KiHa 40 series


The KiHa 40 series is a diesel multiple unit train type introduced by Japanese National Railways in 1977 and operated by all of the Japan Railways Group companies on suburban and rural services in Japan.It also served in other private railway companies in Japan since 2017 following the removal of service which have been pulled out by Japan Railways group and also served in overseas operations in Myanmar since 2011.

Overview

The KiHa 40 series diesel multiple unit was introduced in 1977 by JNR to replace ageing KiHa 10 series DMUs on suburban and rural services nationwide. A total of 888 vehicles were built between 1977 and 1982, broadly divided into three main types: KiHa 40, KiHa 47, and KiHa 48. These were subdivided as shown below, with further variants and modifications made later in their lives by the various JR Group companies.
TypeNo. of cabsDoorsSubclassRegionToilet
KiHa 402Single-leaf-100Hokkaido
Yes
KiHa 402Single-leaf-500ColdYes
KiHa 402Single-leaf-1000WarmNo
KiHa 402Single-leaf-2000WarmYes
KiHa 471Pairs-0WarmYes
KiHa 471Pairs-500ColdYes
KiHa 471Pairs-1000WarmNo
KiHa 471Pairs-1500ColdNo
KiHa 481Single-leaf-0WarmYes
KiHa 481Single-leaf-300Hokkaido
Yes
KiHa 481Single-leaf-500ColdYes
KiHa 481Single-leaf-1000WarmNo
KiHa 481Single-leaf-1300Hokkaido
No
KiHa 481Single-leaf-1500ColdNo

"Cold" regions refers to the Tohoku and Chubu regions.

JNR car types

The types built for JNR were as follows.

KiHa 40-100

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Hokkaido received a total of 157 KiHa 40 series vehicles., JR Hokkaido operates 153 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR East received a total of 219 KiHa 40 series vehicles. As of 1 April 2010, JR East operates 159 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. KiHa 48 502 and KiHa 48 1512 were derailed and badly damaged by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011, and were withdrawn.
Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Central received a total of 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles. By April 2010, JR Central operated 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. These were withdrawn by 2016.
Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR-West received a total of 257 KiHa 40 series vehicles., JR-West operates 255 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Shikoku received a total of 53 KiHa 40 series vehicles., JR Shikoku operates 43 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Kyushu received a total of 142 KiHa 40 series vehicles. As of 1 April 2010, JR Kyushu operates 140 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.

Nishikigawa Railway

In 2017, 1 KiHa 40-1009 diesel carriage was taken over by Nishikigawa Railway, that ended operation on the Karasuyama Line by JR East in March 2017, the former diesel train is remodeled in retro style, and started operation on September 16 of the same year.

Kominato Railway

2 KiHa 40 carriages, which ended operation on the Tadami Line in March 2020, were transferred in May 2020 with the Tohoku livery.

Overseas operations

A large fleet of former KiHa 40 series cars from JR East, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku, and JR Central were shipped to Myanmar between 2011 and 2016. A total of 48 diesel cars have been shipped to Myanmar for overseas operations. The cars are used on the Yangon Circular Railway.

Preserved examples