200 Series Shinkansen

The 200 series (200系) was a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) for the Tohoku Shinkansen and Joetsu Shinkansen high-speed rail lines in Japan, and operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) until 2013. They actually predated the 100 series trains, having been built between 1980 and 1986. It was one of the two recipients of the 23rd Laurel Prize presented by the Japan Railfan Club, the first Shinkansen type to receive that award. The last remaining sets were retired from regular service in March 2013, and were completely withdrawn from service in April 2013.

200 series
Refurbished 200 series trainset, July 2008
In service1982–14 April 2013
ManufacturerHitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed1980–1986
Refurbished1999–2002
Number built700 vehicles (66 sets)
Number in serviceNone
Number preserved6 vehicles
SuccessorE5 series
Formation8, 10, 12, 13, 16 cars
Operator(s)JNR (1982–1987)
JR East (1987–2013)
Depot(s)Niigata, Sendai
Line(s) servedTōhoku Shinkansen, Jōetsu Shinkansen, Gala-Yuzawa Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length25,000 mm (82 ft 0 in)
Width3,385 mm (11 ft 1.3 in)
Height4,410 mm (14 ft 6 in)
DoorsTwo per side
Maximum speed240 km/h (149 mph)
(275 km/h (171 mph) in past)
Traction systemThyristor drive
Electric system(s)25 kV AC, 50 Hz, overhead catenary
Current collection methodPantograph
Safety system(s)ATC-2, DS-ATC
Multiple working400 series, E3 series
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge

Design

The 200 Series Shinkansen trains resembled the earlier 0 series trains in styling (some later units had the pointed 'shark nose' of the 100 series), but were lighter and more powerful, since these two lines are mountain routes and have steeper gradients. These lines are also prone to snowfall and the trains had small snowplows fitted, as well as protection of equipment against snow.

They were originally painted in ivory with a green window band and lower bodyside band, but a number of sets were refurbished and painted into a white-upper/dark blue-lower scheme with new wrap-around cab windows from 1999.

The first units were capable of 210 km/h (130 mph) but later ones can do 240 km/h (150 mph), and four were converted to be capable of 275 km/h (171 mph). Some units were also modified with retractable couplers in the nose for coupling with Yamagata Shinkansen Tsubasa and Akita Shinkansen Komachi Mini-shinkansen sets, but these are no longer in service. In addition, some of the later 200 series shinkansen trains were fitted with double-deck cars, which had semi-open standard-class compartments on the lower deck and green class (first class) seating on the upper deck. These too have been removed from service.

Withdrawal of the earlier units began in 1997, and the last remaining unrefurbished set was withdrawn in May 2007.

Variants

Since their introduction in 1982, the 200 series sets have been operated in a number of different formations as described below.[1]

E sets (1982–1993)

12-car sets for Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamabiko and Aoba services, and for Jōetsu Shinkansen Asahi and Toki services. These had a maximum speed of 210 km/h, and remained in service until early 1993.

The 12-car E sets were formed as follows.[2]

Car No.123456789101112
Designation McM'MM'MkM'MsM'MBM'MM'c
Numbering 221226225226225-400226215226237226225222

F sets (1983–2007)
12-car set F19, March 2006
12-car set F8 on Gala-Yuzawa Line with pointed nose, January 2006

12-car 200-1000 series sets with a maximum speed of 240 km/h (150 mph) which were introduced in November 1983.

From March 1990, four selected 12-car F sets (F90–F93, formerly F54, F59, F14, F16) were upgraded allowing them to run at a maximum of 275 km/h (171 mph) on a small number of down Asahi services. 275 km/h (171 mph) services were discontinued on the Jōetsu Shinkansen from 1998, with the introduction of E2 series trains, and the F90 sets were subsequently used interchangeably with other 240 km/h (150 mph) F sets.

Some F sets are similar to the H sets in that the driving trailer cars were built with a pointed nose, just like the latter. These trains however, feature a solid green line unlike the H sets, where they have two green lines, one thick and one thin, separated by a thin white section near the bottom.

Formations

The 12-car F sets were formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. Car 11 was a Green (first class) car, and car 9 had a buffet counter.[3]

Car No.123456789101112
Designation McM'MM'MkM'MM'MBM'MSM'c
Numbering 221226225226225-400226225226237226215222

Cars 2, 4, 10, and 12 were each fitted with one cross-arm pantograph. (3, 5, 7, and 9 for sets F90-93)[3]

Interior
  • Green car, January 2002
  • Standard-class car with fixed 3-abreast seating rows, January 2002

Set F80
Modified set F80 on a Nagano Shinkansen Asama service, February 1998

One F set, F17, was specially modified at Sendai Depot between August 1997 and January 1998 for use on additional Nagano Shinkansen Asama services in February 1998 during the 1998 Winter Olympics held in Nagano. The train was renumbered F80, and modifications included ability to operate on both 25 kV AC 50 Hz and 60 Hz overhead power supplies, weight-saving measures to comply with the 16 tonne axle load restriction, and additional control equipment to cope with the 30‰ gradient of the Nagano Shinkansen.[4] Maximum speed was limited to 210 km/h when operating on the Nagano Shinkansen.[4]

Seats in the end cars, cars 1 and 12, were replaced with E2 series-style seats to reduce weight.[4]

The train was formed as follows, with car 1 at the Tokyo end. Car 11 was a Green (first class) car, and car 9 had a buffet counter.[4]

Car No.123456789101112
Designation McM'MM'MkM'MM'MBM'MSM'c
Numbering 221-1514226-1081225-1033226-1082225-1417226-1083225-1034226-1084237-1017226-1085215-1017222-1514

Cars 2, 4, 8, and 10 were each fitted with one cross-arm pantograph.[4]

After February 1998, set F80 was used interchangeably with other F sets, and remained in operation until 2004.

G sets (1987–1999)
8-car set G45 at Omiya, circa 1990

10-car, and later 8-car, sets formed from the earlier 12-car E sets, with a maximum speed of 210 km/h. These entered service from 18 April 1987.[2]

Formations

The initial 10-car G sets were formed as follows.[2]

Car No.1256789101112
Designation McM'M4M'MsM'MBM'MM'c
Numbering 221226225-400226215226237226225222

The 8-car G sets were formed as follows.[2]

Car No.12345678
Designation McM'M4M'MhsM'MBM'c
Numbering 221226225-400226215-300226237222

Cars 2, 4, 6, and 8 were equipped with cross-arm pantographs. Some sets had an "Mpk" car (numbered 225-400) in place of the 237 buffet car for car 11.[3]

H sets (1990–2005)
13-car set H5, circa 1990
16-car set H6 at Tokyo Station, June 2002

Six 13-car and later 16-car sets (H1–H6) with a maximum speed of 240 km/h for use on Yamabiko (nicknamed Super Yamabiko) services, incorporating two bilevel Green cars (cars 9 and 10)[5] These sets entered service from 23 June 1990.[2]

Regular operations using 16-car H sets ended from the start of the revised timetable on 13 March 2004, but sets H4 and H5 were reinstated as 12-car sets from the summer of 2004 for seasonal use with their Green cars removed. These two sets survived until mid-2005.[2]

Formations

The initial 13-car H sets were formed as follows.[2]

Car No.12345678910111213
Designation McM'MM'MkM'TsDMsM'MBM'MM'c
Numbering 221226225226225-400226249215226237226225222

The 16-car H sets were formed as follows.[3]

Car No.12345678910111213141516
Designation McM'MM'MM'MkM'T'sDTsDMCONM'MM'MM'c
Numbering 221-200226-100225226-100225226225-400226-100249248225-100226-100225-200226-100225222-200
Seating capacity 50958095809570956740709568958055

Cars 2, 4, 8, 12, and 14 were each fitted with one cross-arm pantograph.[3]

The 12-car H sets (H4 & H5) were formed as follows.[2]

Car No.123456789101112
Designation McM'MM'MkM'MM'MM'MconM'c
Numbering 221-200226-100225226-100225-400226-100225226-100225-200226-100225-100222-200

Cars 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 were each fitted with one cross-arm pantograph.[2]

K sets (1992–2013)
10-car set K31 on a Nasuno service in June 2002
Reliveried set K47 on a Tanigawa service in January 2011

8-car and later 10-car sets with a maximum speed of 240 km/h modified with nose-end couplers to operate in conjunction with 400 series Yamagata Shinkansen sets and E3 series Akita Shinkansen sets.

The remaining sets in use on the Tōhoku Shinkansen were withdrawn from 19 November 2011, but 200 series sets continued to be used on the Jōetsu Shinkansen.[6] The last remaining sets were withdrawn from regular service by the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013.[7]

Formations

The K sets are formed as follows.[8]

Car No.12345678910
Designation McM'MM'MM'MpkM'MsM'c
Numbering 221226225226225226225226215222

Interior
  • Refurbished Green car, August 2002
  • Refurbished standard-class car, January 2002

Special event train services

Tohoku Shinkansen 25th anniversary
Refurbished 10-car set K47 in "revival livery" on a special 25th anniversary working, 23 June 2007

On 23 June 2007, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Yamabiko 931 service from Omiya to Morioka to mark the 25th anniversary of the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen.[9] Set K47 was specially repainted back into its original ivory and green livery for this event.[9]

Tohoku Shinkansen 30th anniversary

On 23 June 2012, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Yamabiko 235 service from Omiya to Morioka to mark the 30th anniversary of the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen.[10]

Joetsu Shinkansen 30th anniversary

On 17 November 2012, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Joetsu Shinkansen 30th Anniversary (上越新幹線開業30周年号」, Jōetsu Shinkansen Kaigyō 30-shūnen-gō) service, running as Toki 395, from Omiya to Niigata.[11]

Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko

On 30 March 2013, 10-car set K47 was used for a special Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko (さよなら２００系やまびこ号) train operated from Morioka to Tokyo, following the withdrawal of 200 series trains from regular scheduled services on 16 March.[12]

Arigato 200 series

On 13 April 2013, a special Arigato 200 series (ありがとう２００系号) service ran from Sendai to Ueno in Tokyo.[13]

Sayonara 200 series

On 14 April 2013, 10-car set K47 was used for two final Sayonara 200 series (さよなら２００系号) services from Niigata to Tokyo and from Omiya to Niigata, marking the last public operation of the 200 series trains.[14]

Derailment
View of the derailed train several days after the earthquake

A refurbished 200 series train (set K25 on the Toki 325 service) derailed on the Jōetsu Shinkansen line while travelling at a speed of approximately 200 km/h between Nagaoka Station and Urasa Station on 23 October 2004 during the 2004 Chūetsu earthquake. Eight of the ten cars were derailed. This was the first derailment of a Shinkansen train in service. None of the 155 passengers on board was injured. Set K25 was officially withdrawn on 25 March 2005.[2]

Preserved examples
  • 221-1 and 237-1 (ex-set E1, later F30) at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot[15]
  • 215-1, 222-1, 226-1 (all ex-set E1, later F30), and 249-5 (ex-set H5) stored outdoors at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot,[15] but all cut up in 2010
  • 215-15, 221-15 and 237-15 (ex-set E15, later F37) next to Nagareyama Onsen Station on the Hakodate Main Line[15] (to be cut up in June 2013)[16]
  • 222-35 (ex-set K31) at The Railway Museum in Saitama, Saitama[15]
  • 221-1505 (ex-set K25) at JR East General Training Center in Shirakawa City. Fukushima Prefecture. where it's preserved and displayed.
  • 221-1510 (ex-set F13, later K47) outside Niigata City Niitsu Railway Museum in Niitsu, Niigata since June 2013
  • Preserved car 221-1 at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot in July 2006
  • Five cars of former set F30 stored at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot in January 2003
  • Car 249-5 of former set H5 stored at Sendai General Shinkansen Depot in July 2008
  • Preserved 200 series cars next to Nagareyama Onsen Station in Hokkaido in August 2011
  • Preserved car 222-35 at the Railway Museum in Saitama in January 2015
  • Preserved car 221-1510 outside the Niigata City Niitsu Railway Museum in August 2014

See also
  • List of high speed trains

Further reading
  • Kodama, Mitsuo (March 2013). さようなら200系 [Goodbye 200 series]. Rail Magazine (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. (354): 25–33.
  • Manabe, Yūji (June 2013). 200系～編成研究のまとめ [200 series: An overview of formation studies]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 53 (626): 40–53.

References
  • JR全車両ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006.
  • Semmens, Peter (1997). High Speed in Japan: Shinkansen - The World's Busiest High-speed Railway. Sheffield, UK: Platform 5 Publishing. ISBN 1-872524-88-5.
  • Yamanouchi, Shūichirō (2002). 東北・上越新幹線 [Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen]. Tokyo, Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN 4-533-04513-8.
  1. Imada, Tamotsu (November 1996). 新幹線200系 [200 Series Shinkansen]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. 36 (427): 15–31.
  2. 新幹線電車データブック2011 [Shinkansen Databook 2011]. Japan: JRR. March 2011. pp. 70–85. ISBN 978-4-330-19811-8.
  3. JR電車編成表 '98夏号 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 1998]. Japan: JRR. July 1998. p. 9. ISBN 4-88283-029-9.
  4. 200系F80編成 [200 series set F80]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. 38 (444): 64. April 1998.
  5. JR電車編成表 '00冬号 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2000]. Japan: JRR. January 2000. ISBN 4-88283-032-9.
  6. Ito, Hisami (December 2011). 復活 ！ "はやぶさ"，東北新幹線 [Return of the Tohoku Shinkansen Hayabusa!]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. 51 (608): 17.
  7. 国鉄型が続々引退、2013年春のダイヤ改正 [JNR types to be withdrawn from spring 2013 timetable revision]. Tetsudo.com (in Japanese). Japan: Asahi Interactive Inc. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  8. 今こそ２００系 [The 200 series right now]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. 51 (601): 58–63. May 2011.
  9. JR東日本　"東北新幹線大宮開業25周年記念号" 運転 [JR East runs Tohoku Shinkansen 25th anniversary special train]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 36 (280): 75. August 2012.
  10. JR東日本　東北新幹線が開業30周年を迎える [JR East Celebrates 30th Anniversary of Tohoku Shinkansen Opening]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. 41 (340): 74. August 2012.
  11. 11/17,K47編成の「上越新幹線開業30周年記念号」運転 [17 November: Set K47 runs as "Joetsu Shinkansen 30th Anniversary"]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 53 (622): 157. February 2013.
  12. 「さよなら200系やまびこ号」運転 ["Sayonara 200 series Yamabiko" run]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 1 April 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  13. 「ありがとう２００系で行く東京・大宮・東京ディズニーリゾートへの旅」を発売します! [Package tour to Tokyo, Omiya, and Tokyo Disney Resort using "Arigato 200 series"] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: East Japan Railway Company, Sendai Division. 26 February 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  14. 「さよなら200系号」運転 ["Sayonara 200 series" run]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 April 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  15. 鉄道のテクノロジー Vol.1 新幹線 [Railway Technology Vol.1: Shinkansen] (in Japanese). Japan: San-ei. 2009. ISBN 978-4-7796-0534-5.
  16. 流山温泉駅に設置されている新幹線２００系車両の撤去について [Removal of 200 series shinkansen cars at Nagareyama Onsen Station] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 24 May 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2013.
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