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381 series
A 381 series on a Mahoroba service in May 2010
In service	1973–June 2024 (regular service)
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo
Replaced	183 series
Constructed	1973–1982
Entered service	1973
Refurbished	1997–2011 (JR West)
Number built	277 vehicles
Number in service	None
Number preserved	2 vehicles
Number scrapped	140 vehicles
Successor	383 series, 287 series, 289 series, 273 series
Formation	3/4/6/7/9 cars per trainset
Operators	JNR (1973–1987) JR Central (1987–2008) JR West (1987–2024)
Depots	Hineno, Goto, Fukuchiyama
Lines served	Various
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium alloy
Car length	21,300 mm (69 ft 11 in)
Width	2,920 mm (9 ft 7 in)
Height	3,383 mm (11 ft 1.2 in)
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Traction system	Resistor control
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC overhead lines
Current collector(s)	Pantograph
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 381 series (381系, 381-kei) was a tilting DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1973 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), and Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) in Japan.

Fleet

As of 1 April 2023, 62 vehicles were operated by JR-West.

Operations

JR Central

• Shinano (1973–May 2008)

JR-West

• Kuroshio (from October 1978 until 30 October 2015)
• Yakumo (from July 1982 until 15 June 2024)
• Kounotori (until 31 May 2011, from 1 June 2012 until 30 October 2015)
• Kinosaki (from 1 June 2012 until 30 October 2015)
• Hashidate (from 16 March 2013 until 30 October 2015)
• Hanwa Liner rapid service (until March 2011)
• Yamatoji Liner rapid service (until March 2011)

Livery variations

• JNR Livery (JR Central Shinano set), July 2006
• JR-West Kuroshio refurbished set
• 381 series Super Kuroshio set, 1992
• 381 series Super Kuroshio KuRo 380 refurbished car
• JR-West Yakumo set, July 2007
• JR-West set in Super Yakumo livery, September 2007
• JR-West set in Yuttari Yakumo livery, July 2023

History

The 381 series EMU was developed from the experimental 591 series 3-car articulated tilting EMU tested from 1970.

Trainsets entered revenue service from 10 July 1973 on the Shinano limited express between Nagoya and Nagano.

JR-West 381 series trains were removed from Kuroshio, Kounotori, Kinosaki, and Hashidate limited express services in October 2015, with the last services operating on 30 October.

As the new 273 series sets began service from 6 April 2024, it was announced by JR West in December 2023 that the remaining 381 series sets were scheduled to be retired from June 2024. The next sets to be retired were those repainted in various historic liveries; the sets sporting the Yuttari Yakumo livery were scheduled for retirement at a later date. The last regularly scheduled Yakumo run by this series took place on 15 June 2024 thus marking the end of regular service of the 381 series as a whole.

Preserved examples

• KuHa 381-1: (built 1973 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya.
• KuRo 381-11: (built 1974 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) formerly at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, removed in June 2019.
• KuRo 381-1104: (built 1978 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) Suita Depot, Osaka.

• Preserved KuHa 381-1 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, April 2011
• KuRo 381 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, March 2016
• KuRo 381-1104 in May 2019

Notes

References

1. Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
2. "JNR 381 series - The Red List of Trains in Japan". bateman.monologue.jp. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
3. くろしお３８１系引退へ…パンダシートも見納め [Kuroshio 381 series to be withdrawn – Also end of panda seats]. Yomiuri Online (in Japanese). Japan: The Yomiuri Shimbun. 29 October 2015. Archived from the original on 24 October 2015. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
4. ^ "「国鉄特急型電車」定期運用は終焉へ 381系約50年の生涯を振り返る!" [Regular service of the "Japanese National Railways Limited Express train" comes to an end - looking back at the 50-year life of the 381 series!]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
5. "新型車両（287 系）追加投入の詳細" [Details of further introduction of new (287 series) trains] (PDF). JR-West news release (in Japanese). West Japan Railway Company. 28 April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
6. ^ "JR西日本 381系福知山車ＦＥ編成が営業運転開始" [JR-West: Fukichiyama-based 381 series FE sets enter service]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. 41 (340): 75. August 2012.
7. ^ 381系が関西地区の定期運用から離脱 [381 series removed from scheduled Kansai area services]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
8. ^ プロトタイプの世界 – Prototype World. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbunsha. December 2005. pp. 12–19. OCLC 170056962.
9. "381系「リバイバル塗装車両」6月までに運転を終了" [Remaining 381 series to be retired by June 2024]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 16 December 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
10. "381 系特急やくも「リバイバル塗装車両」の今後の運行計画について" [Regarding the decommissioning of the 381 series limited express Yakumo sets featuring “revival liveries”] (PDF). westjr.co.jp (in Japanese). 15 December 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2024.
11. ^ "「リニア・鉄道館」ファーストガイド" ["SCMaglev and Railway Park" First Guide]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. 40 (324): 20–33. April 2011.
12. リニア・鉄道館 N700系車両の展示について [N700 series shinkansen exhibit at SCMaglev and Railway Park] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Central Japan Railway Company. 17 May 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2019.

v t e Electric multiple units of Japanese National Railways
DC commuter/suburban	12 63 70 72 101 103 105 111 113 115 117 119 121 123 201 203 205 207 211 213 301
DC express/limited express	52 80 151 153 155 157 159 161 165 167 169 181 183 185 187 189 381
AC/DC commuter/suburban	401 403 411 413 415 417 419 421 423
AC/DC express/limited express	451 453 455 457 471 473 475 481 483 485 487 489 581 583
AC commuter/suburban	711 713 715 717
AC limited express	781
Non-revenue/experimental	141 143 145 147 191 193 443 495 591 791
This list shows all JNR EMUs, both active and withdrawn. Shinkansen types are omitted.

v t e Multiple units of Central Japan Railway Company
Current / active	Shinkansen EMUs N700 N700S Conventional lines (Narrow- gauge) EMUs 211 213 311 313 315 285 373 383 DMUs KiHa 11 KiHa 25 KiHa 75 Hybrid DEMUs HC85 Non-revenue EMUs 923 DMUs KiYa 95 [ja] KiYa 97 [ja]
Future	Shinkansen Maglev L0 Conventional lines EMUs 385
Retired / withdrawn	Shinkansen EMUs 0 100 300 700 Conventional lines EMUs KuMoHa 12 103 113 115 117 119 123 165 371 381 DMUs KiHa 30 KiHa 40/47/48 KiHa 58/28 [ja] KiHa 65 [ja] KiHa 80 KiHa 85 Non-revenue EMUs 922-10 300X EMUs KuMoYa 90 [ja] 145 [ja] 193 [ja]

v t e Multiple units of West Japan Railway Company
Current / active	Shinkansen       AC EMUs 500 700 N700 N700S W7 Conventional lines (Narrow- gauge) DC EMUs 103 105 113 115 117 123 125 201 205 207 213 221 223 225 227 321 323 271 273 281 283 285 287 289 AC/DC EMUs 521 681 683 DMUs KiHa 40 KiHa 120 KiHa 121/126 [ja] KiHa 122/127 87 KiHa 187 KiHa 189 Non-revenue EMU 923-3000 145 [ja] Diesel KiYa 141 [ja] KiYa 143 Diesel-electric DEC700 DEC741
Retired / withdrawn	Shinkansen       AC EMUs 0 100 300 Conventional lines DC EMUs KuMoHa 42 [ja] KuMoNi 83 [ja] KuMoHa 84 [ja] 101 211 165 167 183 381 AC/DC EMUs 413 415 419 457 471 475 485 489 583 DMUs KiHa 20 KiHa 30/35 KiHa 33 [ja] KiHa 37 [ja] KiHa 38 KiHa 23/53 [ja] KiHa 52 KiHa 58/28 [ja] KiHa 65 [ja] KiHa 181 Non-revenue EMU 922-20 WIN350 KuMoYa 90 [ja] KuMoYa 91 [ja] KuMoYa 441 [ja] 443 [ja] U@tech (223/213) DMU KiYa 191 [ja]

• Japanese National Railways
• Central Japan Railway Company
• West Japan Railway Company
• Electric multiple units of Japan
• Tilting trains
• Train-related introductions in 1973
• Hitachi multiple units
• Kawasaki multiple units
• Kinki Sharyo multiple units
• 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan