The is a dual-voltage

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) 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) and

Hokuetsu Express The is a Japanese railway line in Niigata Prefecture that runs from Muikamachi in Minamiuonuma City to Saigata in Jōetsu City. It is the sole railway line operated by . Construction of the line first began in 1968 by the Japanese National ...

limited express A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes. Japan The term "limited express" is a common ...

services in Japan since 2001.

Variants

* 683-0 series (''

Thunderbird Thunderbird, thunder bird or thunderbirds may refer to: * Thunderbird (mythology), a legendary creature in certain North American indigenous peoples' history and culture * Ford Thunderbird, a car Birds * Dromornithidae, extinct flightless birds ...

'') * 683-1000 series (''Thunderbird'') * 683-2000 series (''Thunderbird'', former '' Shirasagi'') * 683-3000 series (''Thunderbird'', former ''Shirasagi'') * 683-4000 series (''Thunderbird'') * 683-5000 series (''Thunderbird'') * 683-8000 series (''Shirasagi'', former Hokuetsu Express '' Hakutaka'') File:JR West 683 series EMU 421.JPG, 683-4000 series

Operations

JR-West

* ''

'' * '' Shirasagi'' * ''

Biwako Express The is a Commuter Limited Express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and or in Japan since June 2003. It replaced the previous ''Biwako Liner'' services. Service pattern , one weekday morning service (''B ...

'' * ''Ohayō Express'' * ''Oyasumi Express'' * '' Dinostar'' (from 14 March 2015) * ''

Noto Kagaribi The is a limited express train service operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between and in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, via the IR Ishikawa Railway Line and Nanao Line since 14 March 2015. Service outline Five return services op ...

'' (from 14 March 2015) * ''

Kuroshio The , also known as the Black or or the is a north-flowing, warm ocean current on the west side of the North Pacific Ocean basin. It was named for the deep blue appearance of its waters. Similar to the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, the Ku ...

'' (from 13 March 2015)

Hokuetsu Express

* '' Hakutaka'' (until 12 March 2015)

JR Central

* ''Home Liner Ōgaki'' rapid service (until 13 March 2015) * ''Home Liner Sekigahara'' rapid service (until 13 March 2015)

Formations

The various formations are configured as follows.

3-car sets

''Thunderbird'' sets

''Shirasagi'' sets

The KuHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

5-car sets

''Shirasagi'' sets

The SaHa 682 and KuRo 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

6-car sets

''Thunderbird'' sets

The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

9-car sets

''Thunderbird'' sets

The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

File:JRW series683-2000 ordinarycar-inside-1.JPG, 683-2000 series odd number car Standard-class saloon, January 2012 File:JRW series683-2000 ordinarycar-inside-2.JPG, 683-2000 series even number car Standard-class saloon, January 2012 File:JRW series683-2000 greencar-inside.JPG, 683-2000 series Green car saloon, January 2012 File:JRW 683-4000 greencar.jpg, 683-4000 series Green car saloon, June 2010

Refurbishment

All of the 683 series trainsets used on ''Thunderbird'' limited express services are scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018. The first set treated, nine-car 683-4000 series set T51, was returned to revenue service in September 2015.

Conversion to 289 series

From 2015, 85 former ''Shirasagi'' 683 series vehicles were converted and reformed to become DC-only 289 series EMUs, formed as three-car, four-car, and six-car sets for use on '' Hashidate'', '' Kinosaki'', '' Kounotori'', and '' Kurioshio'' limited express services in the Kyoto and Osaka area.

References

* * * {{A-Train Electric multiple units of Japan West Japan Railway Company Hitachi multiple units Train-related introductions in 2001 20 kV AC multiple units Kawasaki multiple units 1500 V DC multiple units of Japan Kinki Sharyo multiple units