KiHa 285 series
KiHa 285 series | |
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![]() The KiHa 285 series set being cut up in March 2017 | |
Manufacturer | Kawasaki Heavy Industries |
Built at | Kobe |
Constructed | 2014 |
Scrapped | 2017 |
Number built | 3 vehicles |
Formation | 3 cars per trainset |
Fleet numbers | HB-901 |
Operators | JR Hokkaido |
Specifications | |
Car body construction | Stainless steel |
Maximum speed | 140 km/h (87 mph) |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
The KiHa 285 series (キハ285
Design
[edit]The KiHa 285 series train uses a new compound tilting system, which tilts the train vehicles by up to 8 degrees using a pendular system (tilt of up to 6 degrees) combined with air suspension tilting (tilt of up to 2 degrees).[1] The train also uses a new motor-assisted ("MA") hybrid diesel traction system, which supplements conventional diesel traction with batteries, inverters, and electric motors.[1] The train was designed to allow a maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph) even on curves.[2] Total development costs for the train came to 2.5 billion yen.[3]
Formation
[edit]The single three-car set built was numbered HB-901, and formed as shown below.[4]
Numbering | KiHa 285-901 | KiHa 284-901 | KiHa 285-902 |
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History
[edit]Design work for the prototype KiHa 285 series train commenced in April 2011.[5] On 10 September 2014, JR Hokkaido announced that it was terminating development and production of further trains following the completion of one three-car set built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[5] The decision was made following reassessments of priorities by JR Hokkaido, 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 its diesel fleet.[5] Ageing diesel trains were instead replaced by KiHa 261 series trains, first introduced in 2000.[5]
The three-car trainset was delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe to JR Hokkaido's Naebo Works in September 2014.[4] After undergoing low-speed testing within the confines of Naebo Works, the set was first test-run on the Hakodate Main Line on 31 October 2014.[6]
Following the cancellation of further production, JR Hokkaido initially considered the possibility of converting the three-car trainset for use as a track and overhead wire inspection train.[3]
The three cars were officially removed from the JR Hokkaido fleet list on 31 March 2015.[7] In April 2016, JR Hokkaido revealed that the complex design of the train made conversion more expensive than the option of purchasing a new purpose-built inspection train,[3] and work to cut up the train commenced in March 2017.[2]
References
[edit]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- ^ a b
新型 特急 車両 の開発 中止 について [Cancellation of development of new limited express trains] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Hokkaido Railway Company. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014. - ^ a b
開発 費 25億 円 の夢 、鉄 くずにJR北海道 、新型 特急 試作 車 を解体 [Prototype JR Hokkaido limited express train to be cut up - Dream costing 2.5 billion yen turned to scrap metal]. Doshin Web (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 3 March 2017. - ^ a b c
新型 特急 285系 未 使用 で廃車 へ開発 に25億 円 JR北海道 [JR Hokkaido to scrap unused 285 series limited express train with development costs of 2.5 billion yen]. Doshin Web (in Japanese). Japan: The Hokkaido Shimbun Press. 26 April 2016. Archived from the original on 26 April 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017. - ^ a b キハ285
系 3両 が甲種 輸送 される [Three KiHa 285 series cars delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 September 2014. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017. - ^ キハ285
系 が本線 試運転 [KiHa 285 series test run on main line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 1 November 2014. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 3 March 2017. - ^ JR
車両 のデータバンク [JR Rolling Stock Databank]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 663. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2016. p. Appendix 37.