Background and overview
JR West developed 223-0 series suburban DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trains to introduce for the rapid services linking downtown Osaka and Kansai International Airport opened in 1994. 9 six-car sets and 7 two-car sets were delivered.
|
6-car formation
| Kumoha2230 |
Saha2230 |
Saha223100 |
Moha2230 |
Saha2230 |
Kuha2220 |
| motored |
trailer |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
|
compressor |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
|
WC
compressor |
2-car formation
| Kumoha223100 |
Kuha222100 |
| motored |
trailer |
baggage room (1995 to 1998)
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
WC
compressor |
|
Car body
They have 2950mm wide body, incorporating light weight stainless construction
featuring unpainted bead-less skin. They have the gradation strato-blue
waistline band running the length of each car below the windows. Their
body height was 60mm lower than 221 series against the crosswind on the
cross-sea bridge linking airport island and main land. Their cab end is
constructed by streel, having spacious windscreens and a gangway at the
centre. They are equipped with three 1300mm wide double-leaf automatic
sliding doors on each side of the vehicles. Door operating equipments,
WTK112A, 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
950mm height are fitted between the doors. Double-glazing glass is employed
in order to improve noise and thermal insulation property, and prevents
their windows from dew condensation, excepting door case windows. Roller-binding
train-type indicators and LED destination indicators are fitted on each
side of their body. Two air conditioners, WAU702B, rated at 21,000kcal/h/unit,
are fitted on their roof. Loudspeakers, providing guidance broadcast for
passengers waiting at a station, are fitted inside each air conditioner.
Electric fans of air conditioner supply fresh air into the passenger room,
instead of ventilators on the roof. End cars are equipped with the automatic
jumper coupler to ease rush-up operations.
Bogies
Motored bogies are WDT55A and trailer bogies are WTR239A, 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 and the single tread brake devices.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Variable frequency drive traction system, WPC4, featuring Gate Turn Off
(GTO) thyristor controls 4 traction motors, WMT100B, with a power output
of 180 kW on axle basis in order to realize that the ratio of motored vehicle
to trailer vehicle is one to two. The cut-off current of their traction
motors is controlled at a certain acceleration regardless of the ratio
of motored vehicle to trailer vehicle. The gear ratio is 6.53 to get acceleration
at 2.1km/h/s. Motored vehicles are equipped with an auxiliary power unit,
WSC30 with a power output of 130kVA featuring the combination of double
chopper employing Gate Turn Off (GTO) thyristor and 3 step inverter employing
Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT), under their floor in order to
get high enhanced adhesion by having heavy tare weight. Motored vehicles
are also equipped with a cross-arm type current pickup, WPS27D. Class kuha222-0
vehicles are equipped with a motor driven air compressor, WMH3093-WTC2000B.
Class kuha222-100 and class saha223-100 vehicles are also equipped with
a motor driven air compressor, WMH3094-WTC1000B. 223-0 series employ the
electric commanding brake with regenerative brake, featuring brake control
of trailer priority.
Accommodation
They have mixture of 2+1 abreast switchable transverse seating with movable
headrest keeping upright, and 2+2 abreast transverse seating bays at the
end. 1 abreast seating has a strap to hold passenger's baggage. A LED display
for providing passenger information, and a door chime are fitted above
the door header of the sliding doors. Straps were fitted throughout their
body. Trailer end cars, class kuha222, are equipped with a Japanese style
toilet employing a chemical holding tank.
Modification and refurbishment
JR West started checked baggage ferry services by Kansai International
Airport rapid services departing and arriving JR Namba station located
in Osaka City Air Terminal (OCAT) opened in 1996. JR West added dedicated
luggage cabin onto class kuha222-100 end cars for ferry services. A door
windows and a door case window located behind the driver's cab were filled
with the steel plate in order to use as doors for baggage. However, due
to lack of use it was reverted in 1998.
Since characteristical switchable transverse seating became superannuated, they were gradually replaced with standard type switchable transverse seating used for 223-2500 series. Their traction motors also started to be replaced with more powerful motors, WMT102C, rated 230kW in 2007. The prominent anti-fall plates on the front ends also started to be fitted from 2015.
From 2018, a refurbishment programme was commenced on 223-0 series. Roller-binding
train-type indicators and LED destination indicators were replaced with
full-colour LED indicators. LED headlights and additional auxiliary headlights
were employed. Trailer end cars are equipped with universal access toilets,
and all end cars are equipped with wheelchair spaces.
The semiconductor elements of their traction system were changed into Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT). Body Vibration Detector (BVD) were additionally introduced.
Operations
223-0 series entered the revenue services of the Hanwa rapid services in April, 1994. Then, 223-0 series entered the Kansai Airport shuttle services in June, 1994. Finally, as Kansai International Airport opened, they entered the Kansai Airport rapid services linking Kansai International Airport and Osaka downtown in September, 1994. They also entered special rapid services "Wing" offering seat reservation service with limited stops. Due to lack of use it, Special rapid service "Wing" was discontinued in 1999.
223-0 series entered Kishuji rapid services linking Wakayama and Osaka
downtown via Hanwa line in 1999. A 3-car set applied for Kishuji rapid
services were coupled with a 5-car set applied for Kansai Airport rapid
services between Hineno and Osaka downtown. So, a trailer intermediate
car, class saha223-0, of seven 6-car sets was transferred to seven 2-car
sets to make seven 3-car sets and seven 5-car sets. Two trailer intermediate
car, class saha223-0 and class saha223-100, and a motored intermediate
car, class moha223-0, of two 6-car sets were removed to make 3-car sets.
Remaining two 3 intermediate car sets were coupled with motored end cars,
class kuha223-2500, and trailer end cars, class kuha222-2500, built additionally
to make two 5-car sets. |
5-car formation
| Kumoha2230 |
Saha223100 |
Moha2230 |
Saha2230 |
Kuha2220 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
compressor |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
|
WC
compressor |
3-car formation
| Kumoha223100 |
Saha2230 |
Kuha222100 |
| motored |
trailer |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
|
WC
compressor |
|
All sets of 223-0 series and 223-2500 series were changed into four cars
in 2008. An intermediate motored car, class moha223-2500, built additionally
was added to 3-car sets. An intermediate trailer car, class saha223-0,
removed form 5-car sets to make 4-car sets was coupled with three 223-2500
series vehicles built additionally. |
Only 223-0 series vehicle formation
| Kumoha2230 |
Saha223100 |
Moha2230 |
Kuha2220 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
compressor |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
WC
compressor |
223-0/223-2500 series vehicle formation
| Kumoha223100 |
Saha2230 |
Moha2232500 |
Kuha222100 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply |
|
traction system
aux. pwr supply
compressor |
WC
compressor |
| Kumoha2232500 |
Saha2230 |
Moha2232500 |
Kuha2222500 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply
compressor |
|
traction system
aux. pwr supply
compressor |
WC
|
|
223-0 series are now used on Kansai Airport rapid services, Kishuji rapid
services, and ordinary services of Hanwa and Kinokuni lines. |
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