3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. JRW 683 4000: Toshinori baba· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. JRW Series683-4000R: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. JR West 683 series EMU 421: Tennen-Gas· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The 683 series (683系, 683-kei) 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.
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 25 years ago, in 2001.
- Top speed is 1.2× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- At full speed it would cover Amsterdam–Utrecht (≈ 40 km) in 15 minutes.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 2001
- in service from
- 2001
- number built
- 270
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Niigata Transys, Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing
- operators
- West Japan Railway Company, Hokuhoku Line
- top speed
- 160 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- 20 kV AC 60 Hz / 1,500 V DC overhead
- formation
- 3/5/6/9 cars per trainset
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4642322, Wikipedia: 683 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.