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KiHa 40 series

KiHa 40 series
KiHa 41
KiHa 47
KiHa 48
A pair of JR East KiHa 40 series units on the Karasuyama Line in January 2017
In service1977–present
ManufacturerFuji Heavy Industries, Niigata Tekkō
Replaced
Constructed1977–1983
Number built888 vehicles
Number in service714 vehicles (as of 2018)[1]
Successor
FormationVarious
Operators
DepotsVarious
Lines servedVarious
Specifications
Car body constructionSteel
Car length21,300 mm (69 ft 11 in)
Width2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Doors2 per side
Maximum speed95 km/h (59 mph)
TransmissionDW10 (hydraulic)
Multiple workingKiHa 58 (San'in Main Line only)
Track gauge
  • 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
  • 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) metre gauge (Myanmar, Thailand)

The KiHa 40 series (キハ40系, Kiha-yonjū-kei) is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1977 and operated by all Japan Railways Group companies on suburban and rural services in Japan.[2] Since 2017, the train type has seen use by other private railway companies in Japan, following the removal of services by Japan Railways groups. Additionally, it has also seen use in overseas operations in Myanmar since 2011 and is also scheduled to be used in Thailand.

Overview

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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.[3] 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.[1]

Type No. of cabs Doors Subclass Region Toilet Quantity Numbering Remarks
KiHa 40 2 Single-leaf -100 Hokkaido
(Extreme cold)		 Yes 150 101–250
-500 Cold 94 501–594
-1000 Warm No 148 1001–1007 Former KiHa 40-2000 cars with toilets removed
-2000 Yes 2001–2148
KiHa 47 1 Pairs -0 Warm Yes 193 1–193
-500 Cold 22 501–522
-1000 Warm No 134 1001–1134
-1500 Cold 21 1501–1521
KiHa 48 1 Single-leaf -0 Warm Yes 6 1–6
-300 Hokkaido
(Extreme cold) 		4 301–304
-500 Cold 59 501–559
-1000 Warm No 4 1001–1004
-1300 Hokkaido
(Extreme cold) 		3 1301–1303
-1500 Cold 50 1501–1550

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

JR Hokkaido

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Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Hokkaido received a total of 157 KiHa 40 series vehicles (150 KiHa 40s and 7 KiHa 48s). As of 1 April 2010, JR Hokkaido operates 153 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.[1]

JR East

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Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR East received a total of 219 KiHa 40 series vehicles (117 KiHa 40s, 28 KiHa 47s, and 74 KiHa 48s). As of 1 April 2010, JR East operates 159 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.[1] 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.

Joyful Train sets

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JR Central

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Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Central received a total of 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles (14 KiHa 40s, 5 KiHa 47s, and 40 KiHa 48s). By April 2010, JR Central operated 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.[1] These were withdrawn by 2016.

JR West

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Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR-West received a total of 257 KiHa 40 series vehicles (63 KiHa 40s, 189 KiHa 47s, and 5 KiHa 48s). As of 1 April 2010, JR-West operates 255 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.[1]

Joyful Train sets

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JR Shikoku

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Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Shikoku received a total of 53 KiHa 40 series vehicles (11 KiHa 40s and 42 KiHa 47s). As of 1 April 2010, JR Shikoku operates 43 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.[1]

Joyful Train sets

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JR Kyushu

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Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Kyushu received a total of 142 KiHa 40 series vehicles (36 KiHa 40s and 106 KiHa 47s). As of 1 April 2010, JR Kyushu operates 140 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.[1]

Joyful Train sets

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Resale

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Nishikigawa Railway

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In 2017, KiHa 40 1009 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.[4]

Kominato Railway

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Two KiHa 40 carriages (KiHa 40 2021 and KiHa 40 2026), which ended operation on the Tadami Line in March 2020, were transferred to Kominato Railway in May 2020 with the Tohoku livery.[5][6]

Hojo Railway

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The latest acquisition purchased by the third-sector railway company which has been funded by the local government of Kasai City to purchase a retired unit from JR East which had been recently ended their local services in Gono Line on 2021.[7][8][9] The local government had been successfully collected their crowdfunding at a cost of about 30 million yen (approx. $220,000) for purchasing cost, shipment from the Akita prefecture and for remodeling or refurbishment to make it like new. The railcar has been successfully remodeled and started began their operation in March 2022 with retaining its former livery used in Gono Line by JR East.[10][11][8][9]

Conversions

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Aizu Railway's AT-400 DMU was converted from a former JR East KiHa 40.[12]

Overseas operations

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Myanmar

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A former KiHa 40 series train in Myanmar in July 2016

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 (including KiHa 40, KiHa 47, & KiHa 48) have been shipped to Myanmar for overseas operations.[13][unreliable source?] The cars are used on the Yangon Circular Railway.

Thailand

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KiHa 48 520, originally used to operate the Gonō Line, has been decommissioned since 12 March 2021, later donated to the State Railway of Thailand.

A total of 20 former KiHa 40 & 48 cars from JR East are expected to be shipped to Thailand for overseas operations by the State Railway of Thailand (SRT).[14] On 27 March 2024, these cars were handed over to the Thai railway operator prior to shipping from Niigata Port.[15] On June 2, 2024, KiHa 40 & 48 arrived in Thailand. Laem Chabang ,Chonburi Province Parked near Laem Chabang train station. To adjust the width of the wheel axle base from 1,067 mm Japan to 1,000 mm Thailand.[16]

List of Kiha 40 & 48 that the State Railway of Thailand has received

Preserved examples

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Nishiwaki, Kōji; Fujita, Gorō (January 2011). キハ40系一族 [The KiHa 40 Series Family]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 51, no. 597. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 15–63.
  2. ^ Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: JR全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. pp. 126–127. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
  3. ^ Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. pp. 461–470. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  4. ^ Toshihiko, Ninomiya. "山口）「キハ４０形」錦川鉄道に到着 ９月以降に運行". www.asahi.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 September 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. ^ "鉄道ダイヤ情". www.kotsu.co.ja (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 23 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  6. ^ "小湊鉄道 レア車両搬入で撮り鉄"密状態"に困惑「気持ちは分かるが、こんな時期なんで」". www.sponichi.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 28 May 2020. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  7. ^ "北条鉄道 キハ40形購入". 読売新聞. 31 May 2021. Archived from the original on 31 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  8. ^ a b "「キハ40」ようこそ北条鉄道へ 五能線の引退車両、来春から運行 人気の希少カラーリング". 神戸新聞. 神戸新聞社. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
  9. ^ a b "旧国鉄時代の「キハ４０形」 希少な「白青」で走行へ 北条鉄道". 神戸新聞NEXT. 神戸新聞社. 27 August 2021. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  10. ^ "国鉄時代に製造のレア車両「キハ４０形」再び出発進行！ 北条鉄道". 神戸新聞NEXT. 神戸新聞社. 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  11. ^ "北条鉄道で『キハ40満喫列車』運転". 鉄道ニュース. 交友社. 14 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  12. ^ "見たことある？ 隠されていた"キハ40顔" ベール脱いだ会津鉄道の改造車". trafficnews.jp (in Japanese). Mediavague Co., ltd. 26 November 2023. Archived from the original on 26 November 2023. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  13. ^ Diesel Railcars from Japan Archived 17 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine
  14. ^ "タイ国鉄に譲渡されるキハ40・48形がすべて新潟東港に集結" [All KiHa 40 and 48 series trains to be transferred to the State Railway of Thailand are gathered at Niigata East Port]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  15. ^ "JR東日本からタイ国鉄へ…元秋田地区のキハ40譲渡" [JR East to transfer former Akita KiHa 40 cars to the State Railway of Thailand]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 3 April 2024. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  16. ^ "ขบวนรถดีเซลรางฯ รุ่น Kiha 40 - Kiha 48 จากญี่ปุ่นถึงไทยแล้ว". 2 June 2024.
  17. ^ "キハ40 764" [KiHa 40 764]. rail.hobidas.com. Neko Publishing. 22 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 July 2019. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  18. ^ "The Routes". Microsoft Train Simulator - Engineer's Handbook. Microsoft. 2001. p. 86.
  19. ^ "Japan Railway Journal Episode 35 - The Unsung Hero of Japanese Railways: Series Kiha 40 Diesel Trains, Originally Aired Friday, June 16, 2017". Japan Railway Journal. NHK World-Japan. Archived from the original on 25 July 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2019.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to KiHa 40 series.