The is an AC
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
Hokkaido Railway Company
The is one of the constituent companies of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group), and is often referred to using its official abbreviation of . It operates intercity and local rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a sm ...
(JR Hokkaido) on
Sapporo
( ain, サッ・ポロ・ペッ, Satporopet, lit=Dry, Great River) is a city in Japan. It is the largest city north of Tokyo and the largest city on Hokkaido, the northernmost main island of the country. It ranks as the fifth most populous city ...
area suburban services in
Hokkaido
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The la ...
, Japan since 1996.
Formation
, 21 three-car sets are in service, numbered G-101 to G121, and based at Sapporo Depot. The trainsets are formed as follows, with one motored intermediate car and two non-powered driving trailer cars.
Car 2 is fitted with one N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.
Interior
Seating consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout, without the vestibule areas used on the earlier
721 series trains.
File:JR Hokkaido 731 series EMU 102.JPG, Interior view in February 2010
History
![JR Hokkaido 201 series DMU 003](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/JR_Hokkaido_201_series_DMU_003.JPG)
A total of 63 vehicles (21 sets) were delivered to Sapporo Depot between 1996 and 2006. The first units entered service from 24 December 1996.
From the start of 22 March 1997 timetable revision, 731 series EMUs were operated in multiple with
KiHa 201 series
The is a tilting diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on Sapporo area suburban services in Hokkaido, Japan since 1997. The KiHa 201 trains are designed to work in multiple with 731 series el ...
DMU sets over certain routes.
Polycarbonate window protectors were added in 2002, and the original pantographs were replaced with single-arm pantographs between 2004 and 2005.
Fleet history
The individual build histories of the fleet are as follows.
References
{{JR Hokkaido trainsets
Electric multiple units of Japan
Hokkaido Railway Company
Train-related introductions in 1996
20 kV AC multiple units
Kawasaki multiple units
Hitachi multiple units