201 series

201 series
ND604 in July 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	1979, 1981 – 1985
Number built	1,018 cars
Dimensions	20,000 mm × 2,800 mm × 4,140 mm
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Armature chopper control
Service information
In service	20 August 1979 – Present
Formation	4, 6, 8 or 10 cars per set
Number in service	224 cars
Fleet numbers	H1 – H7, KeYo1 – KeYo10 , KeYo51 – KeYo54, KeYo70 – KeYo74, 60 – 72, K1 – K4, LB1 – LB16, ND601 – ND622, T101 – T118, T122 – T133, W1, C01 – C32, KM201, Ao65
Preservation information
Preserved	1 car
Number scrapped	793 cars

The 201 series is a Japanese commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Japanese National Railways and its various successor companies since August 1979.

History

The 201 series was conceived as an energy-efficient train when compared to older resistor-controlled trains around Japan. The first prototype of the 201 series sets was introduced in 1979 and entered service on 20 August that year on the Chūō Line (Rapid); the 201 series sets were also meant to replace the 101 series sets, which were considered to have aged sufficiently. When JNR was privatized in 1987, JR East took ownership of 794 cars and JR West took ownership of the remaining 224.

Some sets have been used for at least 30 years, and as such, their age is starting to show; as such, their use on various lines is diminishing and they are being replaced by newer trains. For instance, the 201 series are being replaced by the newer 323 series on the Osaka Loop Line where they famously operate, and have been completely replaced on JR East lines by E231 and E233 series cars.

JR West is expected to withdrawn their remaining cars by 2024.

Design

The 201 series uses a traditional design with an painted body very much like most commuter trains of the time. Each set has a different color scheme to indicate which area the sets serve. The 201 series has top-mounted dual-beam headlights just like the older 103 series sets; most older sets have exposed headlights, while sets that have been refurbished have hidden headlights of sorts located behind a glass screen.

Specifications

Construction is of steel. Cars are 20 meters long, 2.8 meters wide and 4.14 meters high. All variants of the 201 series sets use a thyristor chopper-based traction system which makes a low hum as the train accelerates from idle; there are no records of these traction systems ever being replaced with variable frequency drives. The use of thyristor chopper-based traction systems in the 201 series was based on tests conducted with 103 series cars using these traction systems.

The sets have been refurbished over the last few years, mainly for life-extension; improvements included anti-corrosion measures and the changing of headlights among various other improvements.

Preservation

The following 201 series cars have been preserved:

Car number	Manufacturer	Date manufactured	Date retired	Previous sets	Location	Notes
KuHa 201-1	Tokyu Car Corporation	July 1981	January 2008	H1	Toyoda Rolling Stock Center, Tokyo, Japan	Planned to be moved to the Railway Museum in Saitama; move has not happened as of 2023

Gallery

H7 (later T106) in October 2010

References

• Wikipedia.org