2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. JRE-201EMU-ChuoRapid2: Kone· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. JRW Series201-136: MaedaAkihiko· CC0
what is it?
The 201 series (201系, 201-kei) was a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type introduced in 1979 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). It was operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) from 1987 until 2025 and East Japan Railway Company (JR East) from 1987 until 20 June 2011. It was the first JNR train to use electronic chopper control.
who runs it
base stats
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 47 years ago, in 1979.
- 20 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 46 years (1979–2025).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1979
- in service from
- 1979
- retired
- 2025
- status
- retired
- number built
- 1,018
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Japan Transport Engineering Company
- operators
- Japanese National Railways, East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 110 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- overhead catenary
- length
- 20 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q845434, Wikipedia: 201 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.