#4926
281 series
🇯🇵 Japan ·built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries· from 1994· Japanese electric multiple unit train type
2 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Series281 Hanwa Line: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. JR West 281 Haruka: Sui-setz· Public domain
what is it?
The 281 series (281系, 281-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West). Introduced on September 4, 1994, it is used exclusively for Kansai Airport Limited Express Haruka services to and from Kansai International Airport. Provisions are made for luggage racks and dedicated luggage room.
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 32 years ago, in 1994.
- 20.7 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Seats 258: 5 full city buses (~50 seats each).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1994
- in service from
- 1994
- number built
- 63
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- diesel
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo
- operators
- West Japan Railway Company
- top speed
- 130 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- 1,500 V DC overhead
- formation
- 6/3 cars per trainset
- length
- 20.7 m
- capacity
- 258 passengers
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4632682, Wikipedia: 281 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.