225 series

225 series
Y5 (now U3) in July 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	2010 – 2024
Number built	524 cars (102 sets)
Dimensions	770 in (19,570 mm) (end cars) × 118 in (3003.2 mm) × 145 in (3,680 mm)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Traction system	Variable frequency (2-level IGBT)
Service information
In service	1 December 2010 – Present
Branding	efACE (Kawasaki cars only)
Formation	4, 6 or 8 cars per set
Number in service	524 cars (102 sets)
Fleet numbers	I1 – I14, L1 – L14, U1 – U10, K1 – K2, HF401 – HF429, HF601 – HF611, HF430 – HF443, ML01 – ML05, MY01 – MY03
Preservation information
Preserved	0
Number scrapped	0

The 225 series is a Japanese suburban electric multiple unit operated by the West Japan Railway Company since December 2010.

History

The 225 series was designed to be a suburban train following in the veins of the 221 and 223 series. A total of 414 cars have been produced since 2010, each with various changes in specifications based on which sub-variant it was under.

All 414 cars are in service, all based at either Hineno, Aboshi or Miyahara Depot.

Design

The 225 series adopted a modern design language for suburban commuter trains which would be carried on onto more modern suburban commuter trains built for JR West, such as the 227 and 323 series. The 225 series cars have two different cab end designs.

Specifications

Construction is of stainless steel. End cars are 19.57 meters long while intermediate cars are 19.5 meters long. The 225 series make use of two-level insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives manufactured by Tōyō Denki Seizō, Hitachi or Toshiba; the Tōyō Denki Seizō drives have a very distinctive, high-pitched cadence, the Hitachi drives sound extremely similar to the Tōyō Denki Seizō drives except being more shrill and having the sound sustained for longer, while the Toshiba drives make more of a quiet wooshing sound.

The 225 series is equipped with a musical horn which is standard on most of JR West's commuter fleet.

Gallery

U9 in August 2023

References

• Wikipedia.org