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 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 the

Osaka Loop Line The is a railway loop line in Japan operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It encircles central Osaka. Part of a second, proposed outer loop line, the Osaka Higashi Line, from Hanaten to Kyuhoji was opened on March 15, 2008, an ...

in Osaka, Japan, since December 2016. The trains replaced the ageing

103 series 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...

and

201 series 1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit (measurement), unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment ...

trains.

Design

The eight-car trains have stainless steel bodies, and the exterior livery features orange highlights. Each car has three pairs of sliding doors per side, unlike the 103 and 201 series trains which have four pairs per side.

Formation

The trains are formed of eight cars formed as follows, with all cars motored (only one motored bogie per car). Car 2 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, and cars 5 and 8 each have one. Car 4 is designated as a

women-only car Women-only passenger cars are railway or subway cars intended for women only. They are a result of sexual segregation in some societies, but also can result from attempts to reduce sexual harassment and assault such as groping. Africa Egy ...

. File:Kumoha322-2-2017-1-4.jpg, KuMoHa 322-2 in January 2017 File:Moha323-4-2017-1-4.jpg, MoHa 323-4 in January 2017 File:Moha322-5-2017-1-4.jpg, MoHa 322-5 in January 2017 File:Moha323-503-2017-1-4.jpg, MoHa 323-503 in January 2017 File:Moha322-7-2017-1-4.jpg, MoHa 322-7 in January 2017 File:Kumoha323-2-2017-1-4.jpg, KuMoHa 323-2 in January 2017

Interior

Passenger accommodation feature longitudinal bench seating throughout, with priority seating at one end of each car, and a wheelchair/stroller space at the opposite end. The passenger saloons use

LED lighting An LED lamp or LED light bulb is an electric light that produces light using light-emitting diodes (LEDs). LED lamps are significantly more energy-efficient than equivalent incandescent lamps and can be significantly more efficient than mos ...

, with the lighting in car 4 (women-only car) adjusted to have a more orange "tungsten lighting" tinge to distinguish it from other cars. On car 8, the seats closest to the doors are removed to improve passenger circulation. Passenger information announcements are provided in two languages, and information screens are in four languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, and Korean), with pairs of screens over each door, and pairs at either end of the cars.

WiFi Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio waves ...

service is also provided. File:Inside JR West M322-2.jpg, Interior of MoHa 322-2 in December 2016 File:Inside JR West M323-501.jpg, Interior of a women-only car in December 2016 File:JR West 323 ordinary seats.jpg, Bench seating in December 2016 File:JR West 323 Priority seats.jpg, Priority seats at the end of a car in December 2016 File:LCD over passenger doors on JR West Mc322-1.jpg, LCD passenger information screens above the doorways in December 2016

History

Details of the new trains on order were first announced by JR West in December 2014. A total of 21 eight-car sets (168 vehicles) were scheduled to be introduced between fiscal 2016 and 2019, entirely replacing the fleet of twenty-three 103 and

trains. The first trainset, LS01, was unveiled to the press at the Kinki Sharyo factory in Osaka on 24 June 2016, and delivered to JR West on 30 June. The trains entered revenue service on 24 December 2016.

Build details

The build details for the fleet are as follows.

Gallery

File:323 Series LS15 USJ-SNW.jpg, alt=Super Nintendo World, Wrap advertising Train., Set LS15 with a wrapped-over

Super Nintendo World is a themed area at Universal Studios Japan, and under construction at Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Singapore and the upcoming Universal's Epic Universe at Universal Orlando, Universal Orlando Resort. A result of a partnership ...

(

Universal Studios Japan is a theme park located in Osaka, Japan. Opened on March 31, 2001, it is one of six Universal Parks & Resorts, Universal Studios theme parks worldwide and was the first to open outside the United States. The park is owned and operated by a whol ...

) advertisement File:JRW series323 destination-02.jpg, External destination board File:Kumoha 322-9 Christmas tree version.jpg,

References

External links

JR West press release (8 December 2014)
{{JR-West rolling stock Electric multiple units of Japan West Japan Railway Company Train-related introductions in 2016 Kawasaki multiple units 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan Kinki Sharyo multiple units