789 series

789 series
HE202 and HE102 on a Lilac service in June 2023
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Tokyu Car Corporation
Type of locomotive	Electric multiple unit
Constructed	2002 – 2011
Number built	75 cars
Dimensions	853 in (21,670 mm) (end cars) × 115 in (2,928 mm) × 158 in (4,020 mm)
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Power supply	Pantograph
Electric system(s)	20 kV AC (50 Hz)
Traction system	Variable frequency (IGBT)
Service information
In service	1 December 2002 – Present
Branding	HEAT 789
Formation	2, 3 or 5 cars per set, coupled in 5 – 8 car formations
Number in service	66 cars
Fleet numbers	HE101 – HE106, HE201 – HE206, HE301 – HE302, HL1001 – HL1004, HL1006 – HL1007
Preservation information
Preserved	0
Number scrapped	5 cars (accident damage)

The 789 series, branded HEAT 789 (Hokkaido Express Advanced Train), is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company since December 2002.

History

The 789 series was designed as a new type of limited express train. Jointly built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Tokyu Car Corporation, the first 40 cars, formed as four two-car half sets (HE101 – HE104) and five three-car half sets (HE201 – HE205), were delivered from 2002 and 2005; these entered service on 1 December 2002 on Super Hakuchō services on the Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line, and were coupled in five- or eight-car formations.

New-build intermediate cars were inserted into the original two-car half sets in December 2005, while another set, HE105, was delivered; two more two-car sets, HE301 and HE302, were delivered around the same time.

Seven more five-car sets were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and delivered in 2007 for a total of 35 cars; these were designated the 789-1000 series sets and were introduced on 1 October 2007 on the Super Kamui services. A total of 75 cars were built; 66 are currently in service and are based at Hakodate and Sapporo Depots depending on the variant. Corresponding 789-0 series half-sets (e.g. HE101 and HE201) were coupled together to form 6-car units in 2017 to replace the aging 785 series sets, with the exception of HE301 and HE302. HE301 and HE302 are stored out of service near Goryōkaku Station, but remain registered on the JR Hokkaido fleet roster; some parts, such as the front gangway doors, were removed in or before 2021.

HE101/201 through HE105/205 were given refurbishments from 2020 to 2022.

Design

The 789 series adopted a modern design language for limited express trains, with the design lineage going back to the older KiHa 281 series sets.

In terms of exterior design, the 789-0 and 789-1000 series sets exhibit a multitude of differences. 789-0 series sets have stainless steel bodies with yellow and green accents with the HEAT 789 logo stamped on the side, although the logos have since been removed. 789-1000 series sets have a gray paintscheme all around, with unpainted stainless steel bodies and gray, white and black accents.

Another notable difference between both sets is their headlights. While both the 789 series subvariants use the same basic design for their headlights, the 789-0 series sets opts for smoother contours around the edges of the headlights, whereas the 789-1000 series sets opts for sharper angles for its headlights.

Another notable difference is that the 789-1000 series sets lack gangway doors, while the 789-0 series sets have them.

Specifications

Construction is of stainless steel. End cars are 21.67 meters long while intermediate cars are 21.3 meters long. Both variants of the 789 series sets use insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives; older 789-0 series sets use Toshiba IGBT drives which produce a soft hissing sound, while later 789-0 series sets use Hitachi IGBT drives which produce a much louder sound.

The 789-1000 series sets use Hitachi IGBT drives as well, which also produce a loud hissing sound, albeit of a slightly different pitch.

Incidents

Extent of the damage

On 29 January 2010, 789-1000 series set HL1005 collided into a dump truck at a grade crossing located on the Hakodate Main Line at around 12:20pm JST. The crossing gate alarm signals were apparently activated too late and the set was heavily damaged as a result. HL1005 was scrapped on 24 March 2011; the dump truck was completely destroyed as a result. 45 people were injured.

According to the driver of the train, he could not hear the crossing signal alarm from inside the cab; this was most likely due to the weather conditions that day, being a snowstorm with wind speeds of about 4 to 5 miles an hour (6 to 8 kilometers an hour). As a result of this incident, later trains produced for JR Hokkaido have additional crash-proofing measures.

Gallery

HL1001 on a Suzuran service in August 2017

References

• Wikipedia.org