KiHa 285 series

KiHa 285 series

An artist's impression published in September 2014
Manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries
Built at Kobe
Constructed 2014
Number built 3 vehicles
Formation 3 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers HB-901
Operator(s) JR Hokkaido
Specifications
Car body construction Stainless steel
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The KiHa 285 series (キハ285系) is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type developed by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), originally intended for use on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan. One three-car trainset was completed in September 2014 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Kobe, but plans to construct any further KiHa 285 series trains were cancelled the same month, and the trainset built is likely to be scrapped without entering revenue service.

Design

The KiHa 285 series train uses a new compound tilting system, which tilts the train vehicles by up to 8 degrees using a pendular system (tilt of up to 6 degrees) combined with air suspension tilting (tilt of up to 2 degrees).[1] The train also uses a new motor-assisted ("MA") hybrid diesel traction system, which supplements conventional diesel traction with batteries, inverters, and electric motors.[1] While unspecified, the maximum operating speed and maximum speeds through curves were intended to exceed those offered by existing diesel trains.[1] Total development costs for the train came to 2.5 billion yen.[2]

Formation

The single three-car set built is numbered HB-901, and formed as shown below.[3]

Numbering KiHa 285-901 KiHa 284-901 KiHa 285-902

History

Design work for the prototype KiHa 285 series train commenced in April 2011.[4] On 10 September 2014, JR Hokkaido announced that it was terminating development and production of further trains following the completion of one three-car set built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[4] The decision was made following reassessments of priorities by JR Hokkaido, with a shift away from focusing on increasing operating speeds to reduce journey time, with a greater focus on safety and maintenance costs through standardization of its diesel fleet.[4] Ageing diesel trains were instead replaced by KiHa 261 series trains, first introduced in 2000.[4]

The three-car trainset was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe to JR Hokkaido's Naebo Works in September 2014.[3] After undergoing low-speed testing within the confines of Naebo Works, the set was first test-run on the Hakodate Main Line on 31 October 2014.[5]

Following the cancellation of further production, JR Hokkaido initially considered the possibility of converting the three-car trainset for use as a track and overhead wire inspection train.[2]

The three cars were officially removed from the JR Hokkaido fleet list on 31 March 2015,[6] and in April 2016, JR Hokkaido revealed that the complex design of the train made conversion more expensive than the option of purchasing a new purpose-built inspection train, and the train was likely to be scrapped at Naebo Works.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 新型特急車両の開発中止について [Cancellation of development of new limited express trains] (pdf). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  2. 1 2 3 新型特急２８５系　未使用で廃車へ　開発に２５億円　ＪＲ北海道 [JR Hokkaido to scrap unused 285 series limited express train with development costs of 2.5 billion yen]. Doshin Web (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  3. 1 2 キハ285系3両が甲種輸送される [Three KiHa 285 series cars delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 September 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "JR北海道、新型特急車両の開発を中止 - 当面はキハ261系気動車の製作を継続" [JR Hokkaido cancels development of new limited express trains - Will continue building KiHa 261 series diesel trains for foreseeable future]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  5. ↑ キハ285系が本線試運転 [KiHa 285 series test run on main line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2014.
  6. ↑ JR車両のデータバンク [JR Rolling Stock Databank]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56 no. 663. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2016. p. Appendix 37.
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