JR West creates 289 series

[miyakoji]

JR West is converting 683-2000 series trains to DC-only and calling them 289 series.  It's not clear based on the two links below whether the AC capability was just locked out, or if hardware was removed.  These are surplus to requirements after the March timetable revision, which must have been fairly dramatic as the 289 series will apparently be 85 cars total when everything is converted.  JRW got only 27 cars from Hokuetsu if I understand it correctly, so it's not just because of that.  These will replace all 381 series at Suita and Fukuchiyama depots, and be used on Hashidate, Kinosaki, Kounotori, and Kuroshio services.

 

http://railf.jp/news/2015/05/28/160000.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/289_series

http://news.mynavi.jp/news/2015/04/28/381/

 

Red stripe a la 287 series, and new number plate:

 

[bikkuri bahn]

I see a visit to 381 series romping areas brewing up...

[Sacto1985]

Question: do these ex-683 Series EMU's have a car tilting feature? The reason why the 381's hung onto the Kuroshio service between Kyoto and Shingu Station until very recently was its ability to tilt into turns to allow for faster speeds through curves. The 287 Series EMU that eventually replaced most of them use an air suspension system to achieve the similar tilting effect through curves.

[bikkuri bahn]

287 series has no tilting feature.  The 283 series does.  The 683 series will keep their conventional suspensions.  Travel times are expected to increase 10min to Shingu due to lack of tilt.  Tilt systems are expensive to maintain, and cost:performance ratio is likely not good enough to warrant having such a feature on this route. At least they'll no longer need to keep barfbags in the seat pockets...

[EF65 1100]

JRW got only 27 cars from Hokuetsu if I understand it correctly, so it's not just because of that.

 

JR West swapped all 683-2000's out of Shirasagi and giving them the 681 instead as of the March 14 timetable. These 683-2000's are the ones that are converted to 289, a total of 85 cars.

 

This article is directly from JR West - http://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/2015/04/page_7100.html

 

The article compares the 289 with the 381. The 289 will have better toilets (western style), power sockets, and a multi-purpose room.

Edited May 29, 2015 by EF65 1100

[miyakoji]

Thanks for the link, very interesting.  The Japanese wikipedia page for the 381s says that the 2007-2011 renewal done on those based at Gotoh (the ones used on Yakumo service) included conversion to western style toilets.