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521 series

The 521 series (521系, 521-kei) is a dual-voltage AC/DC outer-suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and third-sector railway operators IR Ishikawa Railway and Ainokaze Toyama Railway on local services in the Fukui and Kanazawa areas since November 2006.[1] In March 2024, Hapi-line Fukui acquired some sets after taking over the section of the Hokuriku Main Line within Fukui Prefecture from JR West.[2]

Design

The 521 series was the first dual-voltage suburban EMU type to be built for JR West. The body of the first two batches was based on the 223-5000 series suburban EMU design, with the same WMT102C 230 kW traction motors.[3] The sets are able to be used on wanman driver-only operation services.[1]

Operations

JR West

Third-sector lines

Fleet

As of 1 April 2021, JR West operates 50 two-car sets (E01-E05, G14-G15, G17, G20-G24, G28-G30, J01-J19, U01-U15), allocated to Kanazawa depot and Tsuruga depot. The Ainokaze Toyama Railway operates 22 two-car sets (AK01-AK22), and the IR Ishikawa Railway operates eight two-car sets (IR01-IR08).[4]

15 additional two-car sets were transferred to Hapi-line Fukui in March 2024 following JR West's forefeiture of the Hokuriku Main Line within Fukui prefecture.[2]

Formations

Sets consist of one motored and one non-powered trailer car, and are formed as follows.[3][5]

The KuHa 520 cars are each fitted with one WPD28D single-arm pantograph.[5]

Interior

Seating is arranged as 2+2 abreast transverse flip-over seats. The KuHa 520 cars include a toilet.[5]

History

The first five sets, E01 to E05, were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Kinki Sharyo, and were delivered to Fukui depot between September and October 2006. These entered revenue service from 30 November 2006. The fleet was reallocated to Tsuruga Depot from 1 June 2010.[6]

Ten more sets, G01 to G10, built by Kinki Sharyo, were delivered to Kanazawa depot between October 2009 and March 2010, entering revenue service from 13 March 2010.[6] A further five sets, G11 to G15, were delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries in December 2010 and January 2011.[6] 15 more sets, M01 to M15, were delivered from Kawasaki Heavy Industries to Tsuruga Depot between January and March 2011.[6]

Nineteen third-batch two-car sets (J01 to J19) were delivered to Tsuruga Depot in fiscal 2013.[5] The third-batch sets have cab ends based on the JR West 225 series EMUs, with improved crash resistance, and use LED lighting for interior lighting.[7] These sets entered revenue service in spring 2014.[7]

In December 2019, the first three two-car 521-100 series sets (U01 to U03) for the Nanao Line were built by Kinki Sharyo.[8] Unlike older JR West 521 series sets, the 521-100 series sets feature red waistline striping, reminiscent of the body colour used by older 413 and 415 series trains operated on the line.[9] By October 2020, a total of fifteen two-car sets were built for JR West.[10] Three more sets for the IR Ishikawa Railway (IR06 to IR08) were delivered on 3 December 2020.[11] The 521-100 series fleet entered service on the Nanao Line from 3 October 2020.[12]

Two more 521-0 series two-car sets (J22 and J23) were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and delivered to Kanazawa Depot in March 2021.[13]

Other operators

16 two-car 521 series sets were transferred to the third-sector railway operating company Ainokaze Toyama Railway for use from 14 March 2015 when JR West handed over ownership of the sections of the Hokuriku Main Line in Toyama Prefecture running parallel to the new Hokuriku Shinkansen.[14] Likewise, three two-car sets were transferred to the IR Ishikawa Railway, which took over control of the section of the Hokuriku Main Line in Ishikawa Prefecture from 14 March 2015.[15] Two more sets were newly built for the IR Ishikawa Railway.[15]

Ainokaze Toyama Railway

As of 1 October 2017, the Ainokaze Toyama Railway 521 series fleet is as follows.[4]

Five new two-car 521-1000 series sets are scheduled to be introduced over a period of six years, with the first set delivered in December 2017.[16][needs update] These sets are based on the JR West 3rd-batch design, and are intended to replace the operator's ageing 413 series EMUs.[16] On 22 June 2023, it was announced that some of the two-car sets would be lengthened to three cars each in the future after fiscal 2025 to increase transportation capacity on the Ainokaze Toyama Railway Line.[17]

Sets AK21 and AK22 were delivered in February 2023.[18]

Hapi-line Fukui

Hapi-Line Fukui 521 series set HF05 in March 2024

15 more two-car 521 series sets were transferred to the third-sector railway operating company Hapi-line Fukui for use from 16 March 2024 when JR West handed over ownership of the sections of the Hokuriku Main Line in Fukui Prefecture running parallel to the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen from Kanazawa to Tsuruga.[2]

IR Ishikawa Railway

As of 4 December 2020, the IR Ishikawa Railway 521 series fleet is as follows.[4][11]

References

  1. ^ a b Haraguchi, Takayuki (2009). Jr全車両: ビジュアル決定版 Encyclopedia of JR's Railway Cars: ＪＲ全車輌. Japan: Sekai Bunka. p. 90. ISBN 978-4-418-09905-4.
  2. ^ a b c "福井県並行在来線経営計画" [Fukui Prefecture Parallel Conventional Line Management Plan] (PDF). hapi-line.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009 JR全車輌ハンドブック2009 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2009]. Japan: Neko Publishing. 2009. ISBN 978-4-7770-0836-0.
  4. ^ a b c Jr電車編成表 2018冬 JR電車編成表 2018冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2018] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 15 November 2017. pp. 138–142. ISBN 978-4-330-84117-5.
  5. ^ a b c d JR電車編成表 2015冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 21 November 2014. pp. 139–142. ISBN 978-4-330-51614-1.
  6. ^ a b c d JR電車編成表 2011夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2011]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. May 2010. p. 139/142. ISBN 978-4-330-21211-1.
  7. ^ a b 521系3次車 [521 series 3rd-batch stock]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 54 (634): 54–55. February 2014.
  8. ^ "521系100番台が登場" [521-100 series sets delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 24 December 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  9. ^ "JR西日本，七尾線に521系を導入" [JR West to introduce 521 series on Nanao Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 10 September 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  10. ^ "521系100番台U13・U14・U15編成が登場" [521-100 series sets U13, U14 and U15 delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  11. ^ a b IRいしかわ鉄道向け521系100番代IR06～IR08編成が落成 [IR Ishikawa Railway 521-100 series sets IR06–IR08 delivered]. RM News. Japan: Neko Publishing. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  12. ^ "七尾線で521系100番代の営業運転始まる" [521-100 series begins commercial operation on Nanao Line]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 6 October 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  13. ^ "521系0番台J22編成・J23編成編成が登場" [521-0 series sets J22 and J23 delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 1 April 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  14. ^ 富山県の北陸新幹線並行在来線、新社名は「あいの風とやま鉄道」に内定! [New company name "Ainokaze Toyama Railway" chosen for old line running parallel to Hokuriku Shinkansen in Toyama Prefecture]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 31 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  15. ^ a b Terada, Hirokazu (June 2015). 北陸新幹線長野ー金沢間開業 並行在来線4社5路線を訪ねて（１） [Visiting the 5 parallel conventional lines of 4 companies following the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen between Nagano and Kanazawa]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 55 (650): 42–47.
  16. ^ a b あいの風とやま鉄道521系1000番台2両が甲種輸送される [Ainokaze Toyama Railway 521-1000 series 2-car set delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  17. ^ "利便性向上等のための投資について" (PDF). Toyama Prefecture (in Japanese). Japan. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  18. ^ "あいの風とやま鉄道521系4両が甲種輸送される" [Delivery of 521 Series sets AK21 and AK22]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 15 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.

Further reading

External links

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