The is a

diesel multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

(DMU) train type introduced by

Japanese National Railways The , abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pre ...

(JNR) in 1977 and operated by all

Japan Railways Group The Japan Railways Group, commonly known as the or simply JR, is a network of railway companies in Japan formed after the Corporate spin-off, division and privatization of the government-owned Japanese National Railways (JNR) on April 1, 1987. ...

companies on suburban and rural services in Japan. Since 2017, the train type has seen use by other private railway companies in Japan who have purchased withdrawn units from JR Group companies. Additionally, it has also seen use in overseas operations in

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

since 2011 and is also scheduled to be used in

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

Overview

The KiHa 40 series diesel multiple unit was introduced in 1977 by JNR to replace ageing KiHa 10 series DMUs on suburban and rural services nationwide. A total of 888 vehicles were built between 1977 and 1982, broadly divided into three main types: KiHa 40, KiHa 47, and KiHa 48. These were subdivided as shown below, with further variants and modifications made later in their lives by the various JR Group companies. "Cold" regions refers to the Tohoku and Chubu regions.

JR Hokkaido

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987,

JR Hokkaido 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 c ...

received a total of 157 KiHa 40 series vehicles (150 KiHa 40s and 7 KiHa 48s). , JR Hokkaido operates 153 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. * KiHa 40-300 * KiHa 40-330 * KiHa 40-350 * KiHa 40-400 * KiHa 40-700 * KiHa 40-1700 * KiHa 48-1300 * KiHa 400-100 * KiHa 480-300 * KiHa 480-1300 Kiha40-1740.jpg, KiHa 40 1740 in February 2022 JR hokkaido kiha400 141 sarobetsu.jpg, KiHa 400-141 Kiha40-1755 Cab.jpg, Driver's cab of KiHa 40 1755 in September 2021 Kiha40-1716 Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 40 1716 in May 2021 Kiha40-1755 Long-seat.jpg, Longitudinal seating of KiHa 40 1755 in September 2021 Kiha40-1755 Cross-seat.jpg, Cross seating of KiHa 40 1755 in September 2021 JR Hokkaido kiha400-502 inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 400-502

JR East

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987,

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 ...

received a total of 219 KiHa 40 series vehicles (117 KiHa 40s, 28 KiHa 47s, and 74 KiHa 48s). As of 1 April 2010, JR East operates 159 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. KiHa 48 502 and KiHa 48 1512 were derailed and badly damaged by the

2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami On 11 March 2011, at 14:46:24 Japan Standard Time, JST (05:46:24 UTC), a 9.0–9.1 Submarine earthquake, undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region. It lasted approx ...

on 11 March 2011, and were withdrawn. * KiHa 40-500 * KiHa 40-1000 * KiHa 40-2000 * KiHa 47-0 * KiHa 47-500 * KiHa 47-1000 * KiHa 47-1500 * KiHa 48-500 * KiHa 48-1500 Kiha40-500 Tadami-line.jpg, KiHa 40 584 in May 2018, Tohoku livery on

Tadami Line The is a scenic railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Aizu-Wakamatsu Station at Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushima Prefecture with Koide Station at Uonuma, Niigata, Uonuma in Niiga ...

Kiha40-1003 20110102.jpg, KiHa 40 1003 in January 2011, repainted into old JNR livery Uetsu line Type47.jpg, KiHa 47 515 in March 2017 Kiha48-519.jpg, KiHa 48 519 in February 2021, Gono livery on

Ōu Main Line The is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Fukushima Station (Fukushima), Fukushima Station through Akita Station to Aomori Station. Since the opening of the Yamagata Shinkansen on July 1, 1 ...

Carried_train_in_Ishinomaki_Line.JPG, KiHa 48 502 and KiHa 48 1512 after the tsunami in 2011 Kiha40-Tadami-Line-Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 40–502 in May 2018 Kiha48-Oga-Line-Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 48 in April 2017

Joyful Train sets

* ''Furusato'' (KiHa 48–2500) * ''Kirakira Michinoku'' (KiHa 48) * ''Resort Minori'' (KiHa 48-500) * '' Resort Shirakami "Aoike"'' (KiHa 48) * '' Resort Shirakami "Buna"'' (KiHa 48) * '' Resort Shirakami "Kumagera"'' (KiHa 48) * ''Umineko'' (KiHa 48) * ''View Coaster Kazekko'' (KiHa 48) * Koshino Shu*Kura (KiHa 40 and 48) JR East diesel multiple units Furusato Hana.jpg, KiHa 48 ''Furusato'' in November 2007 VIEW_COASTER_kazekko_inside.jpg, Interior of ''View Coaster Kazekko'' Kiha40 shukura.jpg, ''Koshino Shu*Kura'' on

Shin'etsu Main Line The is a railway line, consisting of three geographically separated sections, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It was originally one continuous line connecting and via . Since the opening and later extension of ...

ShuKura 2.jpg, Interior of ''Koshino Shu*Kura''

JR Central

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987,

JR Central is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu (Nagoya) region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and occasionally as JR Tokai (). The term ''Tōkai'' refers to the southern portion of Central Japan, ...

received a total of 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles (14 KiHa 40s, 5 KiHa 47s, and 40 KiHa 48s). By April 2010, JR Central operated 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. These were withdrawn by 2016. * KiHa 40-3000 * KiHa 40-3300 * KiHa 40-5000 * KiHa 40-5500 * KiHa 40-5800 * KiHa 40-6000 * KiHa 40-6300 * KiHa 47-5000 * KiHa 47-6000 * KiHa 48-3500 * KiHa 48-3800 * KiHa 48-5000 * KiHa 48-5300 * KiHa 48-5500 * KiHa 48-5800 * KiHa 48-6000 * KiHa 48-6300 * KiHa 48-6500 * KiHa 48-6800 JRC-Kiha40-6300DC.jpg, KiHa 40 6300 in September 2004 JNR KiHa 48-5500 serving JR East.JPG, KiHa 48 5500 in March 2008

JR West

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987,

JR-West , 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, ...

received a total of 257 KiHa 40 series vehicles (63 KiHa 40s, 189 KiHa 47s, and 5 KiHa 48s). , JR-West operates 255 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. * KiHa 40-3000 * KiHa 41-2000 * KiHa 47-2000 * KiHa 47-2500 * KiHa 48-3000 * KiHa 48-3500 JR West Type KiHa40 No.2007 1997.jpg, KiHa 40 2007 in 1997 Kiha47-2503.JPG, KiHa 47 2503 in August 2007 Kiha47R-1061 Cab.jpg, Driver's cab of KiHa 47 1061 in December 2021 Kiha47R-1061 Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 47 1061 in December 2021 Kiha47R-1061 Priority-seat.jpg, Priority seating of KiHa 47 1061 in December 2021

Joyful Train sets

* ''Misuzu Shiosai'' (KiHa 47) * ''Setonai Marine View'' (KiHa 47) (Until December 12 2019 replaced by etSETOra) * ''Belles Montagnes et Mer'' (KiHa 40) * ''Hanayome Noren'' (KiHa 48) * ''Tenkū no shiro Takeda-jō ato'' (KiHa 40) * ''etSETOra'' (KiHa47) JRW DC Kiha47-7000 Misuzu-Shiosai.jpg, ''Misuzu Shiosai'' in July 2011 JRW DC Kiha47-7003 inside.jpg, Interior of ''Misuzu Shiosai'' JRW DC47 setouchi.JPG, ''Setonai Marine View'' in March 2011 Marine View - Free Space.JPG, Interior of ''Setonai Marine View''in May 2016 JRW kiha40-2027 Belles montagnes et mer 20160529.jpg, ''Belles Montagnes et Mer'' JRW kiha48 hanayomenoren 20160529.jpg, ''Hanayome Noren'' in May 2016

JR Shikoku

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987,

JR Shikoku The , commonly known as , is the smallest of the seven constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates of intercity and local rail services in the four Prefectures of Japan, prefectures on the island of Shikoku in Jap ...

received a total of 53 KiHa 40 series vehicles (11 KiHa 40s and 42 KiHa 47s). , JR Shikoku operates 43 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. * KiHa 40-2000 * KiHa 47-0 * KiHa 47-500 * KiHa 47-1000 * KiHa 47-1500 JRS Kiha47-118.jpg, KiHa 47 118 in January 2020 JRS-Kiha47-Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 47 in December 2018

Joyful Train sets

* ''Iyonada Monogatari'' (KiHa 47) JRS DC Kiro47-1401.jpg, ''Iyonada Monogatari'' in May 2017 Iyonada Monogatari 20170506-002.jpg, Interior of ''Iyonada Monogatari''

JR Kyushu

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987,

JR Kyushu The , also referred to as , is one of the seven constituent companies of Japan Railways Group (JR Group). It operates intercity rail services within Kyushu, Japan. It formerly operated the Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strait be ...

received a total of 142 KiHa 40 series vehicles (36 KiHa 40s and 106 KiHa 47s). As of 1 April 2010, JR Kyushu operates 140 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows. * KiHa 40-7000 * KiHa 40-8000 * KiHa 47-3500 * KiHa 47-4500 * KiHa 47-5000 * KiHa 47-6000 * KiHa 47-8000 * KiHa 47-8500 * KiHa 47-9000 * KiHa 47-9500 * KiHa 140-2000 * KiHa 147-0 * KiHa 147-1000 JRK Kiha40-8126.jpg, KiHa 40 8126 in January 2022 Kashi-Line-Kiha47-9031.jpg, KiHa 47 9031 in August 2007, AQUA LINER livery on

Kashii Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It connects Saitozaki Station in Fukuoka is the List of Japanese cities by population, sixth-largest city in Japan and the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture, J ...

Kiha40-8101 Cab.jpg, Driver's cab of KiHa 40 8101 in January 2022 Kiha40-8126 Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 40 8126 in January 2022 Kiha147-50 Inside.jpg, Interior of KiHa 147 50 in December 2021 Kiha147-50 Priority-seat.jpg, Priority seating of KiHa 147 50 in December 2021

Joyful Train sets

* ''

Hayato no Kaze The ''Hayato no Kaze'' () was a limited express service in Japan which ran between Kagoshima-Chūō Station and Yoshimatsu Station via the Kagoshima Main Line, Nippō Main Line, and Hisatsu Line. It was operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Ky ...

'' (KiHa 47/147) * ''

Ibusuki no Tamatebako The is a limited express service operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) in Japan since March 2011. It operates between Kagoshima-Chūō Station and Ibusuki Station via the Ibusuki Makurazaki Line. Service pattern There are three ret ...

'' (KiHa 47/140) * ''

Aru Ressha The is a luxury excursion train operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) in Japan since 2015. It comprises a two-car diesel-powered railcar heavily modified to parody the style, especially in its window treatment, of passenger cars suppl ...

'' (KiRoShi 47) * Two Stars 4047 (KiHa 47/147) File:Kiha47 Hayatono-Kaze Nippo-Line.jpg, ''Hayato no Kaze'' in January 2022 File:Hayatono-Kaze Inside Kiha147-1045.jpg, Interior of ''Hayato no Kaze'' File:JRK DC Kiha47-8060.jpg, ''Ibusuki no Tamatebako'' in August 2012 File:JRK DC Kiha140 2066 Inside.jpg, Interior of ''Ibusuki no Tamatebako'' File:JRKyushu DMU ARU RESSHA.jpg, ''Aru Ressha'' in October 2015

Resale

Nishikigawa Railway

In 2017, KiHa 40 1009 was taken over by Nishikigawa Railway, that ended operation on the

Karasuyama Line The is a railway line in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects in the town of Takanezawa, Tochigi, Takanezawa with in Nasukarasuyama, Tochigi, Nasukarasuyama. Services Trains run a ...

by JR East in March 2017. The former diesel train is remodeled in retro style, and started operation on September 16 of the same year. File:Nishikigawa Railway DMU Kiha40-1009 20171104.jpg, Former JR East KiHa 40 series DMU car KiHa 40 1009 at Nishikichō Station on the Nishikigawa Railway in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan.

Kominato Railway

Two KiHa 40 carriages (KiHa 40 2021 and KiHa 40 2026), which ended operation on the

in March 2020, were transferred to

Kominato Railway The is a railway line in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway operator . It extends from the west coast of central Bōsō Peninsula (where it connects with the Uchibō Line at ) to in the town of Ōtaki (where it connects ...

in May 2020 with the Tohoku livery. File:JNR 40 series in soga station.jpg, The former JR East KiHa 40 is scheduled to be transferred to Kominato Railway is detained at Soga Station.

Hojo Railway

The latest acquisition purchased by the third-sector railway company which has been funded by the local government of Kasai City to purchase a retired unit from

which had been recently ended their local services in

Gono Line Gono may refer to: People * Akihiro Gono (born 1974), Japanese mixed martial artist * Gideon Gono (born 1959), Governor of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe * Matt Gono (born 1996), American American football player * Miroslav Gono (born 2000), Slov ...

on 2021. The local government had been successfully collected their crowdfunding at a cost of about 30 million yen (approx. $220,000) for purchasing cost, shipment from the

Akita prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu.Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Provinces and prefectures" in ; "Tōhoku" in . Its population is estimated 915,691 as of 1 August 2023 and its geographi ...

and for remodeling or refurbishment to make it like new. The railcar has been successfully remodeled and started began their operation in March 2022 with retaining its former livery used in Gono Line by JR East. File:Kiha40-535-2022-5-4.jpg, Kiha 40–535 at

Ao Station is a junction passenger railway station located in the city of Ono, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It is operated jointly by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West), the third sector and the private Kobe Electric Railway (Shintetsu). Lines Ao St ...

in May 2022

Conversions

Aizu Railway , is a Third-sector railway, third-sector Japanese railway company whose major shareholders include the Fukushima Prefecture, Fukushima prefectural and Aizuwakamatsu, Fukushima, Aizuwakamatsu city governments. It owns and operates its only line, t ...

's AT-400 DMU was converted from a former JR East KiHa 40. File:Aizu Railway AT-400 2022.jpg, Aizu Railway AT-400 in April 2022

Overseas operations

Myanmar

A large fleet of former KiHa 40 series cars from

, and

were shipped to Myanmar between 2011 and 2016. A total of 48 diesel cars (including KiHa 40, KiHa 47, & KiHa 48) have been shipped to Myanmar for overseas operations. The cars are used on the

Yangon Circular Railway Yangon Circular Railway ( ) is the local commuter rail network that serves the Yangon metropolitan area. Operated by Myanma Railways, the 39-station loop system connects satellite towns and suburban areas to the city. Circa 2008–2010, the rai ...

Thailand

A total of 20 former KiHa 40 & 48 cars from JR East are expected to be shipped to Thailand for overseas operations by the

State Railway of Thailand The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) (, abbrev. รฟท., ) is the state-owned rail operator under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transport (Thailand), Ministry of Transport in Thailand. History The SRT was founded as the Royal State Rail ...

(SRT). On 27 March 2024, these cars were handed over to the Thai railway operator prior to shipping from Niigata Port. On June 2, 2024, KiHa 40 & 48 arrived in Thailand.

Laem Chabang Laem Chabang (, ) is a port city municipality (''thesaban nakhon'') in Si Racha and Bang Lamung districts of Chonburi Province, Thailand. It includes Thung Sukhla subdistrict (''tambon'') and parts of subdistricts Bueng, Nong Kham and Surasak o ...

, Chonburi Province Parked near Laem Chabang train station. To adjust the width of the wheel axle base from 1,067 mm Japan to 1,000 mm Thailand. List of Kiha 40 & 48 that the State Railway of Thailand has received * KiHa 40 521 (Gono) * KiHa 40 522 (Shutoken) * KiHa 40 528 (Gono) * KiHa 40 532 (Gono) * KiHa 40 536 (Oga) * KiHa 40 543 (Oga) * KiHa 40 544 (Oga) * KiHa 40 547 (Oga) * KiHa 40 575 (Oga) * KiHa 48 515 (Gono) * KiHa 48 516 (Gono) * KiHa 48 518 (Gono) * KiHa 48 520 (Gono) * KiHa 48 522 (Oga) * KiHa 48 537 (Oga) * KiHa 48 544 (Shutoken) * KiHa 48 1507 (Oga) * KiHa 48 1509 (Gono) * KiHa 48 1540 (Gono) * KiHa 48 1550 (Gono)

Preserved examples

* KiHa 40 519: Next to Onagawa Station,

Onagawa, Miyagi is a List of towns in Japan, town located in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 6,319, and a population density of 97 persons per km2 in 3,110 households. The total area of the town is . Geography Onagawa is loc ...

. However, it was damaged by the

on 11 March 2011, and was withdrawn. * KiHa 40 764: Next to Ikutora Station,

Minamifurano, Hokkaido is a town located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the town has an estimated population of 2,611 and a density of 3.9 persons per km2. The total area is 665.52 km2. Culture Mascot Minamifurano's mascot i ...

as a cutaway body. This DMU was modified to resemble a KiHa 12 unit and used in

Yasuo Furuhata was a Japanese film director. He was a director of Toei film company and he often worked with Ken Takakura in such films as ''Station (1981 film), Eki'' and ''Shin Abashiri Bangaichi''. He won the 2000 Japan Academy Prize for Director of the Yea ...

's 1999 film . File:Kiha 40 519 Onagawa 20070924.jpg, Preserved KiHa 40 519 next to Onagawa Station in September 2007 File:JRH-Kiha40 764 Cutting body.jpg, KiHa 40 764 in August 2011

In popular culture

*The KiHa 40 is featured as a non-driveable train in the ''

Microsoft Train Simulator ''Microsoft Train Simulator'' (informally abbreviated to MSTS) is a 2001 train simulator game developed by UK-based Kuju Entertainment and published by Xbox Game Studios, Microsoft Games (now known as Xbox Game Studios) for Microsoft Windows, W ...

'' computer game. *In 2017

NHK World-Japan NHK World-Japan (formerly and also known simply as NHK World) is the international arm of the Japanese public broadcaster NHK. Its services are aimed at the overseas market, similar to those offered by other national public-service broadcasters, ...

dedicated an episode of their weekly show ''

Japan Railway Journal Japan Railway Journal is a TV program from NHK World TV documenting rail transport in Japan that started broadcasting on March 8, 2015. Overview The program showcases the charm and the cutting-edge technology of rail transport in Japan. New e ...

'' to the KiHa 40 series.

References

External links

* {{JR Kyushu rolling stock

40 series 4 (four) is a number, numeral and digit. It is the natural number following 3 and preceding 5. It is a square number, the smallest semiprime and composite number, and is considered unlucky in many East Asian cultures. Evolution of the Hi ...

Passenger rail transport in Myanmar Japanese National Railways Hokkaido Railway Company East Japan Railway Company Central Japan Railway Company West Japan Railway Company Shikoku Railway Company Kyushu Railway Company Train-related introductions in 1977 Niigata Transys rolling stock Fuji rolling stock

Overview

JR Hokkaido

JR East

Joyful Train sets

JR Central

JR West

Joyful Train sets

JR Shikoku

Joyful Train sets

JR Kyushu

Joyful Train sets

Resale

Nishikigawa Railway

Kominato Railway

Hojo Railway

Conversions

Overseas operations

Myanmar

Thailand

Preserved examples

In popular culture

References

Further reading

External links