KiHa E130 series

KiHa E130 series
Consist led by KiHa E132-501 in March 2018
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Niigata Transys, Tokyu Car Corporation
Type of locomotive	Diesel multiple unit
Constructed	2006 – 2018
Number built	72 cars
Dimensions	19,500 mm × 2,920 mm × 3,620 mm
Gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)
Prime mover	N-KDMF15HZ prime mover
Service information
In service	19 January 2007 – Present
Formation	1 or 2 cars per set
Number in service	72 cars
Fleet numbers	KiHa E130-1 – KiHa E130-13, KiHa E130-101 – KiHa E131-110, KiHa E130-501 – KiHa E130-506, KiHa E131-1 – KiHa E131-13, KiHa E131-501 – KiHa E131-506, KiHa E132-1 – KiHa E132-13, KiHa E132-501 – KiHa E132-506
Preservation information
Preserved	N/A
Number scrapped	N/A

The KiHa E130 series is a low-capacity commuter diesel multiple unit used by the East Japan Railway Company since January 2007, mainly on rural lines.

History

On 14 March 1992, the KiHa 110 series diesel railcars began operation on the Suigun Line. The cars were noted for their comfort compared to older trains and were well-liked. By the mid-2000s however, congestion around stations was starting to become a problem, not helped by the two-door design of the KiHa 110 series cars. As a result, a three-door railcar had to be designed.

Niigata Transys and Tokyu Car Corporation were thus tasked to produce a new three-door railcar to ease congestion as well as to replace older railcars on the line as well as others. The KiHa E130 series cars were constructed starting 2006, entering service on the Suigun Line on 19 January 2007 and slowly replacing the KiHa 110 series cars on that line; the latter were subsequently moved to other lines. From 2006 to 2018, a total of 72 cars were manufactured, each with some form of incremental improvement; all are in service.

Notably, the KiHa E130 series cars were the first diesel railcars to be introduced onto a line since the KiHa 110 series cars were introduced onto the Rikuusai Line in 1999, and the first in some sixteen years when a new diesel railcar was produced for JR East (also the KiHa 100 series cars).

Design

The KiHa E130 series use a squared-off design similar to many other railcars of modern times, featuring dual top-mounted headlights. This basic design has been used for many JR diesel multiple units since, particularly the later KiHa E120 series cars introduced in 2008 and the experimental KiHa E200 series hybrid cars introduced in 2007. The trains operating on various lines feature different colors: the trains on the Kururi Line feature red or green graphics with yellow and blue accents, depending on the number of cars. The Hachinohe Line KiHa E130-500 cars feature blue accents.

Specifications

Construction is of stainless steel. The train's overall design and body shape are loosely based on the E231 series city commuter trains prominently used in Tokyo. To reduce congestion and increase cabin space, the car bodies are wider than most of its contemporaries, and double doors are featured as opposed to the plug doors on the previous KiHa 110 series cars. The -0 and -500 series cars feature a cold-resistant design, with the cars designed to be as barrier free as possible.

The KiHa E130 series cars are equipped with the N-KDMF15HZ prime mover, producing 444 HP (450 PS). This is an improved version of the DMF15HZ prime mover (licensed production version of the Komatsu SA6D140HE-2 prime mover) which features various optimizations to reduce NOx output. The cars feature a 4-speed hydraulic transmission. The cars are also equipped with JR East's DICS (Dieselcar Information Control System) computer systems for shunting management and multiple unit operation, as well as equipment for wanman operation.

See also

• Wikipedia.org