The 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.
Variants 733-0 series: 3-car sets operated since June 2012 733-1000 series: 3-car sets operated on Hakodate Liner shinkansen access services since March 2016 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 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. At , the 733 series cars are also wider than the 731 series and 735 series cars, which are wide. Sets B-113 onward, delivered from September 2013, feature full-colour LED destination indicators, instead of the three-colour indicators used on earlier sets.
Five new six-car sets, classified "733-3000 series", were delivered in 2014 and phased in on Airport rapid services between and from July, operating alongside the existing 721 series EMUs, and allowing the withdrawal of the remaining 711 series EMUs still in service. These sets include a "u Seat" car with unidirectional reclining seating for reserved seat passengers. The new sets feature LED lighting in the passenger areas.
Operations
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. 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.
Formations , the fleet consists of 21 three-car sets, numbered B-101 to B-121, and seven six-car 733-3000 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.
3-car sets (B-101 – B-121) 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 Car 1 has a universal access toilet. Car 2 is fitted with an N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.
3-car 733-1000 series sets (B-1001 – B-1004)
The fleet of four three-car 733-1000 series sets are formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Hakodate end.
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. Car 2 is fitted with a single-arm pantograph.
6-car 733-3000 series sets (B-3101/3201 – B-3107/3207)
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 New Chitose Airport end.
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. Car 1 has a toilet, and car 3 has a universal access toilet. Cars 2 and car 5 are each fitted with an N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.
Interior The 3-car sets have longitudinal bench seating throughout, with a total capacity of 439 (148 seated).
Bogies
History
The first two 3-car sets, B-101 and B-102, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in February 2012, with two more sets, B-103 and B-104, delivered later the same month. Twelve more sets (36 vehicles) are scheduled to be delivered during fiscal 2014.
The first 733-3000 series six-car sets entered service on 19 July 2014.
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.
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. These sets entered service from 25 October 2024, replacing ageing 721 series EMUs and allowing for additional capacity and frequency on Airport services.
Build details
The official delivery dates for the fleet are as shown below.
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 2014B-1001 2015B-1002B-1003B-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 B-4103/4203 October 2024 B-4104/4204 B-4105/4205 June 2025 B-4106/4206 B-4107/4207 August 2025
References