683 series

The 683 series (683系, 683-kei) is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on limited express services in Japan since 2001.

683 series
A refurbished JR-West 683-4000 series train on a Thunderbird service in April 2022
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo[1]
Family name	A-train
Replaced	485 series
Constructed	2001–2011
Entered service	2001
Refurbished	2015–
Number built	270 vehicles
Number in service	189 vehicles (the rest of 79 vehicles were converted to 289 series)
Number scrapped	2 vehicles[1]
Formation	3/5/6/9 cars per trainset
Operators	JR-West (2001–) Hokuetsu Express (2005–2015)
Depots	Kyoto, Kanazawa
Lines served	Tokaido Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, IR Ishikawa Railway Line, Nanao Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy, double-skin
Maximum speed	160 km/h (100 mph) (683-4000/5000/8000 series) 130 km/h (80 mph) (683-0/1000/2000/3000 series)[2]
Traction system	Variable frequency (3-level IGBT)
Electric system(s)	20 kV AC 60 Hz / 1,500 V DC overhead
Current collector(s)	WPS27C scissors-type pantograph WPS28D single-arm pantograph (683-4000/5000 series)
Braking system(s)	Regenerative brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, snow-resistant brake
Safety system(s)	ATS-SW, ATS-P
Multiple working	681 series
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Variants

683-0 series

The first subseries consists of 54 cars composed of 6 6-car trains (W31–W36) and 6 3-car trains (V31–V36) built in 2001–2002.^[3][4]

683-2000 series

87 cars were built in 3-car and 5-car sets. This subseries was subsequently transferred to the 289 series with their AC equipment removed.^[5] The move was made after the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the associated discontinuation of service by these sets on the Hokuhoku Line.

683-4000 series

108 cars were built in 9-car sets for a total of 12 trainsets.

• 
  683-4000 series

683-8000 series

This is the designation given to a 6-car train (N03) and a 3-car train (N13) formerly owned by Hokuetsu Express for services on the Hakutaka limited express. At the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March 2015, the sets were transferred to JR West.^[6]

Operations

JR-West

• Thunderbird
• Shirasagi
• Biwako Express
• Ohayō Express
• Oyasumi Express
• Dinostar (from 14 March 2015)
• Noto Kagaribi (from 14 March 2015)
• Kuroshio (from 13 March 2015)^[7]

Hokuetsu Express

• Hakutaka (until 12 March 2015)

JR Central

• Home Liner Ōgaki rapid service (until 13 March 2015)
• Home Liner Sekigahara rapid service (until 13 March 2015)

Formations

The various formations are configured as follows.

3-car sets

Thunderbird sets

Designation	Tpc	M	T'c
Numbering	KuHa 682-500	MoHa 683-1300	KuHa 683–700

Designation	Tpc	T	Mc
Numbering	KuHa 682-2700	SaHa 683-2400	KuMoHa 683–3500

Designation	T'c	M	Tpc
Numbering	KuHa 683-8700	MoHa 683-8000	KuHa 682–8500

Shirasagi sets

Designation	Mc	T	Tpc
Numbering	KuMoHa 683-3500	SaHa 683-2400	KuHa 682–2700

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

5-car sets

Shirasagi sets

Designation	Mc	T	Tp	M	Tpsc
Numbering	KuMoHa 683-3500	SaHa 683-2500	SaHa 682-2200	MoHa 683-3400	KuRo 682–2000

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

6-car sets

Thunderbird sets

Designation	Tsc	Tp	M	T	Tp	Mc
Numbering	KuRo 683	SaHa 682	MoHa 683-1000	SaHa 683-300	SaHa 682	KuMoHa 683–1500

Designation	Mc	Tp	T	M	Tp	Tsc
Numbering	KuMoHa 683-8700	SaHa 682-8000	SaHa 683-8000	MoHa 683-8300	SaHa 682-8000	KuRo 683–8000

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

9-car sets

Thunderbird sets

Designation	Tsc	Tp	M	Tp	M	T		Tp	Mc
Numbering	KuRo 683-4500	SaHa 682-4300	MoHa 683-5400	SaHa 682-4400	MoHa 683-5000	SaHa 683-4700	SaHa 683-4800	SaHa 682-4300	KuMoHa 683–5500

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

Interior

• 
  683-2000 series odd number car Standard-class saloon, January 2012
• 
  683-2000 series even number car Standard-class saloon, January 2012
• 
  683-2000 series Green car saloon, January 2012
• 
  683-4000 series Green car saloon, June 2010

Refurbishment

A refurbished 683–4000 series set in April 2022

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.^[8] The first set treated, nine-car 683–4000 series set T51, was returned to revenue service in September 2015.^[9]

Conversion to 289 series

Main article: 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.^[4]