103 series

what is it?

The 103 series (103系, 103-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type introduced in 1963 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and currently operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). They were also operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). Some former JR East sets were also sold for second hand use in Indonesia, where they operated on the KRL Jabodetabek system in Jakarta between 2004 and 2016.

who runs it

Japanese National RailwaysEast Japan Railway CompanyCentral Japan Railway CompanyWest Japan Railway CompanyKyushu Railway CompanyKRL Commuterline

base stats

• speed 100 km/htop speed
• power 440 kWpower output
• built 3,447made in total

Bars compare against all trains: 600 km/h (maglev), 1,700 seats; power, weight and number built on a log scale up to 20 MW, 1,000 t and 20,000 built.

fun facts

• 🎂First built 63 years ago, in 1963.
• 🚗440 kW is about 5 family cars (~85 kW each) flat out.
• 📏20 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
• 🧓Still in service after 63 years.

multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.

spec sheet

built

1963

in service from

1963

status

in service

number built

3,447

kind

multiple unit

traction

electric

origin

🇯🇵 Japan

builders

Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing, Nippon Sharyo, Japan Transport Engineering Company, Toshiba

operators

Japanese National Railways, East Japan Railway Company, Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, Kyushu Railway Company, KRL Commuterline

top speed

100 km/h

power

440 kW

gauge

1,067 mm Cape gauge

electric system

1,500 V DC overhead catenary

formation

2/3/4/5/6/7/8/10 cars per trainset

length

20 m

From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.