205 series


The 205 series is a DC electric multiple unit commuter train type introduced in 1985 by Japanese National Railways, and currently operated by East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company and Kereta Commuter Indonesia in Indonesia.

Operations

JR East
JR West
Kereta Commuter Indonesia
There have been many variations of the design of the 205 series trains.
Below is a list of photos for various 205 series designs as indicated by the liveries of the lines they serve.

JR East

JR-West

205-0 series

The 205 series was designed in 1982 as a cheap-to-produce train that could complement the 201 series sets which were considered to be expensive to produce due to the latter's thyristor chopper-controlled traction systems. The first set entered service on the Yamanote Line on 1985, and has remained a staple of the JR fleet network ever since. It was originally built with resistor-controlled traction systems, as they were cheaper to produce than thyristor chopper-controlled motors or something similar to that, but this was somewhat dated technology due to the advent of the variable frequency drive. It uses a traditional design with an unpainted stainless steel body very much like most trains of the period. Each set has a different color scheme to indicate which area the sets serve.
The 205 series is currently used on both JR East and JR West lines, and the 205–0 series will be finally ended operation in JR East on 2020 since 524 of 205–0 series vehicles had been shipped to Jakarta, Indonesia from 2013 to 2020 to continue their operation overseas replacing aging commuter trains and mass improvement of public transportation in Greater Jakarta by train, and there are still 205–0 series operational in JR West lines.
It was manufactured from 1984 to 1991 and initially built 10-car trainsets for test-run conducted in 1984 for JNR Yamanote Line. It was manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation, Hitachi for technical components, Nippon Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The basic structure is similar to that of the subsequently manufactured vehicles like the 201 series & the 203 series, but the difference is that the window shape is a two-pane window panels with the upper stage descending and the lower stage rising. All four manufacturers were introduced to the Yamanote line in March 1985, and in 1991, like the other trains, the Saha 204-0 was introduced as a 6-door intermediate carriage for Yamanote Line to be assigned as new Car No. 10 to be coupled and form 11-car Yamanote Line trainsets from December 1991.
In 2005, the Saha 204 intermediate carriages, were also transferred to the Saikyo line upon retirement from Yamanote Line, and also some of the existing Yamanote Line 205 series were transferred to the Keiyo line to continue their train operation until they ended on 2011. The trip number indicator of each leading car was initially introduced as a traditional roller-binding display as commonly used by other JNR rolling stocks, but in 1985, it was newly installed for the first time with the LCD type trip number indicator display and also later replaced along with the 0-subseries mass-produced vehicles.
The 205–500 series of JR East operates 4-car sets used on the Sagami Line services since 1991, replacing the all Diesel railcars like the KiHa 30, KiHa 35 & KiHa 36 since it was newly introduced after electrification on the same year. Also have the newest look and among the last batch of 205 series made.

205-600 series

The 205-600 subseries was created in 2013, when cars from former Keiyo Line and Saikyo Line ten-car sets were reformed between 2012 and 2013 to create twelve four-car sets for use on Nikko Line and Utsunomiya Line services, entering service from 16 March 2013, replacing ageing 107 series and 211 series sets. The four Nikko Line sets are finished in a livery with "classic ruby brown", "gold", and "cream" bodyside stripes. The Utsunomiya Line sets are finished in a livery with Shonan green and orange bodyside stripes.

Formations

The four-car sets, numbered Y1 to Y12, are formed as shown below, with two motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
Car No.1234
DesignationTc'M'MTc
NumberingKuHa 204-600MoHa 204-600MoHa 205-600KuHa 205-600
Weight 25.334.533.126.4
Capacity 136/48144/54144/54139/42

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout. A universal access toilet was added to the KuHa 205-600 car at the time of conversion.

Fleet list

Source:

205-1000 series (JR East)

The 205–1000 series of JR East operates 2-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Branch Line services since 2002, replacing the last standing 101 series until 2003.

205-1000 series (JR West)

The 205–1000 series of JR West was built into 4-car trainsets in 1988, they formerly operated in Hanwa Line services from March 1988 until they ended their operation in March 2018, and they transferred ahead to the Nara Line for local train services since 18 March 2018. Features have different windshield panel design which is likely inverted their directions to avoid confusion of existing 205–0 series which were formerly Tokaido Line Local Services in same blue stripe during that time.

205-1100 series

The 205–1100 series of JR East operates 3-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, which were introduced in Tsurumi Line since August 2004, replacing the aging 103 series until 2006.

205-1200 series

The 205–1200 series of JR East operates 6-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Line services from 2004 until they were replaced by the new E233-8000 series trainsets until January 2016.

205-3000 series

The 205–3000 series are the 4-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line from 2003 to 2018.

Formation

From November 2003 until July 2018, five 4-car sets were allocated to Kawagoe Depot for use on Hachiko Line and Kawagoe Line through services. These sets were formed as follows with two motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
A Senseki Line 205–3100 series "Mangattan Liner" trainset is decorated with images of the character Robocon from the 1970s tokusatsu series Ganbare!! Robocon, while another has Kamen Rider livery. Both were created by Shotaro Ishinomori, a native of Ishinomaki, Miyagi; Ishinomaki Station is the terminus of the Senseki Line.

Formations

4-car Senseki Line sets

As of April 2020, 17 4-car sets are allocated to Miyagino Depot for use on the Senseki Line. These sets are formed as follows with two motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.

205-5000 series

The 205–5000 series are fitted with two-level insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives as a traction system which produce a distinctive, high-pitched whine and it is one of the latest refurbished trains among 205-series which is specifically unique compared to the other refurbished 205 series classification which their former Yamanote Line 205–0 series cars were modified with new VVVF-controlled AC motors between 2002 and 2008, used on the Musashino Line & some parts of Keiyō Line to be scheduled for ending operations on the late 2020 prior to the acquisition all of these trainsets for overseas use to be shipped to Jakarta, Indonesia to be operated by Kereta Commuter Indonesia from 2018 to 2020.
Upon resale & overseas use, there are 288 vehicles for 205–5000 series withdrawn from the Musashino Line are scheduled to be shipped to Jakarta between March 2018 and 2020.

Formations

Musashino Line sets

As of July 2020, four 8-car sets are allocated to Keiyō Depot for use on the Musashino Line and Keiyō Line through services. These sets are formed as follows with four motored cars and four non-powered cars.

Withdrawal and resale

Fuji Kyuko

A number of former 205 series trains were sold to Fuji Kyuko in 2011 and modified to become 3-car 6000 series sets, entering service from February 2012. Four more withdrawn JR East 205 series cars were resold to Fuji Kyuko following withdrawal in November 2016.

Indonesia

A total of 812 vehicles from withdrawn Saikyo Line, Yokohama Line, Nambu Line, and Musashino Line sets were exported to Kereta Commuter Indonesia in Jakarta between late 2013 up to mid 2020.

Former Saikyo Line/Kawagoe Line/[Rinkai Line] sets

A total of 18 withdrawn Saikyo Line ten-car sets were shipped to Kereta Commuter Indonesia in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2013, and entered service from March 2014. The sets in use are former Kawagoe sets 1, 4, 7, 11 to 15, 18, 20, 22 to 26, and 30 to 32. All except sets 26, 30, and 32 include pairs of SaHa 204 cars with six pairs of doors per side. Sets 30 to 32 were originally Yamanote Line sets, distinguished by their smaller door windows. Set 23 was the first set to have a pair of LCD screens inside all cars, except SaHa 204 cars. Set 23 was also the first set to have working LED destination display in KuHa 204 and KuHa 205 cars. Set 15 and 32 were involved in a train accident in Juanda Station, Jakarta.

Former Yokohama Line sets

From July 2014, 22 withdrawn Yokohama Line eight-car sets, which in use are former trainset numbers 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 to 9; 11 to 15; 17 to 19; 21 to 25; and lastly 27 and 28, with a total of 176 vehicles were shipped to Jakarta and operated as 10-car or 12-car sets.

Former Nambu Line sets

In 2015, 20 withdrawn Nambu Line six-car sets were shipped to Jakarta. The former Nambu Line sets are used on 12-car operations.

Former Musashino Line sets

336 vehicles withdrawn from the Musashino Line are scheduled to be shipped to Jakarta between March 2018 and 2020.