Background and overview
JR Hokkaido developed kiha261-0 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) tilting
train to introduce intercity services of the Souya line for the journey
time reduction at completement due to carry out the speeding-up work of
Souya line and delivered a four-car pre-production set in 1998. Compared
with the high cost kiha281 series DMU and kiha283 DMU, kiha261-0 series
based on the kiha201 series DMU employing pneumatic tilting system were
designed to give heavy protection against heavy snow and coldness and increased
speed on curves at a lower cost. Their body design was a joint venture
with the Danish State Railways (DSB). Kiha261 series adopt married pair
unit system consisting of an end vehicle and an intermediate vehicle. 14
vehicles of Kiha261-0 series had been delivered until 2001. Hokkaido high
speed railway development company owned twelve vehicles delivered over
the period from 1998 until 1999 and rents them to JR Hokkaido.
Car body
They have 2800mm wide body, incorporating light weight stainless steel
construction and same cross-section shape as that of kiha201 series tilting
DMU. Cab ends having a gangway door and a high mounted driver's cab against
obstacles at the level crossing are constructed by 3.2mm thick steel plate
painted in cobalt blue. A built-in classification headboard is fitted on
the gangway and two headlights employing the sealed beam light bulb and
high intensity discharge (HID) lamp are fitted each side of the gangway.
Extra HID lamps are fitted above the windscreen and tail lamps are behind
the windscreen. The gangway of standard class end vehicles, class kiha261-100,
are equipped the automatic gangway connection device to ease rush-up operations.
They are equipped with a 930mm wide single-leaf sliding door employing
the cylinders to press the door preventing ice-clogged, and small fixed
double-grazing windows per each 1st class seating or wide fixed double-glazing
windows aligned two standard class seating bays. Class kiha260-200 vehicles
are equipped with a hinged door for the catering room and class kiha260-100
vehicles are equipped with a hinged door for the conductor room having
shunting control position. Traditional destination rollsigns are fitted
on the side of their body. They are equipped with an air conditioner, N-AU201,
rated at 30,000kcal/h on the roof. Electric fans of air conditioner supply
fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators on the roof.
Bogies
Powered bogies are N-DT261A/B/C and trailer bogies are N-TR261, featuring
pneumatic tilting system, bolster-less secondary air suspension, trailing
arm link journal box supporting system, the single link traction device,
and the yaw dampers and to ensure smooth ride characteristics even at 130km/h.
The wheel diameter is reduced to 810mm to lower the centre of the gravity
of their body. Their tilting control device using gyroscopes and accelerometers
at the ends of the train and a leader/follower control system which defined
a "tilting curve" for the whole train realizes 25km/h faster
travelling by tilting at up to 2 degrees than standard limited speed on
curves. Their bogies employ double tread brake riggings.
Traction unit and ancillary equipments
Class kiha260-100 vehicles are powered by a diesel prime mover, N-DMF13HZH,
with a power output of 460PS, employing the Intercooler, to achieve higher
power output and the other vehicles are powered by two. Their hydraulic
transmission gear is N-DW16A, featuring natural air cooling and four-staged
direct coupled range to realize maximum service speed at 130km/h and high
gradability. They are equipped with a/two generator(s), N-DM283G3, supplying
the electricity to the auxiliary power supply, N-INV261, and an/two air
compressor(s), C1000H, driven by the prime mover hydraulically to eliminate
belt drive. They feature the electric commanding brake with jake brake.
Accommodation
All seats are adjustable reclining. 1st class vehicles have 1-2 abreast
seating with 1145mm seating pitch and standard class vehicles have 2-2
abreast seating with 960mm seating pitch. 1st class seating is covered
in navy leather. 1st class seating is also equipped with a power supply
outlet under the windowsill and a reading light under the luggage rack.
A door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon is automatic, detecting
by the photo sensor. A LED display for providing passenger information
is fitted above the door between a vestibule and a passenger saloon. Florescent
lights and halogen lamps are alternately fitted for cabin lighting. A catering
room having a sink, a refrigerator, a micro wave, and a counter with a
coffeemaker and a designated smoking room are located between the 1st and
standard class cabins of class kiroha261-200. Class kiha260 vehicles are
equipped with a western style toilet having a chemical holding tank. A
toilet of class kiha260-100 is universal access. Class kiha260-200 is also
equipped with a wash room with a baby bed and a conductor room with shunting
control position. Class kiha260-100 is also equipped with a telephone room
with shunting control position.
Mass-Production sets
Mass production sets of kiha261-0 series were delivered in 1999. There are some noticeable differences over pre-production set. Class kiha260-100 is additionally equipped with a designated smoking room. Their air conditioner was changed into N-AU201A which was able to control for each room individually. "Tilt261 Active Air Suspension System" logos were additionally applied to the sides of the cab section.
Additional delivery
JR Hokkaido delivered a class kiha261-100 and a class kiha260-100 each in order to secure spare vehicles in 2001.
Modifications
Side windows outside began to be additionally framed with polycarbonate
reinforcement for the protection against the breakdown of the windowpane
from 2000. A designated smoking room was changed into free space in 2006.
A public phone in a telephone room was gotten rid of in 2009. The tilting
system was no longer used on all sets in 2014 due to the tilting system
putting stress on the bogies, logos on cab section were changed into "HET261
Hokkaido Express Train". JR Hokkaido refurbished their prime mover
into N-DMF13HZL with elimination of the tilting system from 2016. The automatic
gangway connection device was also eliminated. High intensity discharge
(HID) lamps were replaced with LED lamps. Destination rollsigns were also
displaced with colour selectable LED destination screens.
Operations
The first pre-production set entered service for testing and evaluation of curving and cold-resistant performance over the period from 1998 until 1999. Then they entered "Super Souya" intercity revenue services linking Sapporo and Wakkanai in 2000. Two round services of "Super Souya" were rerouted to operate between Asahikawa and Wakkanai and named "Sarobetsu" in 2017. Remaining services linking Sapporo and Wakkanai was named "Souya". |
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