The is a DC

electric multiple unit An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...

(EMU) train type operated by

West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, ...

(JR-West) in Japan on

limited express A limited express is a type of express train or express bus service that stops at fewer locations compared to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common translation of the Japanese ...

services such as the '' Kinosaki'' and '' Kounotori'' from Kyoto and Osaka since 12 March 2011. 287 series EMUs were introduced on ''

Kuroshio The , also known as the Black Current or is a north-flowing, warm ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean basin. It was named for the deep blue appearance of its waters. Similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the Ku ...

'' services from the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012. A total of 97 vehicles were built. These consist of 46 vehicles for '' Kinosaki'', '' Kounotori'', ''

Maizuru is a city in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 78,644 in 34,817 households and a population density of 230 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Geography Maizuru is located in northern Kyoto Prefectu ...

'', and ''

Hashidate The is a limited express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Japan. One of the services making up JR West's "" in northern Kansai, it connects Kyoto Station, Amanohashidate Station and Toyooka Station via the Sani ...

'' services, formed as seven 4-car sets and six 3-car sets, which will partially replace the ageing fleet of 86

183 series The was a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1972 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). Following the privatization of JNR, the 183 series was operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and We ...

vehicles currently used on these services. A further batch of 51 vehicles for ''

'' services consists of six 6-car sets and five 3-car sets, replacing older

381 series The was a tilting Direct current, 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. ...

EMUs. These entered service from the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2012.

Design

The trains are based on the earlier

683 series The is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on limited express services in Japan since 2001. Variants 683-0 series The first subseries consists of 54 cars composed of 6 6-ca ...

'' Thunderbird'' design with increased front-end crash protection and the inclusion of crushable zones for the first time on JR-West limited express rolling stock. Livery is similar to that used on 683 series ''Thunderbird'' sets, with a maroon stripe below the dark grey window band for the ''Kinosaki'' and ''Kōnotori'' trains, and "ocean green" for the ''Kuroshio'' trains. File:JRW WTR249A Series 287.jpg, WT249 trailer bogie on car KuMoHa 286–3

Formations

The various formations are configured as follows.

4-car ''Kinosaki''/''Kounotori''/''Hashidate'' sets

Sets FA01–07, based at Fukuchiyama Depot The KuMoHa 287 and MoHa 287 cars are each fitted with two WPS28C single-arm pantographs. However, only one on each car is normally raised in regular service, with the second pantograph serving as a de-icing pantograph.

3-car ''Kinosaki''/''Kounotori''/''Maizuru''/''Hashidate'' sets

Sets FC01–06, based at Fukuchiyama Depot The KuMoHa 287 car is fitted with two WPS28C single-arm pantographs. However, only one is normally raised in regular service, with the second pantograph serving as a de-icing pantograph.

6-car ''Kuroshio''/''Mahoroba'' sets

Sets HC601–606, based at Hineno Depot The KuMoHa 287 and MoHa 287 cars are each fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

3-car ''Kuroshio''/''Mahoroba''/''Rakuraku Yamato'' sets

Sets HC631–635, based at Hineno Depot The KuMoHa 287 car is fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

Interior

Internally, Green car (first class) accommodation is in 2+1 abreast configuration, and standard class is 2+2. All Green car seats have AC power outlets, and standard-class saloons have AC power outlets at either end of each car. The trains include

universal access Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

toilets and also women-only toilets. File:JRW series287 greencar-inside.jpg, Green car saloon, August 2011 File:JRW series287 ordinarycar-inside.jpg, Standard-class saloon, August 2011

History

The first 3- and 4-car sets destined for ''Kinosaki'' and ''Kounotori'' services were unveiled to the media at

Kinki Sharyo is a Japanese manufacturer of railroad vehicles based in Osaka. It is an affiliate company of Kintetsu Corporation. In business since 1920 as Tanaka Rolling Stock Works, and renamed The Kinki Sharyo Co., Ltd in 1945, they produce rolling stock f ...

's factory in Higashiōsaka, Osaka, on 26 November 2010, and delivered to JR-West on 29 November. The first 6-car set destined for ''Kuroshio'' services was unveiled to the media at Kinki Sharyo's factory on 4 August 2011. Test running commenced from 29 September 2011. The first set manufactured by

Kawasaki Heavy Industries is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headquartered in Minato, To ...

in Hyogo Prefecture, a 6-car ''Kuroshio'' set, was delivered in February 2012. In August 2019, JR-West announced that Hineno-based 287 series 3-car sets would be introduced on irregular ''

Mahoroba ''Mahoroba'' is an ancient Japanese language, Japanese word describing a far-off land full of bliss and peace. It is roughly comparable to the western concepts of Arcadia (utopia), arcadia, a place surrounded by mountains full of harmony and quie ...

'' limited express services between and stations. The first round of these trips occurred between 2 November and 8 December 2019, with a second round having been set to occur between 21 March and June 2020. A third round of trips commenced on 25 March 2023, and was set to cease on 23 April of that year, before a fourth round is scheduled to occur between 27 May and 11 June 2023. On 15 December 2023, JR-West announced that the

Rakuraku Yamato The is a Commuter Limited Express train operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and via the Yamatoji and Osaka Loop lines. This service started operation on 18 March 2024 as a weekday rush hour service as part of the March ...

commuter limited express service that runs only on Weekdays between and stations, would be introduced, starting from the March 2024 timetable revision. On 30 January 2024, JR West announced that 287 series 3-car sets would be used on these services.

References

External links

JR-West 287 series ''Kounotori''

Kinki Sharyo 287 series information

(Japan Railfan Magazine Online) {{JR-West rolling stock West Japan Railway Company Electric multiple units of Japan Train-related introductions in 2011 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan Kawasaki multiple units Kinki Sharyo multiple units