The 733 series (733系) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on suburban services in the Sapporo area of Hokkaido, Japan, since 1 June 2012.[2][3]

733 series
Set B-107 on a Hakodate Main Line local service, August 2024
In service1 June 2012 – present
ManufacturerKawasaki Heavy Industries
Built atKobe
Replaced721 series
Constructed2012–2018, 2024–
Number built153 vehicles (40 sets) as of May 2024
Number in service105 vehicles (28 sets) as of 1 October 2015
Formation3/6 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers
  • B-101 – B-121
  • B-1001 – B-1004
  • B-3101/3201 – B-3111/3211
  • B-4101/4201 –
OperatorsThe logo of Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). JR Hokkaido
DepotsSapporo
Lines servedHakodate Main Line, Sasshō Line
Specifications
Car body constructionStainless steel
Car length
  • 21,200 mm (69 ft 7 in) (end cars)
  • 20,800 mm (68 ft 3 in) (intermediate cars)
Width2,892 mm (9 ft 5.9 in)
Floor height1,050 mm (3 ft 5 in)
Doors3 per side
Maximum speed
  • 130 km/h (81 mph) (design)
  • 120 km/h (75 mph) (service)
Traction systemN-MT731A
Power output230 kW (310 hp) per motor[1]: 68 
Acceleration2.2 km/(h⋅s) (1.4 mph/s)
Electric system(s)20 kV AC (overhead catenary)
Current collector(s)N-PS785 single-arm pantograph
BogiesN-DT733 (motored), N-TR733 (trailer)
Safety system(s)ATS-DN
Multiple working721 series, 731 series, 735 series
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Variants

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  • 733-0 series: 3-car sets operated since June 2012
  • 733-1000 series: 3-car sets to be operated on Hakodate Liner shinkansen access services from March 2016[needs update]
  • 733-3000 series: 6-car sets operated on Airport rapid services since July 2014
  • 733-4000 series: 6-car sets operated on Airport rapid services since October 2024

Design

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Similar in appearance to the aluminium-bodied 735 series EMUs built in 2010, the 733 series EMUs have stainless steel bodies with steel driving cab ends.[4] At 2,892 mm (9 ft 5+78 in), the 733 series cars are also wider than the 731 series and 735 series cars, which are 2,800 mm (9 ft 2+14 in) wide.[5] Sets B-113 onward, delivered from September 2013, feature full-colour LED destination indicators, instead of the three-colour indicators used on earlier sets.[6]

Five new six-car sets, classified "733-3000 series", were delivered in 2014 and phased in on Airport rapid services between Sapporo and New Chitose Airport from July, operating alongside the existing 721 series EMUs, and allowing the withdrawal of the remaining 711 series EMUs still in service.[7] These sets include a "u Seat" car with unidirectional reclining seating for reserved seat passengers.[7] The new sets feature LED lighting in the passenger areas.[7]

Operations

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733 series 3-car set B-115 running in multiple with a 731 series set on the Sasshō Line, March 2014

The 733 series sets entered service from 1 June 2012 on suburban services in the Sapporo area of Hokkaido, including the newly electrified Sasshō Line.[3] They are capable of running in multiple with 721 series, 731 series, and 735 series EMUs. However, unlike the 731 series, they cannot operate in multiple with the KiHa 201 series DMUs also used on the Sasshō Line.[4][5]

Formations

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As of 1 October 2015, the fleet consists of 21 three-car sets, numbered B-101 to B-121, and seven six-car 733-1000 series sets, numbered B-3101 to B-3107, formed as shown below, with one motored ("M") intermediate car and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars. Car 1 is at the Takikawa/Tomakomai end.[6]

3-car sets (B-101 – B-121)

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Car No. 1 2 3
Designation Tc1 M Tc2
Numbering KuHa 733-100 MoHa 733-100 KuHa 733-200
Weight (t) 33.9 43.1 35.5
Capacity
(total/seated)
139/46 154/52 146/50

3-car 733-1000 series sets (B-1001 – B-1004)

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733-1000 series set B1003 on a Hakodate Liner service in September 2022

The fleet of four three-car 733-1000 series sets are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Hakodate end.[8]

Car No. 1 2 3
Designation Tc1 M Tc2
Numbering KuHa 733-1000 MoHa 733-1000 KuHa 733-2000
Weight (t) 34.2 41.9 35.5
Capacity
(total/seated)
138/46 156/52 145/50
  • Car 1 has a universal access toilet.[8]
  • Car 2 is fitted with a single-arm pantograph.[8]

6-car 733-3000 series sets (B-3101/3201 – B-3107/3207)

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6-car set B-3103/3203, September 2014
 
"u Seat" car SaHa 733-3201 in September 2014

Seven six-car 733-3000 series sets are formed as shown below with two motored ("M") cars and four non-powered trailer ("T") cars. The sets each consist of two 3-car half sets, numbered "B-310x" and "B-320x", with car 1 at the Shin-Chitose end.[9]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Designation Tc1 M T Tu M Tc2
Numbering KuHa 733-3100 MoHa 733-3100 SaHa 733-3100 SaHa 733-3200 MoHa 733-3200 KuHa 733-3200
Weight (t) 33.7 41.8 34.0 31.8 41.8 35.3
Capacity
(total/seated)
142/46 156/52 149/48 72/43 156/52 146/47
  • Car 4 has "u Seat" unidirectional reclining seating.[9]
  • Car 1 has a toilet, and car 3 has a universal access toilet.[9]
  • Cars 2 and car 5 are each fitted with an N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.[9]

Interior

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The 3-car sets have longitudinal bench seating throughout, with a total capacity of 439 (148 seated).[5]

Bogies

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History

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Set B-102 at Hyogo Station on delivery, February 2012

The first two 3-car sets, B-101 and B-102, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in February 2012,[2][10] with two more sets, B-103 and B-104, delivered later the same month.[11][12] Twelve more sets (36 vehicles) are scheduled to be delivered during fiscal 2014.[13]

The first 733-3000 series six-car sets entered service on 19 July 2014.[14]

The first two 733-1000 series three-car sets, B-1001 and B-1002, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in October 2015.[15]

The first two 733-4000 series six-car sets, B-4101/4201 and B-4102/4102, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in May 2024.[16] These sets entered service from 25 October 2024,[17] replacing ageing 721 series EMUs and allowing for additional capacity and frequency on Airport services.[18]

Build details

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Set B-115 at the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe, September 2013

The official delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.[6][19][20]

Set No. Manufacturer Date delivered
B-101 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 10 March 2012
B-102 13 March 2012
B-103 15 March 2012
B-104 17 March 2012
B-105 10 May 2012
B-106 11 May 2012
B-107 12 May 2012
B-108 13 May 2012
B-109 22 August 2012
B-110 13 August 2012
B-111 20 August 2012
B-112 21 August 2012
B-113 18 September 2013
B-114 19 September 2013
B-115 16 October 2013
B-116 17 October 2013
B-117 18 October 2013
B-118 9 November 2013
B-119 10 November 2013
B-120 11 November 2014
B-121 12 November 2014
B-1001 2015
B-1002
B-1003
B-1004
B-3101/3201 24 June 2014
B-3102/3202 4 July 2014
B-3103/3203 6 August 2014
B-3104/3204 7 August 2014
B-3105/3205 18 October 2014
B-3106/3206 17 June 2015
B-3107/3207 2 July 2015
B-3108/3208 8 May 2018
B-3109/3209 10 May 2018
B-3110/3210 5 June 2018
B-3111/3211 7 June 2018
B-4101/4201 May 2024
B-4102/4202

References

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  1. ^ 733系 [733 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 52, no. 612. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2012. pp. 64–69.
  2. ^ a b 臨時列車運転情報 [Non-scheduled train operation information]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. 41 (334): 97/126. February 2012.
  3. ^ a b 札沼線電化開業にともない733系が営業運転を開始 [733 series enter service following Sassho Line electrification]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2 June 2012. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
  4. ^ a b 札沼線(学園都市線) 6月1日第一次電化開業 [First phase of Sasho Line electrification to open on 1 June]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d JR北海道 733系通勤型交流電車 [JR Hokkaido 733 series AC commuter EMU]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. 41 (337): 69. May 2012.
  6. ^ a b c d JR電車編成表 2016冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 18 November 2015. p. 6. ISBN 978-4-330-62315-3.
  7. ^ a b c 733系電車増備と快速「エアポート」への投入について [Details of additional order of 733 series trains and introduction on Airport rapid services] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  8. ^ a b c 733系1000番台 [733-1000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 659. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. March 2016. pp. 72–74.
  9. ^ a b c d 733系3000番台 [733-3000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 54 (642): 76–81. October 2014.
  10. ^ 733系が甲種輸送される [733 series delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  11. ^ 甲種鉄道車両輸送計画表 [Train delivery schedule]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. 41 (335): 126. March 2012.
  12. ^ 733系B-103編成とB-104編成が甲種輸送される [733 series sets B-103 and B-104 delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 28 February 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2012.
  13. ^ Masahiro, Saka (May 2014). JR電車 3月15日ダイヤ改正と2013年度の動向 [JR EMUs: 15 March timetable revision and changes in 2013]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). 43 (361): 22.
  14. ^ 733系3000番台が営業運転を開始 [733-3000 series enter revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 20 July 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2014.
  15. ^ 〈はこだてライナー〉用733系1000番代甲種輸送 [Hakodate Liner 733-1000 series delivered]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  16. ^ 733系4000番代12両が甲種輸送される [Twelve 733-4000 series cars delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 May 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  17. ^ 733系4000番代が営業運転を開始 [733-4000 series enters revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 October 2024. Retrieved 27 October 2024.
  18. ^ JR北海道、733系増備で721系置換え - 新幹線札幌開業後に速達化も [JR Hokkaido to replace 721 series with additional 733 series trains - Speeding up service after opening of Sapporo Shinkansen line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 4 April 2024. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  19. ^ JR車両のデータバンク2018-2019 [JR rolling stock database 2018–2019]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 59, no. 699. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2019.
  20. ^ JR車両のデータバンク2015-2016 [JR rolling stock database 2015–2016]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 663. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2016.