Background and overview
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 combined 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 cars, class saha223-0/-100, and a motored intermediate car, class moha223-0, of two 6-car sets were removed to make 3-car sets. So, in 1999, JR West built end cars of 223-2500 series to make other two 5-car sets by to couple with 2 remaining trailer intermediate vehicles, class saha223-0/-100, and 1 remaining trailer intermediate vehicles, class moha223-0. |
5-car set
| Kumoha2232500 |
Saha2230 |
Moha2230 |
Saha223100 |
Kuha2222500 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
Traction system
Aux. pwr supply
Compressor |
|
Traction system
Aux. pwr supply |
compressor |
WC |
|
Car body
They have 2950mm wide body with bead-less skin, incorporating light weight
stainless construction. Their body construction is that the pressed stainless
sheet and the outside sheet are combined and those sheets themselves keep
the strength although previous 223-0's body is constructed with the outside
sheets and inner beams as usual (Only beams keep strength). Bodies are
unpainted and have the gradation strato-blue waistline band running the
length of each car below the windows. They also have pearl blue accents
applied at door cases and around side windows. Their cab end is constructed
by streel, having spacious windscreens and a gangway at the centre. Cab
section and end structure are fitted to their main body by bolts to ease
fitting a cab section to the intermediate cars to make the end cars from
intermediate cars. Their floor level is made 20mm lower than 223-0 series
to realize a low centre of gravity and to eliminate the level difference
between platforms and the floor for accessibility. Anti-fall plates between
vehicles are also introduced. They are equipped with three 1300mm wide
double-leaf automatic sliding doors on each side of the vehicles. Door
operating equipments, WTK112B, 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 5 set windows including 2 hopper windows
(difficult to employee drop windows because of their wainscot panel construction)
having 950mm height are fitted between the doors. Heat absorbent double-glazing
glass is employed for all windows in order to improve noise and thermal
insulation property and prevent dew condensation. So, blinds were omitted.
Roller-binding train-type indicators and LED destination indicators are
fitted on each side of their body. Two air conditioners, WAU705A, rated
at 20,000kcal/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
The 223-2500 series are equipped with WDT59 bogies on the powered cars and WTR243A bogies on the trailers, featuring bolster-less secondary air suspension and axle arm type journal box supporting system. Their bogies employ the single link traction device. Their bogie employing bow-shaped bogie frame to lower the fitting position of bolster suspension realizes to lower the floor level. These bogies adopt the yaw dampers and anti-rolling stabilizer to ensure smooth ride characteristics even at 120km/h. Motored bogie employs single tread brake device. Trailer bogie employs both the single disk brake device and the single tread brake device.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
All motored cars are equipped with a 3-step variable frequency drive traction
system, WPC10, featuring Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) controls
four asynchronous traction motors, WMT102B, with a power output of 220kW
on axle basis. Their traction system is integrated with the high-power
auxiliary power supply unit with a power output of 150kVA. In case of the
auxiliary power supply unit failure, the electricity is supplied another
APU in the formation by reduction of air conditioning load, regardless
of 223-2000 series adopt the backup by using variable frequency drive unit
for traction motor. Motored end vehicles, class kumoha223-2500, are also
equipped with a motor driven rotary-screw air compressor, WMH3098-WRC1600,
under their floor, and a cross arm type current pickup, WPS27D, with the
protection against heavy snow on the floor. They prepared to be fitted
with another current pickup on their roof. 223-2500 series feature the
electric commanding brake with regenerative brake and holding brake, featuring
brake control of trailer priority.
Accommodation
They have mixture of 2+1 abreast switchable transverse seating, and 2+2
abreast transverse seating bays at the end. 223-2500 series differ from
223-2000 series in that transverse bucket seating bays next to the doorway
do not have flip-up seats. 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 kuha222-2500,
are equipped with a universal access toilet employing a chemical holding
tank and a wheel chair space.
Operations
223-2500 series entered the Kansai Airport shuttle services in May, 1999.
Additional delivery
In 2007, JR West additionally delivered a 5-car set and a 3-car set of
2nd batch's 223-2500 series of which intermediate vehicles were built for
the first time. Their windows feature heat absorbent double-glazing tempered
glass having protection against UV and flying object. The window colour
is changed from gray into green. Air conditioners were changed into WAU705B
using R407C refrigerant. Anti-fall plates between vehicles are also introduced
excepting the cab end. The enlarged life guard device fitted under the
cab end was introduced. Air conditioners were changed into WAU705B using
R407C refrigerant. Their traction system was changed into WPC13 featuring
regenerative brake to zero speed and auxiliary power supply unit backup
system. In case of the auxiliary power supply unit failure, one variable
frequency drive unit for traction motor drive can switch to supply electricity
as the backup of auxiliary power supply unit. Blinds were fitted since
they were built. The lighting of passenger saloons was introduced the curved
lighting cover made of the glass fiber. Dead-man's vigilance device (EB)
and one action emergency operation device (TE) were also introduced. Slopes
are also introduced to reduce level difference at the gangway. |
5-car set
| Kumoha2232500 |
Saha2232500 |
Moha2232500 |
Saha2232500 |
Kuha2222500 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
trailer |
Traction system
Aux. pwr supply
Compressor |
|
Traction system
Aux. pwr supply
compressor |
|
WC |
3-car set
| Kumoha2232500 |
Saha2232500 |
Kuha2222500 |
| motored |
trailer |
trailer |
Traction system
Aux. pwr supply
Compressor |
|
WC |
|
In 2008, All sets of 223-0 series and 223-2500 series were changed into
four cars at the time when JR West replace superannuated 103 series and
113 series vehicles provided for Osaka-Loop and Hanwa lines. An intermediate
trailer car plucked out from 5-car sets was coupled with newly built class
kumoha223-2500, moha223-2500 and kuha222-2500 vehicles to make a 4-car
set. An additionally built class moha223-2500 vehicle was inserted to a
3-car set to make a 4-car set. The Other five deficient 4-car sets were
delivered by newly built 223-2500 series. These 3rd batches' 223-2500 series
vehicles adopted drop windows instead of hopper windows. |
223-0/223-2500 series vehicle set
| 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
|
Only 223-2500 series vehicles set
| Kumoha2232500 |
Saha2232500 |
Moha2232500 |
Kuha2222500 |
| motored |
trailer |
motored |
trailer |
traction system
aux. pwr supply
compressor |
|
traction system
aux. pwr supply
compressor |
WC
|
|
Modification and refurbishment
JR West fitted blinds to 1st batch not fitted with blinds.
The prominent anti-fall plates on the front ends were began to be fitted from 2015.
From 2019, Roller-binding train-type indicators and LED destination indicators
started to be replaced with full-colour LED indicators. LED displays fitted
above the door header of the sliding doors started to be replaced with
LCD displays for passenger information and digital signage in 2020.
Latest operation status
223-2500 series are now used on Kansai Airport rapid services, Kishuji
rapid services, and ordinary services of Hanwa and Kinokuni lines. |
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