Background and overview
JR Hokkaido didn't displace superannuated kiha183 series used on "Tokachi" intercity services with high-performance, high-cost kiha283 series tilting DMU but lower-cost kiha261 series tilting DMU in 2006. For this delivery, JR Hokkaido developed kiha261-1000 series diesel multiple unit (DMU) tilting train with substantial improvements over previous kiha261-0 series DMU including the body based on 789-0 series EMU and train set flexibility. Kiha261-1000 series adopt married pair unit system consisting of an end vehicle and an intermediate vehicle into and can be inserted additional intermediate vehicle, class kiha260-1300, by one vehicle while peak season. Five kiha260-1300 vehicles, and two vehicles of the other classes were delivered as the 1st and 2nd batch.
Car body
They have 2804mm wide body, incorporating light weight stainless construction and same cross-section shape as that of 789 series EMU. Externally, they differ noticeably from former kiha261-0 series in having bead-less skin and 200mm longer and 30mm lower body. 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 applied "Tilt261 Active Air Suspension System" logos. A built-in classification headboard is fitted on the gangway and two headlights applied the sealed beam light bulb and high intensity discharge (HID) lamp longitudinally are fitted each side of the gangway. Extra HID lamps are fitted above the windscreen and tail lamps are behind the windscreen. In case of public use of front gangway to ease rush-up operations, the adapter to fit with the bellows connectors will be applied. They are equipped with a 930mm wide single-leaf sliding door employing the cylinders to press the door against ice-clogged, and small fixed double-grazing windows per each 1st class seating or wide fixed double-glazing windows aligned two seating bays. These side windows have polycarbonate reinforcement for the protection against the breakdown of the windowpane. Class kiha260-1100 vehicles are equipped with a hinged door for the conductor room. Three colure (red, green, orange) LED destination displays are fitted on the side of their body. They are equipped with an air conditioner, N-AU201B, using R407C refrigerant on their roof. Electric fans of air conditioner supply fresh air into the passenger room, instead of ventilators on the roof. Class kiha260-200 vehicles are also equipped with an antenna for the public phone on their roof.
Bogies
They equipped with powered bogies, N-DT261A, 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. These
bogies differ from those for kiha261-0 series DMU in having 10mm larger
diameter at the journal part of the shaft. 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
All vehicles are powered by two diesel prime movers, N-DMF13HZJ, with a
power output of 460PS, employing the Intercooler, to achieve higher power
output. 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 two generators,
N-DM283G3, supplying the electricity to the auxiliary power supply, N-INV261,
and two air compressors, 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. Seats are equipped with the hand-grabs additionally. 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. Class kiro261-1100 are equipped with a catering room, a multi-purpose room, and a baggage room. Class kiha260 vehicles are equipped with a western style toilet and a flash urinal having a chemical holding tank. A toilet of class kiha260-1100 is universal access. Class kiha261-1100 is also equipped with a conductor room, class kiha260-1200 with a telephone room, and class kiha260-1300 with a baggage room. The conductor room of class kiha260-1100 and the telephone room of class kiha260-1200 are prepared to be fitted with shunting control position.
Additional delivery
3rd batch
8 additional vehicles including minor improvements were delivered in order to displace superannuated kiha183 series DMU used on "Tokachi" intercity services in 2009. The one seating bay of class kiha260-1200 and class kiha260-1300 onward built at this time was eliminated to be fitted with an additional wash room and a baggage room. The telephone room was changed into the room only for crews. Reclining seating used for reserved was upgraded with wider seat cushion and larger seat back.
4th batch
JR Hokkaido additionally delivered 6 vehicles including a minor improvement to fill up the lack of kiha283 series DMU vehicles gutted by fire and derailed occurred on Sekisho line on 27 May, 2011. Halogen lamps for cabin lighting were changed into compact fluorescent lamps.
5th batch
JR Hokkaido delivered 28 vehicles for the additional capacity of "Super Hokuto" intercity services due to following the opening Hokkaido Shinkansen to Hakodate. Vehicles onward built at this time were no longer equipped with the tilting control system and logos on cab section were changed into "HET261 Hokkaido Express Train". Their compressor was changed into C600A caused by the decrease of air consumption. As the result, their prime mover was changed into N-DMF13HZL. Three colure (red, green, orange) LED destination displays were changed into colure selectable LED destination display. All reclining seating of the standard class was changed upgraded one and all fluorescent lights were changed into LED lighting.
6th batch
The development of the next generation intercity DMU, kiha285 series was terminated with a shift away from focusing on increasing operating speeds to reduce journey time, with a greater focus on safety and maintenance costs through standardization of DMU trains. Thus, 32 vehicles of kiha261 series were additionally delivered on to displace ageing DMU trains in 2015. Vehicles onward built at this time have some noticeable differences. Their livery was changed into white front ends to emulate the colure of snow, yellow front-end gangway doors to emulate the colure of rape blossoms, and a purple bodyside stripe to emulate the colure of lavender lilac. A spare wiper for the windscreen was additionally introduced and a built-in classification headboard was changed into the full colure LED display.
7th batch
67 vehicles were additionally delivered in order to displace remaining kiha183 series vehicles completely, and the early batch of kiha281 series and kiha283 series vehicles from 2018. Vehicles onward built at this time have some noticeable differences. Laser welding was introduced to build their body. HID head lights were changed into LED lamps. The preparation to fit with bellows and shunting control position was discontinued. The shunting control position valve of air suspension was built in the bogie and their bogies were classified into N-DT261B. a power supply outlet and a reading light of 1st class were also built in the seat. An additional baggage rack was fitted the standard class cabin with. A LED information display was changed into selectable colure LED display.
Modifications
1st through 4th batch vehicles were modified to match the 5th batch's specification over the period from 2015 until 2018. Thus, the tilting control system was removed and logos on cab section were changed into "HET261 Hokkaido Express Train". Their compressor was changed into C600A caused by the decrease of air consumption. As the result, their prime mover was changed into N-DMF13HZL. Three colure (red, green, orange) LED destination displays were changed into colure selectable LED destination display. All reclining seating of the standard class was changed upgraded one and all fluorescent lights were changed into LED lighting.
The new livery of 1st through 5th batch vehicles as 6th batch onward were introduced over the period from 2015 until 2019.
An additional baggage rack was fitted the standard class cabin with for 1st through 6th batch vehicles from 2018.
Operations
Kiha261-1000 series trains were introduced on "Super Tokachi" intercity services linking Sapporo and Obihiro from October 2007. Kiha283 series trains used on "Super Tokachi" were completely displaced with kiha261-1000 series in 2013. Kiha261-1000 series trains were also introduced on "Super Hokuto" intercity services at the start of operations on the Hokkaido Shinkansen in 2016. Superannuated kiha183 series used on "Hokuto" intercity services were completely replaced with additional kiha261-1000 series vehicles. Some of kiha281 series used on "Super Hokuto" were also replaced with additional kiha261-1000 series vehicles in 2019. Some of kiha283 series used on "Ohzora" intercity services were displaced with additional kiha261-1000 series in 2000. Remaining kiha283 series vehicles used on "Ohzora" intercity services and remaining kiha281 series vehicles used on "Hokuto" services had been completely withdrawn by the replacement with additional kiha261 series vehicles in 2022. |
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