The 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.
Variants
683-0 series 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.
683-2000 series 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. 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 108 cars were built in 9-car sets for a total of 12 trainsets.
683-8000 series 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. When the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen to Kanazawa opened in March 2015, the sets were transferred to JR West.
Operations
JR-West Thunderbird Shirasagi Biwako Express Ohayō Express Oyasumi Express Dinostar (from 14 March 2015 until 15 March 2024) Noto Kagaribi (from 14 March 2015) Kuroshio (from 13 March 2015)
Hokuetsu Express Hakutaka (until 12 March 2015)
JR Central Home Liner Ōgaki rapid service (until 13 March 2015) Home Liner Sekigahara rapid service (until 13 March 2015)
Formations The various formations are configured as follows.
3-car sets Thunderbird sets
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
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 Shirasagi sets
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 Thunderbird sets
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 Thunderbird sets
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
Refurbishment
All of the 683 series trainsets used on Thunderbird limited express services are scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from the middle of 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018. The first set treated, nine-car 683–4000 series set T51, was returned to revenue service in September 2015.
Conversion to 289 series
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.
References