The is an

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 built in 2010 and 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 suburban services in the

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 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 May 2012.

Design

The 735 series is intended as an experimental type to evaluate the suitability of aluminium-body rolling stock in the cold climate of Hokkaido. The cab ends however use steel construction. They were tested in winter conditions from 2010 to 2011. The 735 series sets are able to run in multiple with the 721 series,

731 series The is an AC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on Sapporo area suburban services in Hokkaido, Japan since 1996. Formation , 21 three-car sets are in service, numbered G-101 to G121, and ...

, and

733 series The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on suburban services in the Sapporo area of Hokkaido, Japan, since 1 June 2012. Variants * 733-0 series: 3-car sets operated since June 2012 * ...

suburban EMUs, but not 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 ...

DMUs.

Formation

Sets are formed as shown below. The MoHa 735 car is fitted with an N-PS785 single-arm pantograph. File:Kuha735-102.jpg, KuHa 735-102 File:Moha735-102.jpg, MoHa 735-102 File:Kuha735-202.jpg, KuHa 735-202

Interior

The 735 series design continues the basic configuration of the earlier 731 series with longitudinal seating throughout. The floor is lower than on previous trains, for improved accessibility. 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 Sys ...

toilet. File:JR-Hokkiado735 interior design.jpg, Interior view, August 2010

History

Two 3-car sets were delivered from the

Hitachi () is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate corporation headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is the parent company of the Hitachi Group (''Hitachi Gurūpu'') and had formed part of the Ni ...

factory in

Yamaguchi Prefecture is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Chūgoku region of Honshu. Yamaguchi Prefecture has a population of 1,377,631 (1 February 2018) and has a geographic area of 6,112 Square kilometre, km2 (2,359 Square mile, sq mi). Y ...

in March 2010. The sets first entered revenue-earning service on 1 May 2012.

References

External links

JR Hokkaido press release (10 March 2010)

(Japan Railfan Magazine Online) {{JR Hokkaido trainsets Electric multiple units of Japan Train-related introductions in 2012 Hokkaido Railway Company Hitachi multiple units Experimental vehicles 20 kV AC multiple units