683 series


The 683 series is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit train type operated by West Japan Railway Company and Hokuetsu Express on limited express services in Japan since 2001.

Variants

JR-West

The various formations are configured as follows.

3-car sets

''Thunderbird'' sets

DesignationTpcMT'c
NumberingKuHa 682-500MoHa 683-1300KuHa 683-700

DesignationTpcTMc
NumberingKuHa 682-2700SaHa 683-2400KuMoHa 683-3500

DesignationT'cMTpc
NumberingKuHa 683-8700MoHa 683-8000KuHa 682-8500

''Shirasagi'' sets

DesignationMcTTpc
NumberingKuMoHa 683-3500SaHa 683-2400KuHa 682-2700

The KuHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

5-car sets

''Shirasagi'' sets

DesignationMcTTpMTpsc
NumberingKuMoHa 683-3500SaHa 683-2500SaHa 682-2200MoHa 683-3400KuRo 682-2000

The SaHa 682 and KuRo 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

6-car sets

''Thunderbird'' sets

DesignationTscTpMTTpMc
NumberingKuRo 683SaHa 682MoHa 683-1000SaHa 683-300SaHa 682KuMoHa 683-1500

DesignationMcTpTMTpTsc
NumberingKuMoHa 683-8700SaHa 682-8000SaHa 683-8000MoHa 683-8300SaHa 682-8000KuRo 683-8000

The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

9-car sets

''Thunderbird'' sets

DesignationTscTpMTpMTTTpMc
NumberingKuRo 683-4500SaHa 682-4300MoHa 683-5400SaHa 682-4400MoHa 683-5000SaHa 683-4700SaHa 683-4800SaHa 682-4300KuMoHa 683-5500

The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

Refurbishment

All of the 683 series trainsets used on Thunderbird limited express services are scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018. The first set treated, nine-car 683-4000 series set T51, was returned to revenue service in September 2015.

Conversion to 289 series

From 2015, 85 former Shirasagi 683 series vehicles were converted and reformed to become DC-only 289 series EMUs, formed as three-car, four-car, and six-car sets for use on Hashidate, Kinosaki, Kounotori, and Kurioshio limited express services in the Kyoto and Osaka area.