KiHa 261 series

Japanese train type

ReplacedKiHa 183 series, KiHa 281 series, KiHa 283 seriesConstructed1998–Number under construction28 vehicles (as of December 2013[update])Number built35 vehicles (as of April 2013[update])Number in service35 vehicles (as of April 2013[update])Formation4–6 cars per trainsetOperatorsJR HokkaidoDepotsNaeboSpecificationsCar body constructionStainless steelCar length
  • 21,300 mm (69 ft 11 in) (intermediate)
  • 21,470 mm (70 ft 5 in) (261-0 end)
  • 21,670 mm (71 ft 1 in) (261-1000 end)
Width
  • 2,800 mm (9 ft 2 in) (261-0)
  • 2,928 mm (9 ft 7.3 in) (261-1000)
Height
  • 4,012 mm (13 ft 2.0 in) (261-0)
  • 3,982 mm (13 ft 0.8 in) (261-1000)
Doors1 per sideMaximum speed130 km/h (81 mph)Prime mover(s)N-DMF13HZH (× 1 or × 2 per car)Power output460 hp (340 kW) per engineTransmissionHydraulicTrack gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The KiHa 261 series (キハ261系) is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2000.[1]

Design

The running gear was based on the KiHa 201 series trains introduced in 1997, and the body design was a joint venture with the Danish State Railways (DSB).[2]

Fleet

As of 1 April 2013[update], 35 KiHa 261 series vehicles were in operation.[3] 14 were built by Fuji Heavy Industries, and 21 were built by JR Hokkaido.[3] A further 28 vehicles are on order to be delivered from fiscal 2015.[4]

Operations

KiHa 261 series trainsets are used on the following services.[1]

KiHa 261-0 series

  • Sōya services between Sapporo and Wakkanai, since 11 March 2000
  • Sarobetsu services between Asahikawa and Wakkanai, since 4 March 2017

KiHa 261-1000 series

  • Tokachi services between Sapporo and Obihiro, since 1 October 2007
  • Hokuto services between Sapporo and Hakodate, since 26 March 2016
  • Ōzora services between Sapporo and Kushiro, since 14 March 2020

Formations

Sōya

Sōya services are normally formed of four-car KiHa 261-100 series sets, and are sometimes lengthened to six cars during busy periods.[5]

4-car formations

Four-car sets are formed as follows.[5]

Car No. 1 2 3 4
Numbering KiRoHa 261-200 KiHa 260-200 KiHa 260-100 KiHa 261-100

6-car formations

Six-car sets are formed by adding two cars as shown below. Car 1 (and car 21) includes Green (first) class and standard class accommodation.[5]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Numbering KiRoHa 261-200 KiHa 260-200 KiHa 260-100 KiHa 261-100 KiHa 260-100 KiHa 261-100
Car No. 21 22 1 2 3 4
Numbering KiRoHa 261-200 KiHa 260-200 KiRoHa 261-200 KiHa 260-200 KiHa 260-100 KiHa 261-100

Super Tokachi

4-car KiHa 261-1000 series set on a Super Tokachi service in August 2012

Super Tokachi services were originally formed of five-car KiHa 261-1000 series sets, but these were later reduced to four cars.[1]

The 4-car Super Tokachi sets are formed as follows.

Car No. 1 2 3 4
Numbering KiRo 261-1100 KiHa 260-1100 KiHa 260-1200 KiHa 261-1200

Interior

  • Interior of Green car KiRo 261-1102 in April 2009
    Interior of Green car KiRo 261-1102 in April 2009
  • Interior of ordinary-class car KiHa 260-1102 in April 2009
    Interior of ordinary-class car KiHa 260-1102 in April 2009

History

5-car KiHa 261-1000 series set as first introduced on Super Tokachi services, October 2007

A four-car pre-production set was delivered from Fuji Heavy Industries in November 1998 for evaluation and testing.[1][2] The first production trains were introduced on Super Sōya services between Sapporo and Wakkanai from the start of the revised timetable on 11 March 2000.[1]

New KiHa 261-1000 series 5-car sets were introduced on Super Tokachi services between Sapporo and Obihiro from October 2007.[1]

KiHa 261-1000 series set ST1101 in revised colour scheme in May 2021

A further 28 KiHa 261 series vehicles were delivered from 2015 onward, and these are not equipped with tilting capability.[4]

From December 2015 until the end of 2017, the KiHa 261-1000 series fleet were gradually repainted into a new livery with white front ends, yellow front-end gangway doors, and a purple bodyside stripe.[6]

KiHa 261-5000 series

On 17 October 2019, JR Hokkaido announced plans to introduce two new KiHa 261-5000 series 5-car sets.[7] They each feature external colour schemes inspired by the hamanasu and lavender flowers, which, according to JR Hokkaido, are prominent throughout Hokkaido.[8]

Car 1 is designated as a lounge car, featuring window-facing seats and transverse seating bays with tables. Cars 2 through 5 are ordinary-class cars, featuring 2+2 abreast seating throughout.[9]

The "Hamanasu" set was built at Kawasaki Heavy Industries' Hyogo factory, and was delivered to JR Hokkaido in July 2020.[10] It entered revenue service on 17 October of that year.[11] The "Lavender" set was delivered from the same factory in January 2021[12] and entered revenue service in May of that year,[13] although it was originally intended to enter service in April.[8]

  • The KiHa 261-5000 series "Hamanasu" set in May 2022
    The KiHa 261-5000 series "Hamanasu" set in May 2022
  • The KiHa 261-5000 series "Lavender" set in June 2022
    The KiHa 261-5000 series "Lavender" set in June 2022
  • Lounge interior
    Lounge interior
  • Ordinary-class interior
    Ordinary-class interior

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Jr全車両: ビジュアル決定版 Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 115. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
  2. ^ a b 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. pp. 448–449. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  3. ^ a b JR電車編成表 2014冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2014]. Japan: JRR. 1 December 2013. p. 391. ISBN 978-4-330-42413-2.
  4. ^ a b 車体傾斜装置、取りやめ検討 JR北海道、15年度以降導入の28両 将来の高速化に足かせも [JR Hokkaido to abandon tilt: 28 vehicles on order from FY2015 may hinder future speed increases]. Doshin (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 5 December 2013. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  5. ^ a b c JR気動車客車編成表 '04年版 [JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations - 2004]. Japan: JRR. 1 July 2004. p. 16. ISBN 978-4-88283-125-9.
  6. ^ JR北海道，キハ261系1000番台のエクステリアデザインを変更 [JR Hokkaido to modify exterior styling of KiHa 261-1000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 10 September 2015. Archived from the original on 10 September 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2015.
  7. ^ "観光列車に使える特急車両キハ261系5000番台新造 カウンター席や個室設置 JR北海道" [JR Hokkaido announces new limited express KiHa 261-5000 series trains that can be used for sightseeing trains, built with private compartments]. Traffic News (in Japanese). Mediavague Co., Ltd. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  8. ^ a b 観光列車に活用できる特急車両を製作します! [We will be introducing limited express rolling stock that can also be used for sightseeing trains!] (PDF). JR Hokkaido. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  9. ^ "JR北海道キハ261系5000番台「はまなす編成」デビュー前に一般公開" [JR Hokkaido shows off KiHa 261-5000 series "Hamanasu" set to the public before its debut]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  10. ^ "キハ261系5000番台が甲種輸送される" [KiHa 261-5000 series set undergoes delivery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 9 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  11. ^ "キハ261系5000番台が営業運転を開始" [KiHa 261-5000 series enters revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  12. ^ "JR北海道「ラベンダー編成」姿を現す - 今年4月頃から使用開始予定" [JR Hokkaido "Lavender" train appears, scheduled to enter service in April of this year]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  13. ^ "JR北海道「ラベンダー編成」「はまなす編成」10～11月の運行予定は" [JR Hokkaido "Lavender" and "Hamanasu" operation schedules for October and November]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 20 August 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to KiHa 261 series.
  • JR Hokkaido KiHa 261 Super Soya train information (in Japanese)
  • JR Hokkaido KiHa 261/283 Super Tokachi train information (in Japanese)
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