The is a single-car 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 numbe ...

(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, and ...

(JR-West) on local services in Japan since March 2003.

Design

The 125 series design is based on the 223-2000 series EMU design, with stainless bodies and steel front ends. The cars have two pairs of sliding doors on each side, with provision for a third set of doors in the centre. The second-batch cars (KuMoHa 125-9–12) delivered in 2003 differ from the earlier batch by having enlarged front-end skirts and darker grey tinted windows.

Operations

The 125 series is used on ''wanman''

driver-only operation One-person operation (OPO), also known as driver-only operation (DOO), one-man operation (OMO), single person train operation (SPTO), or one-person train operation (OPTO), similarly to Driver Controlled Operation, is operation of a train, bus, ...

services, primarily on the

Obama Line The is a railway line on the Sea of Japan coast of central Japan. It is operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The long single track railway connects Tsuruga Station on the Hokuriku Main Line in Tsuruga, Fukui Prefecture and Higas ...

and

Kakogawa Line The is a railway line in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), which connects the cities of Kakogawa and Tamba. The line begins at Kakogawa Station on the JR Kobe Line (Sanyō Main Line) and ends at Ta ...

. Up to five single cars can be operated together as a multiple car set.

Formation

Cars KuMoHa 125-7/8/11/12 are equipped with a second de-icing pantograph.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating at the ends, and 2+2 abreast transverse reversible seating in the centre of the cars. The first two batches of cars (KuMoHa 125-1–12) were delivered with 1+2 abreast seating, but this was increased to 2+2 seating during 2003 and 2004. File:JR West 125 series EMU 011.JPG, General view of interior (KuMoHa 125-16, April 2008) File:JR West 125 series EMU 012.JPG, Reversible seating (KuMoHa 125-16, April 2008) File:JR West 125 series EMU 015.JPG, Priority seating (KuMoHa 125-16, April 2008) File:JR West 125 series EMU 014.JPG, Doorway and toilet (KuMoHa 125-16, April 2008)

History

The first eight cars (KuMoHa 125-1–8) were built by

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (or simply Kawasaki) 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, headq ...

in December 2002 for entry into service from 15 March 2003 on the newly electrified 84.3 km

between and . These sets were initially allocated to Fukuchiyama Depot, but were subsequently transferred to Tsuruga Depot. Four more cars (KuMoHa 125-9–12) were built in September 2004 for entry into service from 19 December 2004 on the newly electrified 48.5 km

between and . A further six cars (KuMoHa 125-13–18) were built in September 2006 to coincide with the conversion of Tsuruga area services from 20 kV AC to 1,500 DC electrification from 21 October 2006.

References