Background and overview
JR West developed 683-0 series intercity dual voltage AC/DC electric multiple unit (EMU) trains introducing some new technologies applied for their traction system and body construction to displace remaining 485 series EMU used on "Super Raicho" intercity services after 681 series EMU trains were delivered. 4 six-car sets consisting of 2 motored vehicles and 4 trailer vehicles including a streamlined end vehicle and a gangwayed vehicle and 4 three-car sets consisting of 1 motored vehicle and 2 trailer vehicles having gangwayed vehicles to make 12-car set by coupling another 3-car set were delivered in 2001.
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. Their roof is made 60mm lower and their floor
level 35mm lower to realize a low gravity centre and to eliminate the level
difference between platforms and the floor for accessibility. 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 shield beam 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 sealed beam headlights and LED taillights are horizontally fitted each
side of the gangway. Each end vehicles are also equipped with the other
sealed beam headlights at the centre above the windscreen. Class moha683-1000
vehicles are equipped with two single-leaf sliding doors and the other
vehicles are equipped with one. The sliding door width of class kuha683-700,
kuha682-500, and saha683-300 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 is white
with gray wide band around side windows, and blue narrow band under side
windows. "THUNDERBIRD" logos are applied to the sides of the
vehicles excepting class kumoha683 and moha683 vehicles.
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 single tread brake rigging and not hydraulic pressure facing caliper wheel disk brake rigging but are ready to be fitted them because 683-0 series would be operated at 130km/h or below for the present. So powered vehicles are classified into -1000 subseries. 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" provided
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 auxiliary power supply unit with a power output
of 150kVA. In case of the auxiliary power supply unit failure, one variable
frequency drive unit for traction motor can switch to supply electricity
as the backup auxiliary 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 saha683-300 and moha683-300 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 kuha683-700 and saha683-300 vehicles are equipped with a universal access toilet. Class saha683-300 vehicles are also equipped with a conductor room, a catering room and a multi-purpose room.
Additional delivery
Additional 2 six-car sets and 2 three-car sets were delivered to secure 681 series train sets to displace 485 series used on "Hakutaka" intercity services for raising service speed over the period from December 2001 until February 2022.
Modification and refurbishment
They were scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018. Their livery was changed into white body with blue stripes added to the areas near the bottom of their headlights; their accents also changed from gray to black. Some improvements added to their passenger accommodation. All 1st class seats and standard class seats at end of each car have power supply outlets for mobile PC users. Standard class seating was changed into same seating as that of 683-4000 series.
Operations
They entered "Thunderbird" intercity revenue services running at 130km/h in March, 2001. They are now used on the "Thunderbird" intercity services. |
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