The is a Japanese diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) train type introduced by

Hokkaido Railway Company The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to by its official abbreviation: . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart ...

(JR Hokkaido) to replace the ageing

KiHa 40 series The is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1977 and operated by all Japan Railways Group companies on suburban and rural services in Japan. Since 2017, the train type has seen use by other ...

DMU cars. The trains are nicknamed "DECMO", standing for "diesel electric car with motors". They commenced passenger operations in March 2020 on the

Hakodate Main Line The is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate, Hokkaido, Hakodate and Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines that is operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawa ...

Design

Based on the GV-E400 series DMUs on order by

JR East The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...

, the H100 series trains are the first diesel-electric multiple units to be operated by JR Hokkaido, with diesel engines driving generators, which in turn power electric traction motors. The trains have stainless steel bodies, and a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal seating close to the doorways and 2+1 transverse seating further inside the cars. The cars have

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. JRH H100-23 inside.jpg, Interior JRH H100 box-seat.jpg, Transverse seating

History

Details about the new trains were announced by JR Hokkaido on 12 July 2017. Two single-car pre-series units were delivered from the

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 ...

factory in Kobe in February 2018 and underwent test-running and evaluation until March 2019. In September 2019, deliveries of the full-production units commenced and on 14 March 2020, passenger operations started with a total of 15 cars on the

between Oshamambe and

Sapporo is a Cities designated by government ordinance of Japan, designated city in Hokkaido, Japan. Located in the southwest of Hokkaido, it lies within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, a tributary of the Ishikari River. Sapporo is the capital ...

. In the fiscal years (April to March) 2020 and 2021, a total of 60 more cars are planned for construction. From 18 March 2023, the H100 series cars are expected to be introduced on the

Furano Line The is part of the Hokkaido Railway Company network in Hokkaidō, Japan. It connects Furano Station in the city of Furano and Asahikawa Station in the city of Asahikawa. Popular with tourists, it has recently come to serve commuters in the ...

. As of 16 March 2024, all

Senmō Main Line The is a Japanese railway line in Hokkaido, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), between Higashi-Kushiro Station in Kushiro, Hokkaido, Kushiro and Abashiri Station in Abashiri, Hokkaido, Abashiri. The name comes from and . In 2 ...

and

Sekihoku Main Line is a railway line in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) between in Asahikawa and Abashiri Station in Abashiri. The name comes from the first Kanji characters of and , names of 19th century provinces along t ...

Local and Rapid services are also operated by H100 series cars.

References

External links

JR Hokkaido press release

Design

Interior

History

References

External links

Further reading