:KiHa 281 series
{{short description|Japanese train type}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox train
| background =
| name = KiHa 281 series
| image = Series Kiha281 Hokuto-2.jpg
| imagealt =
| imagesize = 300px
| caption = KiHa 281 series on a Hokuto service, September 2022
| service = 1994–2022
| manufacturer = Fuji Heavy Industries
| factory =
| family =
| replaced =
| yearconstruction = 1992–1993
| yearservice =
| refurbishment =
| yearscrapped =
| numberconstruction =
| numberbuilt = 27 vehicles
| numberservice =
| numberpreserved =
| numberscrapped =
| formation = 7–8 cars per trainset
| fleetnumbers =
| capacity =
| operator = JR Hokkaido
| depots = Hakodate
| lines = Hakodate Main Line, Muroran Main Line, Chitose Line
| carbody = Stainless steel
| trainlength =
| carlength = {{convert|21.300|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| width = {{convert|2.863|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (production cars)
{{convert|2.820|m|ftin|abbr=on}} (pre-production cars)
| height = {{convert|4.077|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| floorheight =
| platformheight =
| entrylevelorstep =
| doors = 1 per side
| maxspeed = {{convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}
| weight =
| acceleration =
| deceleration =
| traction =
| engine = N-DMF11HZA (355 hp) x2 per car
| poweroutput =
| transmission = Hydraulic
| aux =
| powersupply =
| hvac =
| bogies = N-DT281A
| brakes =
| safety =
| coupling =
| multipleworking =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
}}
The {{Nihongo|KiHa 281 series|キハ281系}} was a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on Super Hokuto limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, from 1994 until 2022. They were the first tilting trains to be operated by JR Hokkaido.{{cite book | last = Haraguchi| first = Takayuki | title = Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌 | publisher = Sekai Bunka | year = 2009 | location = Japan | page = 115 | isbn = 978-4-418-09905-4}}
Formations
The fleet of 27 cars was normally formed into seven-car sets for use on Hokuto (named Super Hokuto until March 2020{{Cite web |date=2022-07-13 |title= |script-title=ja:キハ281系、2022年9月で定期運行終了！ 10月ラストランに向けて「HEAT」ロゴも復活！ |trans-title=KiHa 281 series to end operation in September 2022! The "HEAT" logo is also back for the last run October! |url=https://rail.hobidas.com/news/405917/ |access-date=2022-07-14 |website=RM News |publisher=Neko Publishing}}) limited express services operating between {{STN|Hakodate|x}} and {{STN|Sapporo|x}}, and formations were sometimes lengthened to eight cars during busy periods.{{cite book |title = JR気動車客車編成表 '04年版 |trans-title=JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations - 2004| publisher = JRR | date = 1 July 2004 | location = Japan | page = 13| isbn = 978-4-88283-125-9}}
=7-car formations=
=8-car formations=
Sets lengthened to 8 cars were normally formed as follows, with car 1 at the Sapporo end. Car 3 was a Green car.
| class="wikitable" | |||||||
| Car No.
! 1 | 2 | style="background: #E6FFE6" | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Numbering
| KiHa 281 || KiHa 280 || style="background: #F5FFF5" | KiRo 280 || KiHa 280 || KiHa 280 || KiHa 280 || KiHa 280 || KiHa 281 |
Individual vehicle types
=KiHa 281-900=
File:KiHa 281-902 Sapporo 20080426.jpg
- Nos. KiHa 281-901–902 (2 vehicles)
Pre-production driving (control) cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered in January 1992. Seating capacity is 48, with toilets.{{cite book |title=JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 |publisher=Neko Publishing |year=2009 |isbn=978-4-7770-0836-0 |location=Japan |pages=450–451 |trans-title=JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009}}
{{-}}
=KiHa 280-900=
File:KiHa 280-901 Sapporo 20080426.jpg
- No. KiHa 280-901 (1 vehicle)
Pre-production intermediate car built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered in October 1992. Seating capacity is 60. The width of the side doors was increased from {{Cvt|800|mm}} on the KiHa 281-901–902 cars to {{Cvt|1030|mm}}.
{{-}}
=KiHa 281-0=
=KiHa 280-0=
- Nos. KiHa 280-1–4 (4 vehicles)
Production intermediate cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 51, with wheelchair space, universal access toilets, and a telephone.
{{-}}
=KiHa 280-100=
=KiRo 280-0=
Interior
Passenger seating used the same rotating/reclining seats as used on the 785 series EMUs. Seating is arranged 2+2 abreast in standard class and 2+1 abreast in Green class.
File:JRH Kiha281-901 Inside.jpg|Original interior
File:JRH Kiha280-3 Inside.jpg|Standard interior
File:JRH Kiro280-2 Inside.jpg|Green car interior
File:JRH Kiha281-901 Inside LED.jpg|Passenger information display
File:JRH Kiha280-3 Inside Aisle.jpg|Passenger passage
File:JRH Kiha280-3 Inside Toilet.jpg|Universal design toilet
File:JRH Kiro280-2 Inside Crew-cabin.jpg|Conductor's room
Green car accommodation is scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment.{{cite magazine| title = JR北海道 グリーン車をリニュアル|trans-title=JR Hokkaido to refurbish Green cars |magazine=Japan Railfan Magazine | volume = 52| issue = 609| page =60| publisher = Kōyūsha Co., Ltd.| location = Japan | date = January 2012}}{{Update inline|date=July 2022}}
History
=Pre-production sets=
Two pre-production cars, KiHa 281-901 and KiHa 281-902, were delivered from Fuji Heavy Industries in January 1992 for evaluation and testing.{{cite book | title =プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World | publisher = Kōtsū Shimbunsha | date = December 2005 | location = Japan | page = 113}} A pre-production intermediate car, KiHa 280-901, also built by Fuji Heavy Industries, was delivered in October 1992 to form a 3-car set. The first two cars delivered used the same roller-tilting mechanism on the bogies as used on the earlier JR Shikoku 2000 series DMUs, whereas the third car delivered used a bearing-guide system. The pre-production 3-car train underwent test-running to evaluate the two different systems in the harsh winter conditions of Hokkaido. The later bearing-guide tilt mechanism proved superior, and this system was used on subsequent production trains delivered from 1993.
=Entry into service=
File:JR hokkaido kiha281 super hokuto sapporo.jpg
The KiHa 281 series entered revenue service from the start of the revised timetable on 1 March 1994. The new tilting trains operated at a maximum speed of {{Convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}, reducing the journey time for the {{Convert|318|km||abbr=on}} distance between Hakodate and Sapporo to 3 hours, shaving 30 minutes off the journey time for Hokuto services operated by KiHa 183 series DMUs.
The original "HEAT281" logo on cab sides of the pre-production trains was changed from "Hokkaido Experimental Advanced Train" to "Hokkaido Express Advanced Train" with the arrival of the production cars. This logo was later changed to "Furico 281" to match the style used on the newer KiHa 283 series trains.
=Laurel Prize=
The KiHa 281 series was awarded the Laurel Prize in 1995 for its outstanding functional and design features.{{cite web|url=http://www.jrc.gr.jp/award/bl/bllist.htm |script-title=ja:ブルーリボン賞・ローレル賞 選定車両一覧 |trans-title=Blue Ribbon Award & Laurel Prize Winner List |date=May 2011 |publisher=Japan Railfan Club |location=Japan |language=ja |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026185520/http://www.jrc.gr.jp/award/bl/bllist.htm |archive-date=26 October 2010 |access-date=14 January 2012 |url-status=dead }}
= Withdrawal =
On 13 July 2022, JR Hokkaido announced its plans to withdraw the KiHa 281 series from operation and replace the type with the KiHa 261 series. The KiHa 281 series made its final run in regular service on 30 September 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=定期列車での営業運転を終えたキハ281系が返却回送される |trans-title=Final KiHa 281 series trainset in regular service transported to depot |url=https://railf.jp/news/2022/10/01/213000.html |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=ja}} Pre-production car KiHa 281-901 was repainted to feature the original livery and "HEAT281" logo{{Cite web |date=31 August 2022 |title=キハ281-901が復刻塗装に |trans-title=KiHa 281-901 repainted |url=https://railf.jp/news/2022/08/31/102000.html |access-date=11 September 2022 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=ja}} in preparation for a chartered final-run train that will run between 22 and 23 October.{{Cite web |last=日本放送協会 |title=ＪＲ特急型車両「キハ２８１系」最後の運行｜NHK 北海道のニュース |url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/sapporo-news/20221023/7000051789.html |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=NHK NEWS WEB}}{{Cite web |title=ラストランは「スーパー北斗」で復活 キハ281系、28年の歴史に幕 |url=https://mainichi.jp/articles/20221023/k00/00m/040/173000c |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=毎日新聞 |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-23 |title=お疲れさま、特急車両「キハ２８１系」ラストラン…沿線に多くのファン |url=https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20221023-OYT1T50093/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=読売新聞オンライン |language=ja}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-23 |title=キハ281系がラストラン 特急「スーパー北斗」で（写真=共同） |url=https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXZQOUE232CH0T21C22A0000000/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=日本経済新聞 |language=ja}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|JR Hokkaido Kiha 281|KiHa 281 series}}
- [http://www.jrhokkaido.co.jp/train/tr003_01.html JR Hokkaido KiHa 281/283 Super Hokuto train information] {{in lang|ja}}
{{JR Hokkaido trainsets}}
Category:Hokkaido Railway Company