2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. 73 Nambu Line Musashi-Mizonokuchi 19750119: VVVF· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2. JNR kumoha73001: spaceaero2· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The 72 series (72系) trains were DC electric commuter trains operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and served as the basis for the 101 series. The 72 series included the main production batch of 490 vehicles as well as 667 former 63 series cars converted into 72 series between 1953 and 1955. The last remaining trains were withdrawn in 1985, although some cars which were converted into mail coaches and experimental vehicles continued to remain in service until 1996.
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 72 years ago, in 1954.
- 20 m long: about 4 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 31 years (1954–1985).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1954
- in service from
- 1954
- retired
- 1985
- status
- retired
- number built
- 1,450
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Japan Transport Engineering Company
- operators
- Japanese National Railways
- top speed
- 100 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- 1,500 V DC overhead catenary
- length
- 20 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q11421672, Wikipedia: 72 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.