The was 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 formerly operated by

Japanese National Railways The abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987. Network Railways As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pref ...

(JNR) and later Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on limited express 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, between 1980 and 2007.

Operations

* ''

Ishikari is a city located in Ishikari Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of April 30, 2017, the city has an estimated population of 58,755, with 27,434 households, and a density of 81 persons per km2. The total area is . On October 1, 2005, the vill ...

'' (1980) * ''

Lilac ''Syringa'' is a genus of 12 currently recognized species of flowering plant, flowering woody plants in the olive family or Oleaceae called lilacs. These lilacs are native to woodland and scrub from southeastern Europe to eastern Asia, and wid ...

'' (1 October 1980 – 30 September 2007) * ''

White Arrow The , and later were limited express train services operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) on the Hakodate Main Line between the cities of Sapporo and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan, between 1986 and 2007. History ''White Arrow'' s ...

'' (3 March 1986 – August 1990) * '' Suzuran'' (1 July 1992 – 30 September 2007) * ''Airport'' Rapid (1992 – 15 March 2002)

Formations

4-car sets (1986–2007)

Cars 1 and 3 were each fitted with one N-PS785 single-arm pantograph (from 2004 onward).

6-car sets (1980–1986)

Cars 1, 3, and 5 were each fitted with one PS102B scissors-type pantograph.

6-car ''Doraemon Undersea Train'' set L7 (2003–2006)

Cars 1, 3, and 5 were each fitted with one N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.

Interior

The 781 series trainsets did not include Green class (first class) accommodation, but from March to June 2001, improved "u-Seat" seating was added to half of car 4 for reserved seat passengers. All other cars were normally designated as non-reserved seating.

History

The 781 series electric multiple unit was designed specifically for limited express services on electrified lines 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 of Hokkaido, to replace the 485-1500 series EMUs first introduced on ''

'' services in 1975, but which proved unreliable in the harsh winter conditions of Hokkaido. A pre-production 6-car set, classified 781-900 series, was delivered in November 1978. The body was based on the JNR 485 series design, with a more rounded profile to prevent snow adhering, and the electrical systems were based on the earlier 711 series suburban EMU. Seven full-production 6-car sets were delivered from 1980, with minor improvements including the abolishment of two opening windows on each side. The pre-production set was modified to bring it in line with full production standards in October 1981. The eight 6-car sets were reformed into twelve 4-car sets to cope with increased service frequency from the November 1986 timetable revision. This entailed converting eight MoHa 781 and SaHa 780 cars into KuMoHa 781-100 and KuHa 780-100 cars respectively by adding new cab ends. A second side door was added to the KuHa 780 and SaHa 780 cars between 1991 and 1993 to reduce station dwell times. The MoHa 781 cars of sets L1 to L7 only were similarly treated in 1993. Trains were repainted from the original JNR livery into a new livery based on that of the '' Super Tokachi'' between February 1992 and March 1993. Improved "u-Seat" reserved seating accommodation (rows 1 to 7) was added to half of car 4 between March and June 2001. In 2003, sets L7 and L104 were reallocated to Hakodate depot and reformed to become 6-car set L7 for use on special ''Doraemon Undersea Train'' services between and inside the undersea

Seikan Tunnel The Seikan Tunnel ( ja, 青函トンネル, or , ), is a dual-gauge railway tunnel in Japan, with a portion under the seabed of the Tsugaru Strait, which separates Aomori Prefecture on the main Japanese island of Honshu from the northern isla ...

from 19 July 2003. Each car was painted a different colour and decorated with ''

Doraemon ''Doraemon'' ( ja, ドラえもん ) is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Fujiko F. Fujio. The manga was first serialized in December 1969, with List of Doraemon chapters, its 1,345 individual chapters compiled into 45 ' ...

'' characters. This operated until August 2006. The set was subsequently scrapped together with the two stored cars from former set L104. The remainder of the fleet was withdrawn in September 2007.

Preserved examples

A complete 4-car set, consisting of cars KuHa 780-2, SaHa 780-4, MoHa 780-4, and KuMoHa 781-2, is preserved, minus the bogies, at Kikyo Kindergarten in Hakodate, Hokkaido.

References

{{JR Hokkaido trainsets Electric multiple units of Japan Hokkaido Railway Company Train-related introductions in 1978 20 kV AC multiple units Kawasaki multiple units Hitachi multiple units