Background and overview
JR West was studying about next generation ideal trains delivered hereafter,
after splitting of Japan National Railways. As the result, JR West developed
221 series suburban DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trains, realizing 2-car
train sets for the rural services to 12-car train sets for the special
rapid services, and having attractive appearance and passenger accommodation
against competing private commuter rail operators. They entered special
rapid services and Yamatoji rapid services in 1989.
Car body
They have 2950mm wide body. Their body design incorporates lightweight
shaped steel and pressed forming beam to realize a light weight body, employing
weatherproof steel sheet (Steel Plate Atmospheric) for their body skin,
and stainless plate and weatherproof steel sheet for their roof. Their
roof features polyurethane waterproof coating for anti-corrosion improvement.
They are equipped with three 1300mm wide double-leaf automatic sliding
doors on each side of the vehicles. Door operating equipments, WTK112,
are fitted above the door header of the sliding doors which can be operated
manually by pushing the buttons fitted beside the door. Horizontal band
of 4 set windows including 2 drop windows and door case windows having
1m height are fitted between the doors. The same seating capacity as 117
series is kept by reexamination of a switchboard installation position
etc., regardless of increased doors for 117 series. Cab ends having a gangway
at the front for underground railway use in the future are slanted at 15
degrees. Roller-binding train-type indicators and LED destination indicators
are fitted on each side of their body. Two air conditioners, WAU701, rated
at 18,000kcal/h/unit, and no ventilators are fitted on their roof. End
cars are equipped with the automatic jumper coupler to ease rush-up operations.
Bogies
Motored bogies are WDT50H and trailer bogies are WTR235H, featuring bolster-less
secondary air suspension, corn-shaped multilayered rubber spring journal
supporting system, and the Z link traction device. These bogies adopt double
collar sealed roller bearing and prepare to adopt the yaw dampers to ensure
smooth ride characteristics even at 120km/h. Motored bogies employ the
single tread brake device adopting automatic gap-adjusting unit, and trailer
bogies employ both the single disk brake device and the single tread brake
device.
|
6-car formation
| Kumoha221 |
Moha221 |
Saha221 |
Moha220 |
Saha220 |
Kuha221 |
| motored |
motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
traction
system |
compressor
aux. pwr |
|
traction
system
aux. pwr |
compressor |
WC |
4-car formation
| Kumoha221 |
Moha221 |
Saha221 |
Kuha221 |
| motored |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
traction
system |
compressor
aux. pwr |
|
WC |
2-car formation
| Kumoha220 |
Kuha220 |
| motored |
trailer |
traction
system
aux. pwr |
WC
compressor |
|
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
221 series can be made 2-car, 4-car, and 6-car formations, since 221 series
adopt married pair unit system as 211 series consisting of motored end
car, class kumoha221, and motored intermediate car, class moha221, and
the single unit system as 213 series, consisting of and motored end car,
class kumoha220 and motored intermediate car, class moha220. Kumoha221
vehicles are equipped with the traction system, WCS57B, which controls
eight silent series-wound brushed DC traction motors, WMT61S with a power
output of 120kW, and Moha220 and Kumoha220 are equipped with the traction
system, WCS59C, which controls 4 silent series-wound brushed DC traction
motors, WMT64S with a power output of 120kW. These traction systems feature
field added excitation control system. Motored end cars and Moha220 are
equipped with cross-arm type current collector, WPS27. Class moha221 vehicles
are equipped with an auxiliary power unit, WSC23, with a power output of
130kVA consisting of DC-DC converter featuring boosting chopper and 3-phase
inverter, and a motor driven air compressor, WMH3093-WTC2000A under their
floor. Class moha220 and kumoha220 vehicles cannot be equipped with a motor
driven air compressor since the traction container and an auxiliary power
supply are fitted under the floor and the space under the floor is insufficient.
So, class saha220 and class kuha220 vehicles are equipped with a motor
driven air compressor, MH3094-WTC1000C. 221 series incorporate the regenerative
electric command braking system.
Accommodation
Seating accommodation consists of switchable transverse seating. A LED
display for providing passenger information is fitted on the end wall.
Straps were fitted throughout their body later, although straps were fitted
at only the doorway at the beginning. Trailer end cars, Kuha221, are equipped
with a Japanese style toilet.
|
8-car formation
| Kumoha221 |
Moha221 |
Saha221 |
Moha220 |
Saha220 |
Moha220 |
Saha220 |
Kuha221 |
| motored |
motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
traction
system |
compressor
aux. pwr |
|
traction
system
aux. pwr |
compressor |
traction
system
aux. pwr |
compressor |
WC |
4-car formation
| Kumoha220 |
Saha220 |
Moha220 |
Kuha220 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
traction
controller
aux. pwr |
compressor |
traction
controller
aux. pwr |
WC
compressor |
|
Operations
221 series started 120km/h operation after 117 series were replaced with 221 series completely in 1991. Furthermore, 221 series used on special rapid services were changed into eight-car formation or four-car formation in 1991, since passengers increased and transport capacity had been insufficient in six-car formation. Special rapid services were operated with eight-car formation or 2 four-car formations in pairs.
However, since 223-1000 series and 223-2000 series were delivered as the
next generation suburban trains, 221 series gradually withdrew from special
rapid services and 221 series began to be used on rapid services of JR
Takarazuka, Nara, and Hanwa lines. Since JR west didn't have sufficient
4-car sets at that time, class moha220 and class saha220 included in six-car
sets were transplanted to 2-car sets consisting of class kumoha220 and
kuha220 in order to make additional 4-car sets.
Modification and refurbishment
From 2012, a refurbishment programme was commenced on 221 series. A LED
destination indicator screen was fitted above the windscreen of the cab.
High-Intensity discharge (HID) headlights and auxiliary headlights were
employed. Flip-up seating next to the doorways were introduced in order
to make doorways wider. Trailer end cars are equipped with a universal
access toilet, and all end cars are equipped with a wheelchair space.
The prominent anti-fall plates on the front ends started to be fitted from
2015.
Latest operation status
221 series are now used on the rapid services of JR Kobe, JR Kyoto, Yamatoji, Nara, and Wakayama lines, and ordinary services of Biwako, San-in, Kosei, Kusatsu, Sakurai lines. |
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