The is a Japanese

diesel-electric multiple unit A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple-unit train powered by on-board diesel engines. A DMU requires no separate locomotive, as the engines are incorporated into one or more of the carriages. Diesel-powered single-unit railcars are also ...

(DEMU) train type introduced 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) to replace the ageing

KiHa 40 series The is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1977 and operated by all Japan Railways Group companies on suburban and rural services in Japan. Since 2017, the train type has seen use by other ...

DMU cars. The trains are nicknamed "DECMO", standing for "diesel electric car with motors". They commenced passenger operations in March 2020 on the

Hakodate Main Line The is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawara Line, a 35 km loop line from Ōnuma to Mo ...

Design

Based on the

GV-E400 series The is a diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) around Niigata and Akita areas of Japan from 2019. Design The GV-E400 series trains are the first diesel-electric multiple units (not ...

DMUs on order by

JR East The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...

, the H100 series trains are the first

s to be operated by JR Hokkaido, with diesel engines driving generators, which in turn power electric traction motors. The trains have stainless steel bodies, and a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph).

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal seating close to the doorways and 2+1 transverse seating further inside the cars. The cars have

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 ...

toilets.

History

Details about the new trains were announced by JR Hokkaido on 12 July 2017. Two single-car pre-series units were delivered from the

Kawasaki Heavy Industries (or simply Kawasaki) is a Japanese Public company, public multinational corporation manufacturer of motorcycles, engines, Heavy equipment (construction), heavy equipment, aerospace and Military, defense equipment, rolling stock and ships, headq ...

factory in Kobe in February 2018 and underwent test-running and evaluation until March 2019. In September 2019, deliveries of the full-production units commenced and on 14 March 2020, passenger operations started with a total of 15 cars on the

between

Oshamambe is a town located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of 30 October 2016, the town has an estimated population of 5,694. The total land area is 310.75 km2. Geography Oshamambe faces Uchiura Bay, which is a bay of the Pacific Ocea ...

and

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 ...

. In the fiscal years (April to March) 2020 and 2021, a total of 60 more cars are planned for construction. From 18 March 2023, the H100 series cars are expected to be introduced on the

Furano Line The is part of the Hokkaido Railway Company network in Hokkaidō, Japan. It connects Furano Station in the city of Furano and Asahikawa Station in the city of Asahikawa. Popular with tourists, it has recently come to serve commuters in the be ...

References

External links

JR Hokkaido press release
{{JR Hokkaido trainsets Diesel multiple units of Japan Hokkaido Railway Company Train-related introductions in 2020 Kawasaki multiple units