#4109
183 series
🇯🇵 Japan ·built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries· from 1972· Japanese electric multiple unit train type
1 photo from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. JR East 183-1000 Minakami: Sui-setz· Public domain
what is it?
The 183 series (183系, 183-kei) was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and West Japan Railway Company (JR-West). In terms of design, it is closely based on the late-model AC/DC 485 series, with minor cosmetic differences and DC-only drive.
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 54 years ago, in 1972.
- 21 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Served for 47 years (1972–2019).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1972
- in service from
- 1972
- retired
- 2019
- status
- retired
- number built
- 512
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Japan Transport Engineering Company, West Japan Railway Company
- operators
- Japanese National Railways, East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 120 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- 1,500 V DC
- formation
- 4, 6, 9, 10, 11 or 12 cars per set (183 series) , 4, 6 or 8 cars per set (189 series)
- length
- 21 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4554533, Wikipedia: 183 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.