201 series#Shikisai train

{{short description|Japanese train type}}

{{For|the JR Hokkaido diesel multiple unit|KiHa 201 series}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}

{{Infobox train

| name = 201 series

| image = JRW Series201-136.jpg

| imagesize = 300px

| background = black

| caption = A 201 series train in November 2023

| service = 1979–2025

| manufacturer = Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation

| family =

| replaced = 101 series
103 series

| successor = E231 series, E233 series, 321 series, 323 series

| yearconstruction = 1979 (201-900 series prototype)
1981–1985

| yearservice = 20 August 1979

| refurbishment = 2003–2007 (JR-West)

| numberbuilt = 1,018 vehicles

| numberservice = None

| numberpreserved = 1 vehicle

| numberscrapped = 885 vehicles

| formation =

| operator = {{Plainlist|

}}

| depots = Morinomiya
Nara

| lines = Yamatoji Line, Sakurai Line, Wakayama Line, Osaka Higashi Line

| carbody = Steel

| carlength = {{cvt|20|m|ftin}}

| width =

| height =

| maxspeed = {{convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (service)
{{convert|110|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (design speed)

| weight =

| capacity =

| acceleration = {{cvt|2.5|km/h/s}}

| deceleration = {{cvt|3.5|km/h/s}}

| traction = Thyristor chopper

| traction motors = MT60 (150kW)

| poweroutput =

| gauge = {{Track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

| electricsystem = 1,500 V DC overhead

| collectionmethod = PS21 diamond-shaped pantograph

| brakes = Regenerative brake, electro-pneumatic brake

| safety = ATS-S, ATS-SN, ATS-SW, ATS-B, ATS-P

}}

The {{nihongo|201 series|201系|201-kei}} was a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type introduced in 1979 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). It was operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) from 1987 until 2025 and East Japan Railway Company (JR East) from 1987 until 20 June 2011.

It was the first JNR train to use electronic chopper control.{{cite journal|journal=Japan Railfan Magazine|issue=526|title=201系四半世紀の歩み|date=February 2005|volume=45}}

File:201 900 prototype.JPG in Tokyo, 13 May 1979. Next to it, a 103 series train can be seen passing through]]

Operations

The 201 series stock was used on a large number of lines.

=JR-West=

  • Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line), Sakurai Line (Manyo Mahoroba Line), Wakayama Line (from 2006 to 14 March 2025){{Cite web |date=2025-03-19 |title= |script-title=ja:【約45年の活躍に幕】ダイヤ改正を前に201系が大和路線での運用を終了 |trans-title=(After 45 years of service) 201 series ends service on Yamatoji Line ahead of timetable revision |url=https://rail.hobidas.com/rmnews/514774/ |access-date=2025-05-14 |website=RM News |publisher=Neko Publishing |language=ja |publication-place=Japan}}

File:Jnr 201skyblue.jpg|201 series on a JR Kyoto Line service in August 2004

File:Sakurajima line Series201.jpg|Osaka Loop Line 201 series refurbished train in September 2017

File:Series 201 ND602 in Shin-Imamiya Station.jpg|Yamatoji Line 201 series refurbished train in March 2016

File:JRW-Series201R Inside.jpg|Refurbished interior in December 2021

File:JRW Series201R Inside Priority-seat.jpg|Refurbished priority seats view in December 2021

= JR East =

  • Chūō Rapid Line (10 cars) (from 1979 to October 2010)JR East news release: [http://www.jreast.co.jp/hachioji/info/20100617/20100617_info01.pdf "「さよなら中央線201系」キャンペーン<第2弾>を開催します" (25 February 2010)]. Retrieved 17 June 2010. {{in lang|ja}}
  • Chūō-Sōbu Line (10 cars) (from 1982 to 2001)
  • Ōme Line (4 cars) (from 1999 to 2008)
  • Itsukaichi Line (6 cars) (from 1999 to 2008)
  • Hachikō Line (6+4 cars) (HachiōjiKomagawa, until March 2008)
  • Keiyō Line, Sotobō Line, Tōgane Line (10 cars) (from 2000 to 20 June 2011){{cite web |url= http://railf.jp/news/2011/06/21/090000.html|script-title=ja:京葉線の201系が定期運用を終える|trans-title= Keiyō Line 201 series withdrawn from regular service|date= 21 June 2011|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 21 June 2011}}
  • Musashino Line (6 cars) (from 3 March 1986 to November 1996)

File:JR EAST 201(Chuo Rapid Service).jpg|A Chuo/Ōme Line 201 series in June 2006

File:JRE-201-EMU-KeiyouLine.jpg|A Keiyo Line 201 series in February 2007

File:JRE-201-EMU-SoubuLine.jpg|A Chūō-Sōbu Line 201 series in December 1998

File:Inside of JNR 201.jpg|Interior view in October 2007

''Shikisai'' train

A 4-car 201 series set (W1) was modified in 2001 by JR East to become the special {{Nihongo|Shikisai|四季彩}} tourist train, entering service on the Ōme Line from 4 August 2001. This train featured panorama windows and transverse seating bays on one side of the train only. It was repainted into a new livery in June 2005.{{cite book |script-title=ja: JR電車編成表 2009夏 |trans-title = JR EMU Formations – Summer 2009 | publisher = JRR | date = June 2009 | location = Japan | isbn = 978-4-330-06909-8}} The train was withdrawn from regular service at the end of June 2009, with a number of special finale runs scheduled for July.Japan Railfan Magazine: [http://railf.jp/news/2009/06/29/185400.html "201系「四季彩」,青梅線定期運用を終了" (28 June 2009)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090630150349/http://railf.jp/news/2009/06/29/185400.html |date=30 June 2009 }}. Retrieved on 28 June 2009. {{in lang|ja}}

File:JNR201 Shikisai Nambu 0404294.jpg|Shikisai train in original livery in May 2004

File:201 Shikisai Takao 20070623.JPG|Shikisai train in revised livery (and windows) in June 2007

File:JR-E type 201,"Shikisai" interior (3038631388).jpg|Interior view in November 2008

Preserved examples

  • KuHa 201-1: preserved at Toyoda Depot{{cite web |url=https://railf.jp/event/2021/12/08/103000.html |title=12月18日開催 JR東日本八王子支社「豊田車両センター201系展示撮影会」の参加者募集 |trans-title= |date=8 December 2021 |work=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |publisher=Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location=Japan |language=Japanese |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20211210191508/https://railf.jp/event/2021/12/08/103000.html |archivedate=10 December 2021 |url-status=live |accessdate=10 December 2021 }}

File:JRE Tc 201-1 Toyoda depot 2014 1108.jpg|KuHa 201-1 at Toyoda Depot in 2014

Accidents

On the evening of 12 October 1997, A 6-car Chuo Line 201 series trainset collided with a 12-car Super Azusa E351 series train which was passing through the Otsuki Station with a 2-minute delay at a running speed of {{Cvt|105|km/h}}, while on the right side which is a damaged 201 series trainset which collided at a speed of {{Cvt|25|km/h}}, the Super Azusa train derailed which has been led to decoupling of 4 cars (Car No. 5 to 9), while the last which had been rolled over to the ground. The accident resulted in 78 injuries but no recorded deaths. The main cause of this accident was about the shunting or decoupling of the two 201 series trainsets which was composed of 4 cars for Ome Line & 6 cars for Chuo Line Rapid, the 4-car set remained in Otsuki, while the 6-car set was leaving from the station for turnover, but unfortunately, there was a delayed Super Azusa train which was coming behind to the main line, resulting in collision.{{Cite news|newspaper=朝日新聞・朝刊・山梨|date=1997-10-14|title=怒り抑え代替バスへ 朝の足奪われ混乱 大月の列車衝突事故|quote=JR東日本は十三日の始発から、甲府 – 塩山、塩山 – 甲斐大和、四方津 – 高尾間でそれぞれ折り返し運転した。塩山 – 四方津間は七十二台の代替バスを走らせたが、...}} – 聞蔵IIビジュアルにて閲覧:負傷者の詳細についても記載がある。

After this incident, the management of JR East decided to abolish the shunting work that is required the existing ATS to be turned off, and they completely repaired the damaged trainset to let them back from service.{{Cite book |editor=災害情報センター・日外アソシエーツ|year=2007|title=鉄道・航空機事故全史|publisher=日外アソシエーツ|page=10|isbn=978-4-8169-2043-1}}

References

{{refbegin}}

  • {{cite book |script-title=ja: JR全車両ハンドブック2006| trans-title = JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006 | publisher = Neko Publishing | year = 2006 | location = Japan }}

{{refend}}

{{reflist}}