When I visited Nara Prefecture in October, I saw a strange train on the JR West Sakurai line. It was a brand-new model, the EMU 227-1000 series. I'm going to show you this new commuter train today.
The 227-1000 series was commissioned in March, 2019 to replace the decrepit models such as the 105 and the 117 series. 68 cars in total were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kinki Sharyo from 2019 to 2021. One set is composed of only two cars, because the 227-1000 series is for local lines. The 227-1000 series enables a train operation without a conductor. It has onboard ticket gates. A driver observes passengers getting on and off in the cockpit, and operates passenger doors. Different from the other JR West commuter trains, the 227-1000 series has only long seats.
In terms of the technical specifications, the 227-1000 series employs what we call 0.5M system. It means that all cars have both a driving truck and a trailing truck. It enables the weight equalization of each car, and enhances passengers' riding comfort. Furthermore, this system enhances vehicle formation flexibility, as all cars are the same... motorcars with an electric controller. The electric control system is an IGBT-VVVF (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor - variable frequency drive) inverter. One car has two 270 kW three phase-induction motors.
The 227-1000 series has shining stainless-steel bodies with dark green, black and gray-colored stripes. It fits historical areas on the Sakurai line and it's definitely my favorite.
