KiHa 281 series

The 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.[1]

KiHa 281 series
KiHa 281 series on a Hokuto service, September 2022
In service1994–2022
ManufacturerFuji Heavy Industries
Constructed1992–1993
Number built27 vehicles
Formation7–8 cars per trainset
Operator(s)JR Hokkaido
Depot(s)Hakodate
Line(s) servedHakodate Main Line, Muroran Main Line, Chitose Line
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Car length21.300 m (69 ft 10.6 in)
Width2.863 m (9 ft 4.7 in) (production cars)
2.820 m (9 ft 3.0 in) (pre-production cars)
Height4.077 m (13 ft 4.5 in)
Doors1 per side
Maximum speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Prime mover(s)N-DMF11HZA (355 hp) x2 per car
TransmissionHydraulic
BogiesN-DT281A
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Formations

The fleet of 27 cars was normally formed into seven-car sets for use on Hokuto (named Super Hokuto until March 2020[2]) limited express services operating between Hakodate and Sapporo, and formations were sometimes lengthened to eight cars during busy periods.[3]

7-car formations

7-car sets were normally formed as follows, with car 1 at the Sapporo end. Car 3 was a Green (first class) car.[3]

Car No. 1234567
Numbering KiHa 281KiHa 280KiRo 280KiHa 280KiHa 280KiHa 280KiHa 281

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.[3]

Car No. 12345678
Numbering KiHa 281KiHa 280KiRo 280KiHa 280KiHa 280KiHa 280KiHa 280KiHa 281

Individual vehicle types

KiHa 281-900
KiHa 281-902, April 2008
  • 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.[4]

KiHa 280-900
KiHa 280-901, April 2008
  • 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 800 mm (31 in) on the KiHa 281-901–902 cars to 1,030 mm (41 in).[4]

KiHa 281-0
KiHa 281-2, September 2022
  • Nos. KiHa 281-1–6 (6 vehicles)

Production driving (control) cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 48, with toilets.[4]

KiHa 280-0
KiHa 280-3, September 2022
  • 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.[4]

KiHa 280-100
KiHa 280-103, September 2022
  • Nos. KiHa 280-101–110 (10 vehicles)

Production intermediate cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 60, with conductor's compartment, but no toilets.[4]

KiRo 280-0
KiRo 280-2, September 2022
  • Nos. KiRo 280-1–4 (4 vehicles)

Production Green (first class) cars built by Fuji Heavy Industries and delivered from 1993. Seating capacity is 26, with conductor's compartment, toilets, and a smoking area.[4]

Interior

Passenger seating used the same rotating/reclining seats as used on the 785 series EMUs.[4] Seating is arranged 2+2 abreast in standard class and 2+1 abreast in Green class.[4]

  • Original interior
    Original interior
  • Standard interior
    Standard interior
  • Green car interior
    Green car interior
  • Passenger information display
    Passenger information display
  • Passenger passage
    Passenger passage
  • Universal design toilet
    Universal design toilet
  • Conductor's room
    Conductor's room

Green car accommodation is scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment.[5]

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.[4][6] 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.[4] 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.[6] The later bearing-guide tilt mechanism proved superior, and this system was used on subsequent production trains delivered from 1993.[4]

Entry into service
KiHa 281 series formation on a Super Hokuto service at Sapporo Station, 1994

The KiHa 281 series entered revenue service from the start of the revised timetable on 1 March 1994.[1] The new tilting trains operated at a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph), reducing the journey time for the 318 km (198 mi) distance between Hakodate and Sapporo to 3 hours, shaving 30 minutes off the journey time for Hokuto services operated by KiHa 183 series DMUs.[1]

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.[4] This logo was later changed to "Furico 281" to match the style used on the newer KiHa 283 series trains.[4]

Laurel Prize

The KiHa 281 series was awarded the Laurel Prize in 1995 for its outstanding functional and design features.[7]

Withdrawal
KiHa 281-901, September 2022

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.[2] The KiHa 281 series made its final run in regular service on 30 September 2022.[8] Pre-production car KiHa 281-901 was repainted to feature the original livery and "HEAT281" logo[9] in preparation for a chartered final-run train that will run between 22 and 23 October.[2][10][11][12][13]

References
  1. Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 115. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
  2. 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！ [KiHa 281 series to end operation in September 2022! The "HEAT" logo is also back for the last run October!]. RM News. Neko Publishing. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
  3. JR気動車客車編成表 '04年版 [JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations - 2004]. Japan: JRR. 1 July 2004. p. 13. ISBN 978-4-88283-125-9.
  4. JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 450–451. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  5. "JR北海道 グリーン車をリニュアル" [JR Hokkaido to refurbish Green cars]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 52, no. 609. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. January 2012. p. 60.
  6. プロトタイプの世界 - Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. p. 113.
  7. ブルーリボン賞・ローレル賞 選定車両一覧 [Blue Ribbon Award & Laurel Prize Winner List] (in Japanese). Japan: Japan Railfan Club. May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
  8. "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" [Final KiHa 281 series trainset in regular service transported to depot]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 1 October 2022. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
  9. "キハ281-901が復刻塗装に" [KiHa 281-901 repainted]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2022.
  10. 日本放送協会. "ＪＲ特急型車両「キハ２８１系」最後の運行｜NHK 北海道のニュース". NHK NEWS WEB. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  11. "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". 毎日新聞 (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  12. "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". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  13. "キハ281系がラストラン 特急「スーパー北斗」で（写真=共同）". 日本経済新聞 (in Japanese). 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
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