Background and overview
JR West developed 273 series intercity DC electric multiple unit (EMU)
tilting trains employing the onboard tilting controller and the gyroscope
to specify the current location and detect the yaw angular velocity in
order to displace superannuated 381 series used on "Yakumo" intercity
services in 2024. 11 four-car sets consisting of 4 powered vehicles were
delivered.
Car body
The double-skinned aluminum alloy construction is incorporated into the vehicle design. Their body is equipped with their corner posts having a triangular guide and the groove inside the side wall near the end plate to bend side wall inwards by absorbing impact energy in order to guide another vehicle colliding with apart for the non-head-on collision accident measure. Cab end also employs the frontal impact accident measure that upper section of the cab is made weaker than the other section to absorb the impact energy. All end vehicles are gangwayed featuring raised driver's cab and storable gangway connection to improve end section appearance. Anti-fall plates between vehicles are also introduced excepting the cab end. End vehicles are equipped with an automatic jumper coupler to ease rush-up operations. Class moha272-200 vehicles are equipped with both a 1000mm wide single-leaf sliding door and a 700mm wide single-left sliding door, class kumoha273 vehicles are equipped with two 700mm doors and the other vehicles are equipped with a 700mm wide door. The door operating equipments are WTK115D fitted above the door header of the sliding doors. Wide fixed double-glazing UV cut windows aligned two seating bays are fitted. A large colour-selectable LED destination screen fitted on each side of the body is integrated with train classification sign. All vehicles are also equipped with two air conditioners, WAU708B, rated at 22,000kcal/h using R407C refrigerant. Electric fans of air conditioner supply fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators on the roof. Their livery is metallic bronze with white wide band around side windows, and dark red or ocean green narrow band under side windows. "Yakumo" logos are applied to the side of the vehicles.
Bogies
The powered intermediate vehicles, class moha273-100, are equipped with
a WDT72 powered bogie, the other powered vehicles with a WDT72A powered
bogie, and all the vehicles are equipped with a WTR241A tailer bogie, featuring
bolster-less secondary air suspension, coil spring primary suspension with
cylindrical laminated rubber, single link traction device, and tilting
mechanism. These bogies adopt the yaw dampers to ensure smooth ride characteristics
even at 130km/h. Westinghouse-Natal drive, WQD307, is applied for power
transmission device. The gear ratio is 5.57 to get high acceleration performance
and the maximum service speed at 130km/h. Tilting mechanism employs liner
motion guide, which is capable of performing larger circular motion, in
order to smooth tilting motion by reducing the friction and controlling
with the computer which compare the map data registered in the tilting
controller with the precise current position achieved by the gyro sensor
to improve the ride comfort on curves and to realize 30km/h faster travelling
than standard limited speed on curves. Their bogie frame employs bow-shape
to fit the tilting frame and the liner motion guide. Powered bogie employs
single tread brake device. Trailer bogie employs both the double disk brake
rigging and the single tread brake rigging.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Their traction system, WPC19, employing Silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFET in
order to reduce electricity consumption and to realize regeneration rate
improvement controls two PG (Pulse Generator) sensor-less totally enclosed
asynchronous motors, WMT110, with a power output of 220kW to improve workability
in maintenance featuring non-destructive bearing replacement. Their traction
system featuring 2 level Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) is integrated with
the auxiliary power supply unit with a power output of 75kVA, synchronizing
with other auxiliary power supply units throughout the overall train set
to achieve higher redundancy while in failure. Class kumoha273-0 and moha273-100
vehicles are equipped with a motor driven rotary-screw air compressor,
WMH3121-WRC400, under their floor and two single arm current pickups, WPS28F,
on their roof. Some class kumoha227-1000 vehicles are equipped with a second
de-icing current pickup. They feature the electric commanding brake with
regenerative brake and holding brake. Their transmission system are employs
duplex system featuring the system configuration based on international
standard and the standard data transmission protocol, Train Realtime Data
Protocol (TRDP), for the system standardization and higher quality.
Accommodation
The ceiling of the passenger room is coloured in bronze and the wall employ wood grain pattern, with indirect lighting using LEDs fitted between the ceiling duct and the side ceiling panels. All seats are adjustable reclining. 1st class vehicles have 2-1 abreast seating with 1160mm seating pitch and standard class vehicles have 2-2 abreast seating with 1040mm seating pitch. Every seat has a power supply outlet on the armrest. Two each 2 and 4-seat semi-compartments are located toward rear of Class kumoroha272 vehicles, besides 1st class seating. The baggage shelf with two stages is located at the front of the 1st class passenger room, the rear of the standard class, and between the semi-compartments. A LED display for providing passenger information is fitted above the door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon. Class moha272-100 vehicles are equipped with a universal access toilet, a flushing urinal, besides the multi-purpose room. On the other hand, class kumoroha272 and moha273-100 vehicles are equipped with a western style toilet, a flushing urinal, and a washroom. Each toilet has the vacuum toilet system. The surveillance cameras are fitted in the passenger room and the vestibule. Class moha286-100, moha286-200, and moha287-100 vehicles are equipped with a universal access toilet employing a flip-up diaper-changing station and a flip-up high chair. Class moha286-200 vehicles are also equipped with a conductor room and a multi-purpose room. Furthermore, class moha287-200 vehicles are equipped with a catering room. The control desk of the driver's cab is equipped with three liquid crystal displays showing the speed meter, the pressure gauge, and the other information instead of analogue indicators. Information showing on each display is switchable. They feature EB-N dead man safety switch instead of former EB system applying at timed intervals.
Operations
273 series entered "Yakumo" intercity services in April 2024,
displaced 381 series gradually, and had completely displaced in June of
the same year. |
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