#5246
789 series
🇯🇵 Japan ·built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries· from 2002· Japanese electric multiple unit train type
_(54909896040)_-_cropped.jpg)
3 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Limited express super hakucho 789 kei: Toshinori baba· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. JR 789-0 ライラック Lilac, 大麻駅 (20251031) (54909896040) - cropped: Takeshi Aida from Hong Kong, Hong Kong· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. JR Hokkaido 789 series EMU 007: Tennen-Gas· CC BY-SA 3.0
what is it?
The 789 series (789系) is an AC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in Hokkaido, Japan, since 2002. Two variants exist: the original 789 series for use on Lilac services (formerly used on Super Hakuchō services), and the 789-1000 series for use on Kamui and Suzuran services. Also, it has three related train types, the KiHa 261 series, KiHa 281 series and KiHa 283 series, all of which run on diesel.
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 24 years ago, in 2002.
- Top speed is 1.1× a car on the Dutch motorway (130 km/h).
- 21.7 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Still in service after 24 years.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 2002
- in service from
- 2002
- status
- in service
- number built
- 75
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Kawasaki Heavy Industries
- operators
- Hokkaido Railway Company
- top speed
- 140 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- 20 kV AC (50 Hz)
- formation
- 5–8 cars per trainset
- length
- 21.7 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q4643663, Wikipedia: 789 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.