Background and overview
At the opening of Hokuhoku line operated by Hokuetsu Express, not only 4 train sets of 681-0 series owned by JR West, 2 trains set of 681-2000 series owned by Hokuetsu Express but 1 train set of 485-3000 series owned by JR East were operated on "Hakutaka" intercity services. In contrast with 681-0 series and 681-2000 series permitted 160km/h running on Hokuhoku tracks and 130km/h on Hokuriku tracks, 485-3000 series were permitted 130km/h running on Hokuhoku tracks and 120km/h on Hokuriku tracks. Thus, 485-3000 series could not be applied for the trains operated by 681-0/-2000 series. In addition, 485-3000 series can provide 1 round-trip a day between Echigo-Yuzawa and Kanazawa in contrast with 681-0/-2000 series providing 1.5 round-trip a day. For these reasons, 485-3000 series caused the deterioration of operation effectiveness. According these views, it was decided that Hokuetsu express would introduce a new train set to displace 485-3000 series. However, 681-2000 series owned by Hokuetsu express was out of date at that moment, because over 10 years passed since the first delivery of 681-0 series and JR West delver the next generation intercity trains, 683 series, which can couple with 681 series train set. As the result, Hokuetsu express decided to introduce 683 series. At that moment, JR West were delivering 683-2000 series having shorter formation and lesser seating capacity than 681-0/-2000 series and different doors arrangement from 681-0/-2000 series. Therefore, Hokuetsu express developed 683-8000 series from 681-0 series on "Thunderbird" services, introducing new equipments applied for 683-2000 series, and delivered 1 six-car sets consisting of 2 motored vehicles and 4 trailer vehicles including a streamlined end vehicle and a gangwayed vehicle, and 1 three-car set consisting of 1 motored vehicle and 2 trailer vehicles having gangwayed vehicles in 2005.
Car body
The double-skinned aluminum alloy construction is incorporated into the vehicle design. This construction introduces dovetail groove to be fitted with equipments and interior parts as a substitute for joining them by welding in order to reduce welding points and improve body rigidness compared with existing method to build the body by welding skins, columns, and ribs together for cost reduction. Anti-fall plates between vehicles are also introduced excepting the cab end. Streamlined end vehicles are equipped with a normal tightlock coupler and two clusters of a high-intensity discharge head lamp and a tail lamp covered with glass located in left and right below the windscreen. Gangwayed end vehicles feature raised driver's cab and storable gangway connection to improve end section appearance. Two HID headlights and LED taillights are horizontally fitted each side of the gangway. Each end vehicles are also equipped with the other sealed beam head lamps at the centre above the windscreen. Class moha683-8000 vehicles are equipped with two single-leaf sliding doors and the other vehicles are equipped with one. The sliding door width of class kuha683-8700, kuha682-8500, and saha683-8300 is 1000mm and the others 700mm. The doorway is equipped with cylinder pressing the door against the body in order to reduce the fluctuation of atmospheric pressure in the passenger saloon. Wide fixed double-glazing UV cut windows aligned two seating bays are fitted. End vehicles including streamlined class kuro683 are equipped with an automatic jumper coupler to ease rush-up operations. Train-type rollsigns and LED destination indicators are fitted on each side of their body. All vehicles are also equipped with an air conditioner, WAU704B, using R407C refrigerant. Air conditions for smoking vehicles have an air purifier located at an inlet filter and those for no smoking vehicles is ready to be fitted. Electric fans of air conditioner supply fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators on the roof, and automatic dampers for air intake are employed to reduce pressure fluctuation while running through the tunnel and realize quickly carry out cooling and heating by shutting dampers. Cover plates are fitted between equipments fitted under their floor to reduce the waving for preventing snow and ice from sticking thereon. Their livery was white with crimson-red and aqua-blue band under side windows, crimson-red narrow band at the bottom of their body, and aqua-blue band at the top of their body. "Snow Rabbit Express" logos were applied to the sides of their body.
Bogies
Motored bogies are WDT301 and trailer bogies are WTR301 featuring bolster-less secondary air suspension, axle arm type journal box supporting system, and the single link traction device. The fitting position of bolster suspension is 20mm lower than 681 series to lower the floor level for accessibility. These bogies feature 1980mm wide distance between two secondary air suspension, the yaw dampers, and anti-rolling stabilizer to ensure smooth ride characteristics even at 160km/h. Westinghouse-Natal drive is applied for power transmission device. The gear ratio is 5.22 to get high acceleration performance and the maximum service speed at 160km/h. Motored bogie employs hydraulic pressure facing caliper wheel disk brake. Trailer bogie employs both the double disk brake rigging and the single tread brake rigging.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Their traction system does not employ thyristor phase control but PWM converter to keep "Guideline of counter measures taken by users against higher harmonics received at high voltages or extremely high voltages" provide by Ministry of International Trade and Industry for the prevention of higher harmonics inductive interference and noise. Tailer end vehicles, class kuha682, and trailer intermediate vehicles, class saha682, are equipped with a traction transformer, WTM27, featuring natural air cooling with a power output of 1200kVA and a pair of 3-level traction converter, WPC12, employing Insulated Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) and synchronizing each other under the floor. While a converter is under failure, the remaining other converter carry on its work with power limit operation for redundancy. On the other hand, powered end vehicles, class kumoha683, and powered intermediate vehicles, moha683, are equipped with a 3-level Variable-frequency drive (VFD), WPC11, employing IGBT to control four asynchronous traction motors, WMT105, with a power output of 245kW on axle basis. Their traction system is integrated with the ancillary power supply unit with a power output of 150kVA. In case of the ancillary power supply unit failure, one variable frequency drive unit for traction motor can switch to supply electricity as the backup ancillary power supply unit. Class kumoha683 and class moha683 vehicles are also equipped with a motor driven rotary-screw air compressor, WMH3098-WRC1600, under their floor, and class kuha682 and class saha682 vehicles are equipped with a cross-arm current pickup, WPS27C, on the roof. They feature the electric commanding brake with regenerative brake and holding brake, featuring brake control of trailer priority, employing anti-slip control by axle-driven tachometer generator fitted to each axle to achieve brake performance efficiently even at 130km/h.
Accommodation
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 970mm seating pitch. LCD TV sets for video programme provided for 1st class seating and a small refreshment counter were discontinued but class saha683-8300 and moha683-8300 vehicles are equipped with a vending machine. Reading lights are fitted on the lower part of the overhead luggage rack. A LED display for providing passenger information is fitted above the door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon. All trailer vehicles are equipped with a western style toilet, a flushing urinal, and a washroom. Each toilet has the vacuum toilet system. Class kuha683-8700 and saha683-8300 vehicles are equipped with a universal access toilet. Class saha683-8300 vehicles are also equipped with a conductor room, a catering room and a multi-purpose room.
Modification and refurbishment
Since 683-8000 series trainsets were transferred to "Shirasagi" intercity services after the start of the operations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Nagano and Kanazawa, they were repainted with thin blue and orange lines below the window band.
Operations
They entered "Hakutaka" intercity services linking Echigo-Yuzawa and Kanazawa with the replacement of 485 series in March, 2005. All "Shirasagi" services began to be operated by 683-2000 series in June 2003. They were transferred to the ownership of JR West and redeployed to "Shirasagi" services after the start of the operations on the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Nagano and Kanazawa. A 6-car set is now used on "Shirasagi" services and a 3-car set is used on "Thunderbird" services besides "Shirasagi" services. |
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