from 1985 to 2007 was operated as part of the 7+4+4-car formations on the Jōban Line. It was withdrawn in March 2007 and scrapped in July 2008.

415-800 series[edit]

Introduced by JR-West in 1991 for service on the Nanao Line and the IR Ishikawa Railway Line. The 415-800 series trainsets are based on the 113-800 series trains.

  • JR-West 415-800 series, July 2004
    JR-West 415-800 series, July 2004
  • Interior of a 415-800 series trainset
    Interior of a 415-800 series trainset
  • Fukuchiyama Line livery, Used on the Fukuchiyama Line from 1991
    Fukuchiyama Line livery, Used on the Fukuchiyama Line from 1991

415-1500 series[edit]

Introduced in February 1986, the stainless steel bodies 415-1500 series trainsets look externally similar to the 211 and 213 series trains, and can be operated in 4- or 7+4+4-car formations (Jōban Line only). These trains can be coupled with the 415-500 and 415-700 series trains, and are lighter than previous variants.

An experimental bi-level cab car was built by Nippon Sharyo in 1991.[4] The car, designated as Kuha 415-1901, had a capacity of 156 passengers. It was scrapped in 2006.[4]

  • Experimental double-deck car KuHa 415-1901, August 2002
    Experimental double-deck car KuHa 415-1901, August 2002

Kyushu[edit]

12 4-car 415-1500 series sets (F1510 - F1521) were delivered to Kyushu between September 1986 and February 1987.[2] Set F1501 was also later transferred from JR East to JR Kyushu in 2009, allocated first to Minami-Fukuoka Depot, and later to Mojiko Depot (from March 2012).[2]

  • JR East 415-1500 series in March 2016
    JR East 415-1500 series in March 2016
  • JR Kyushu 415-1500 series in August 2017
    JR Kyushu 415-1500 series in August 2017

References[edit]

  • Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  • JR電車編成表 2009夏 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2009]. Japan: JRR. June 2009. ISBN 978-4-330-06909-8.
  • Fukuhara (August 2010). 415系近郊形電車のあゆみ その１ [History of the 415 series suburban EMUs - Part 1]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 50 (592): 94–99.
  1. ^ a b c "401系" [401 series]. rail.hobidas.com (in Japanese). Neko Publishing. 9 October 2008. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Saka, Masahiro (February 2013). JR九州近郊型電車の現況 [The current state of JR Kyushu outer-suburban EMUs]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). 42 (346): 14–31.
  3. ^ "鹿児島地区「415系500番台」ダイヤ改正で引退 最終日に見送りイベント" [Kagoshima area "415 series 500 series" retired due to timetable revision, Send-off event on the last day]. news.railway-pressnet.com (in Japanese). 13 September 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  4. ^ a b "クハ415-1901" [Kuha 415-1901]. rail.hobidas.com (in Japanese). Neko Publishing. 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 14 January 2020.

Further reading[edit]

  • Fukuhara, Shunichi (August 2015). 415系物語 [The 415 series story] (in Japanese). Japan: JTB Publishing. ISBN 9784533105920.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to JNR 415.
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