10 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences
- 1. Kiha40-1727: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2. JRE-Kiha40-1005: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 3. JNR 40 series in soga station: ハチライ· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 4. JRC-Kiha40-6300DC: Kone· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 5. JRH-Kiha40 764 Cutting body: Rsa· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 6. JRK Kiha40-8126: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
- 7. JRW kiha40-2027 Belles montagnes et mer 20160529: Rsa· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 8. JR West Type KiHa40 No.2007 1997: HATARA KEI· CC BY 3.0
- 9. Kiha40-1003 20110102: Rsa· CC BY-SA 3.0
- 10. Kiha40-1740: MaedaAkihiko· CC BY-SA 4.0
what is it?
The KiHa 40 series (Japanese: キハ40系, Hepburn: Kiha-yonjū-kei) are diesel multiple unit (DMU) railcars introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1977 for non-electrified suburban and rural services in Japan. Operation was transferred to the various Japan Railways Group companies following the privatization of JNR. Since 2017, withdrawn units have been purchased by private railway companies in Japan. The series has also been used overseas by Myanma Railways in Myanmar and the State Railway of Thailand in Thailand.
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 49 years ago, in 1977.
- 21.3 m long: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
- Still in service after 49 years.
multiple unit: A self-propelled train: motors are spread under the passenger cars, so no separate locomotive.
spec sheet
- built
- 1977
- in service from
- 1977
- status
- in service
- number built
- 888
- kind
- multiple unit
- traction
- diesel
- origin
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- builders
- Subaru Corporation, Niigata Transys
- operators
- Japanese National Railways, Central Japan Railway Company, East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, Shikoku Railway Company, Kyushu Railway Company, rail transport in Myanmar, Nishikigawa Seiryū Line, Kominato Line, State Railway of Thailand, Hokkaido Railway Company, Aizu Railway, Hōjō Railway, Nishikigawa Tetsudo
- top speed
- 95 km/h
- power
- —
- gauge
- 1,067 mm Cape gauge
- formation
- Various
- length
- 21.3 m
From the Wikipedia infobox and Wikidata. Blank means the sources don't say.
Sources: Wikidata Q6403574, Wikipedia: KiHa 40 series (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-25.