On March 14th, JR group companies changed their timetables all at once. With this change, several old trains were retired from the tracks in the JR East operating area. The representative one includes a diesel rail-car, KiHa 40 series.
The KiHa 40 series was launched in 1977 by Japanese National Railways. A total of 888 units were built by Niigata Engineering and Fuji Heavy Industries between 1977 and 1983. It consists of three groups, namely the Class KiHa 40, 47 and 48. What is the major difference between these three groups? Firstly, the Class KiHa 40 has double cabins; meanwhile, the Class KiHa 47 and 48 have single cabins. Secondly, the Class KiHa 47 has double (center-opened) doors; meanwhile, the Class KiHa 40 and 48 have single (side-opened) doors.
The JR East KiHa 40 series was retired from the tracks one after another in the past few years. For instance, it was replaced by the state-of-art battery train, EV-E301 series, on the Karasuyama line. The battery train is an electric car, which has lithium-ion accumulators. The train is operated with accumulators on the non-electrified Karasuyama line. The power is supplied by 1,500 V DC catenaries via pantographs at special facilities in the terminal stations.
Incidentally, the KiHa 40 series are still operated in the JR Hokkaido, JR West, JR Kyushu and the other companies' operating areas. I am going to choose the KiHa 40 series if I travel on those lines. Thanks and goodbye, the JR East KiHa 40 series.
The KiHa 40 series was launched in 1977 by Japanese National Railways. A total of 888 units were built by Niigata Engineering and Fuji Heavy Industries between 1977 and 1983. It consists of three groups, namely the Class KiHa 40, 47 and 48. What is the major difference between these three groups? Firstly, the Class KiHa 40 has double cabins; meanwhile, the Class KiHa 47 and 48 have single cabins. Secondly, the Class KiHa 47 has double (center-opened) doors; meanwhile, the Class KiHa 40 and 48 have single (side-opened) doors.
The JR East KiHa 40 series was retired from the tracks one after another in the past few years. For instance, it was replaced by the state-of-art battery train, EV-E301 series, on the Karasuyama line. The battery train is an electric car, which has lithium-ion accumulators. The train is operated with accumulators on the non-electrified Karasuyama line. The power is supplied by 1,500 V DC catenaries via pantographs at special facilities in the terminal stations.
Incidentally, the KiHa 40 series are still operated in the JR Hokkaido, JR West, JR Kyushu and the other companies' operating areas. I am going to choose the KiHa 40 series if I travel on those lines. Thanks and goodbye, the JR East KiHa 40 series.
