1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Series211-3000-A36: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The 211 series (211系, 211-kei) is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1985 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). The trains are still being used by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). They were also formerly used by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) until 2010 and Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) until 2025 in Japan.
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 40 years ago, in 1986.
- 20 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 26 years (1986–2012).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1986
- in service from
- 1986
- retired
- 2012
- status
- retired
- number built
- 1,914
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Japan Transport Engineering Company
- operators
- Japanese National Railways, Sangi Railway, East Japan Railway Company, Central Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 120 km/h
- power
- 120 kW
- 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 Q861787, Wikipedia: 211 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.