The 683 series (683系, 683-kei) is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on limited express services in Japan since 2001.

683 series
A refurbished JR-West 683-4000 series train on a Thunderbird service in April 2022
ManufacturerHitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo[1]
Family nameA-train
Replaced485 series
Constructed2001–2011
Entered service2001
Refurbished2015–
Number built270 vehicles
Number in service189 vehicles (the rest of 79 vehicles were converted to 289 series)
Number scrapped2 vehicles[1]
Formation3/5/6/9 cars per trainset
OperatorsJR-West (2001–)
Hokuetsu Express (2005–2015)
DepotsKyoto, Kanazawa
Lines servedTokaido Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, IR Ishikawa Railway Line, Nanao Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium alloy, double-skin
Maximum speed160 km/h (100 mph) (683-4000/5000/8000 series)
130 km/h (80 mph) (683-0/1000/2000/3000 series)[2]
Traction systemVariable frequency (3-level IGBT)
Electric system(s)20 kV AC 60 Hz / 1,500 V DC overhead
Current collector(s)WPS27C scissors-type pantograph
WPS28D single-arm pantograph (683-4000/5000 series)
Braking system(s)Regenerative brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, snow-resistant brake
Safety system(s)ATS-SW, ATS-P
Multiple working681 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Variants

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683-0 series

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The first subseries consists of 54 cars composed of 6 6-car trains (W31–W36) and 6 3-car trains (V31–V36) built in 2001–2002.[3][4]

683-2000 series

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87 cars were built in 3-car and 5-car sets. This subseries was subsequently transferred to the 289 series with their AC equipment removed.[5] The move was made after the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the associated discontinuation of service by these sets on the Hokuhoku Line.

683-4000 series

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108 cars were built in 9-car sets for a total of 12 trainsets.

683-8000 series

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This is the designation given to a 6-car train (N03) and a 3-car train (N13) formerly owned by Hokuetsu Express for services on the Hakutaka limited express. At the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March 2015, the sets were transferred to JR West.[6]

Operations

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JR-West

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Hokuetsu Express

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JR Central

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  • Home Liner Ōgaki rapid service (until 13 March 2015)
  • Home Liner Sekigahara rapid service (until 13 March 2015)

Formations

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The various formations are configured as follows.

3-car sets

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Thunderbird sets

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Designation Tpc M T'c
Numbering KuHa 682-500 MoHa 683-1300 KuHa 683-700
Designation Tpc T Mc
Numbering KuHa 682-2700 SaHa 683-2400 KuMoHa 683-3500
Designation T'c M Tpc
Numbering KuHa 683-8700 MoHa 683-8000 KuHa 682-8500

Shirasagi sets

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Designation Mc T Tpc
Numbering KuMoHa 683-3500 SaHa 683-2400 KuHa 682-2700

The KuHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

5-car sets

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Shirasagi sets

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Designation Mc T Tp M Tpsc
Numbering KuMoHa 683-3500 SaHa 683-2500 SaHa 682-2200 MoHa 683-3400 KuRo 682-2000

The SaHa 682 and KuRo 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

6-car sets

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Thunderbird sets

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Designation Tsc Tp M T Tp Mc
Numbering KuRo 683 SaHa 682 MoHa 683-1000 SaHa 683-300 SaHa 682 KuMoHa 683-1500
Designation Mc Tp T M Tp Tsc
Numbering KuMoHa 683-8700 SaHa 682-8000 SaHa 683-8000 MoHa 683-8300 SaHa 682-8000 KuRo 683-8000

The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

9-car sets

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Thunderbird sets

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Designation Tsc Tp M Tp M T Tp Mc
Numbering KuRo 683-4500 SaHa 682-4300 MoHa 683-5400 SaHa 682-4400 MoHa 683-5000 SaHa 683-4700 SaHa 683-4800 SaHa 682-4300 KuMoHa 683-5500

The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

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Refurbishment

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A refurbished 683-4000 series set in April 2022

All of the 683 series trainsets used on Thunderbird limited express services are scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018.[8] The first set treated, nine-car 683-4000 series set T51, was returned to revenue service in September 2015.[9]

Conversion to 289 series

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From 2015, 85 former Shirasagi 683 series vehicles were converted and reformed to become DC-only 289 series EMUs, formed as three-car, four-car, and six-car sets for use on Hashidate, Kinosaki, Kounotori, and Kurioshio limited express services in the Kyoto and Osaka area.[4]

References

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  • オールガイド 681・683系 [Full Guide: 681/683 Series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 49 (577): 56–65. May 2009.
  • 北越急行681・683系 [Hokuetsu Express 681/683 Series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 49 (577): 46–55. May 2009.
  • JR電車編成表 '07冬号 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2007]. Japan: JRR. December 2006. ISBN 978-4-88283-046-7.
  1. ^ a b Jr電車編成表 JR電車編成表 2017冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 16 November 2016. pp. 135–136, 144, 357. ISBN 978-4-330-73716-4.
  2. ^ JR全車輌ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006. ISBN 978-4-7770-0453-9.
  3. ^ JR電車編成表 2011夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2011] (in Japanese). Kotsu Shimbunsha. p. 145. ISBN 978-4-330-21211-1.
  4. ^ a b JR電車編成表 2016冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 18 November 2015. pp. 145, 190. ISBN 978-4-330-62315-3.
  5. ^ JR西日本289系、683系を形式変更し「くろしお」などに投入! 381系は廃車に [JR-West to reclassify 683 series to 289 series for introduction on Kuroshio and other services. 381 series to be withdrawn.]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  6. ^ "683系8000番台が"サンダーバード"に" [683 series 8000 series transferred to "Thunderbird" services]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 24 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  7. ^ "Railnews". Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 55 (647): 171. March 2015.
  8. ^ より快適に!北陸~近畿を結ぶ特急「サンダーバード」、車両リニューアルへ [Rolling stock to be refurbished for Thunderbird limited express trains linking Hokuriku and Kinki]. Tetsudo Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  9. ^ 683系4000番台リニューアル車が営業運転を開始 [Refurbished 683-4000 series enters revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.