#3458
157 series
🇯🇵 Japan ·built by Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing· from 1959· Japanese DC electric multiple unit train type
what is it?
The 157 series (157系) was a Japanese DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated on limited express services by Japanese National Railways (JNR) from 1959 until 1980.
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 67 years ago, in 1959.
- Served for 21 years (1959–1980).
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1959
- in service from
- 1959
- retired
- 1980
- status
- retired
- number built
- 32
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- electric
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing, Kisha Seizo, Nippon Sharyo
- operators
- Japanese National Railways
- top speed
- —
- power
- 100 kW
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- electric system
- 1,500 V DC
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q2042811, Wikipedia: 157 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.