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 ...

(EMU) commuter train type operated by

Kyushu Railway Company 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 and the JR Kyushu Jet Ferry Beetle hydrofoil service across the Tsushima Strai ...

(JR Kyushu) on

Chikuhi Line The is a railway line in Kyushu, Japan, connecting Meinohama Station in Fukuoka, Fukuoka (and via a subway through service, Fukuoka itself) to Karatsu Station in Karatsu, Saga, and from Yamamoto Station in Karatsu to Imari Station in Imari, ...

and Fukuoka Subway Kuko Line through-running services in

Kyushu is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surround ...

, Japan, since 22 January 2000.

Design

The 303 series trains were designed to augment the 103-1500 series EMUs used on the Chikuhi Line, coinciding with double-tracking of the section between and . The trains have lightweight stainless bodies with painted steel cab ends.

Operations

The 303 series trains are used on through services between the

and on the Fukuoka Subway Kuko Line. They are compatible with automatic train operation (ATO) used on the Fukuoka Subway tracks, and are also equipped for ''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 ...

Formations

The fleet consists of three six-car sets, numbered K01 to K03 and based at Karatsu Depot. The sets are formed as shown below with four motored ("M") intermediate cars and non-powered driving trailer ("Tc") cars, with car 1 at the Nishi-Karatsu end. Cars 2 and 5 are each equipped with two PS402K single-arm pantographs.

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout. Car 1 has a

universal access Apple Universal Access is a component of the macOS operating system that provides computing abilities to people with visual impairment, hearing impairment, or physical disability. Components Universal Access is a preference pane of the Syst ...

toilet. File:JRK303syanai.jpg, Interior view, July 2010 File:JR303Restroom.jpg, The universal-access toilet in car 1, July 2010

History

The trains entered service on 22 January 2000. A toilet was retrofitted to car 1 in each set between 2003 and 2004 at JR Kyushu's Kokura Works.

Build details

The three sets were built by

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 have produced light r ...

between 1999 and 2002. The fleet build details are as shown below.

References

{{JR Kyushu rolling stock

External links

Kinki sharyo
Electric multiple units of Japan Kyushu Railway Company Train-related introductions in 2000 Kinki Sharyo multiple units 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan