521 series

521 series
U14 and U04 in August 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Family name	efACE (third batch Kawasaki cars and onwards)
Constructed	2006 – Present
Number built	164 cars (82 sets)
Dimensions	791 in (20,100 mm) × 116 in (2,950 mm) × 143 in (3,630 mm)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	20 kV AC (60 Hz), 1,500 V DC
Traction system	Variable frequency (IGBT)
Service information
In service	30 November 2006 – Present
Formation	2 cars per set
Number in service	164 cars (68 on other railways)
Fleet numbers	E01 – E05, G01 – G30, J01 – J19, U01 – U15
Preservation information
Preserved	0
Number scrapped	0

The 521 series is a Japanese dual-voltage outer-suburban electric multiple unit operated by the West Japan Railway Company since November 2006.

History

The 521 series was designed as a outer-suburban train that was meant to replace older outer-suburban trains currently operating on JR West lines, such as the 419 series, which the 521 series sets ended up replacing. The first sets entered service on 30 November 2006, and completely replaced the 419 series sets on 12 March 2011 with the introduction of the revised timetable.

A total of 144 cars have been built as of October 2017, all formed as two-car sets. Nineteen sets would be transferred over to the Ainokaze Toyama Railway and IR Ishikawa Railway and were reclassified in March 2015; the Ainokaze Toyama Railway received sixteen sets while the IR Ishikawa Railway received the remaining three.

A total of fifty-three sets remain under JR West ownership, all based at either Tsuruga or Kanazawa Depot.

Design

The 521 series, being based on the 223-2000 series, has design language carry over from the latter sets. Later batch sets resemble the 227 series greatly, with the exception of different paintwork.

Specifications

Construction is of stainless steel. Each car is 20.1 meters long. The 521 series make use of insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives, such as ones manufactured by Toshiba or Mitsubishi.

The 521 series is equipped with a musical horn which is standard on most of JR West's commuter fleet.

Gallery

E02 in February 2018

Three later-batch sets in March 2018

References

• Wikipedia.org