KiHa 189 series

The KiHa 189 series (キハ189系, Kiha-189-kei) is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on Hamakaze limited express services between Osaka and Tottori since November 2010 and Biwako Express services between Osaka and Maibara since March 2014. ^[3]

KiHa 189 series
KiHa 189 series on a Hamakaze service in December 2023
Manufacturer	Niigata Transys
Replaced	KiHa 181 series
Constructed	2010
Entered service	7 November 2010
Number built	21 vehicles
Number in service	21 vehicles (7 sets)
Formation	3 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	H1–H7
Capacity	156 (monoclass)[1]
Operators	JR-West
Depots	Kyoto
Lines served	Tōkaidō Main Line, Sanyō Main Line, Bantan Line, Sanin Main Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	20,870 mm (68 ft 6 in) (end cars) 20,800 mm (68 ft 3 in) (intermediate cars)
Width	2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Height	3,650 mm (12 ft 0 in)
Doors	One per side
Maximum speed	130 km/h (81 mph)[2]
Prime mover(s)	SA6D140HE-2 (×2 per car)
Power output	450 hp (340 kW) per engine (at 2,100 rpm)
Transmission	Hydraulic
Acceleration	2.0 km/(h⋅s) (1.2 mph/s)
Deceleration	Service: 4.6 km/(h⋅s) (2.9 mph/s) Emergency: 5.2 km/(h⋅s) (3.2 mph/s)
Bogies	WDT66
Braking system(s)	Engine brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes
Safety system(s)	ATS-SW, ATS-P
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Operations

• Hamakaze (from November 2010)
• Biwako Express (from March 2014)

Formation

Trains are formed as 3-car sets, as shown below.^[4]

Car No.	1	2	3
Designation	Mc2	M1	Mc1
Numbering	KiHa 189-1000	KiHa 188	KiHa 189
Seating capacity	60	56	40
Weight (t)	48.0	47.5	49.5

• 
  KiHa 189-1000
• 
  KiHa 188
• 
  KiHa 189

Interior

The trains are all standard-class, with a total seating capacity of 156 passengers per 3-car set. Seating is in standard 2+2 abreast configuration with a seat pitch of 970 mm, an increase of 60 mm compared with the earlier KiHa 181 series trains.^[1]

• 
  Interior view, December 2011
• 
  LED passenger information display

History

The first three-car set was delivered from Niigata Transys to Fukui Depot on 19 March 2010, with test running commencing on 23 March.^[5][6]

The trains entered revenue service from 7 November 2010.^[7]

Hana Akari

In October 2022, JR-West announced plans to remodel a KiHa 189 series set into a sightseeing train. The renovated train, designed by Yasuyuki Kawanishi, is scheduled to commence operation in late 2024.^[8] In June 2024, set H5 was converted to become the KiHa 189-7000 series sightseeing train branded "Hana Akari" (はなあかり).^[9]

The Hana Akari trainset is scheduled to enter revenue service on 5 October 2024.^[10]