The is a single-car
diesel 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 ...
(DMU) 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) on its rural lines in Japan. Based on Niigata Tekkō's "NDC" lightweight diesel car design intended for
third sector operators (such as
Matsuura Railway,
Takachiho Railway
was a Japanese railway company. The company in Miyazaki Prefecture suspended operation of the railway after a typhoon disaster in 2005 and was liquidated in 2009.
Line
The company operated the Takachiho Line connecting Nobeoka Station in Nobeoka ...
, and
Kumagawa Railway
The is a railway line in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, connecting Hitoyoshi-Onsen Station in Hitoyoshi and Yunomae Station in Yunomae. It is the only railway line operated by the third sector . As the company name suggests, the line parallels ...
), a total of 89 cars were built, with the class divided into three sub-classes: KiHa 120-0, KiHa 120-200, and KiHa 120-300.
Variants
KiHa 120-200
Eight first-batch cars were built in 1992. These had painted steel bodies, two-pane windows, transverse and longitudinal seating, and no toilets. All cars were later modified with the addition of toilets.
File:Kiha120 208 interior 20070321.jpg, Interior view of KiHa 120-208 in March 2007
KiHa 120-0
22 second-batch cars were built in 1993, including three cars built at JR-West's Gotō Works. These had uprated engines, stainless steel bodies, single-pane windows, longitudinal seating, and no toilets. All cars were later modified with the addition of toilets.
KiHa 120-300
59 third-batch cars were built between 1994 and 1996, including 19 cars built at JR-West's Gotō Works. These were similar in design to the KiHa 120-0 subclass, but were built with some transverse seating. Although not initially built with toilets, all cars were modified with the addition of toilets from 2005.
File:Kiha120-301-syanai.jpg, Interior of a refurbished car
Livery variations
File:JR West Kiha 120 DMU 011.JPG, Fukui-based KiHa 120-205 in original livery in April 2008
File:キハ120 越美北線 朱5号.JPG, Fukui-based KiHa 120-201 in revised livery in August 2011
File:JR West Kiha 120-300 DMU.jpg, Hamada-based KiHa 120-321 in September 2008
File:JRW DC kiha120-324.jpg, Hiroshima-based KiHa 120-324 in November 2008
File:WestJapanRailwayCompanyType120Kameyama.jpg, Kameyama-based KiHa 120-303 in March 2006
File:Kiha120-301-2018-5-27.jpg, Kameyama-based KiHa 120-301 refurbished car in May 2018
File:JRW kiha120 206.jpg, Kisuki-based KiHa 120-206 in original livery in September 2007
File:JRW Kiha 120-206 at Shinji Station 20170430.jpg, Kisuki-based KiHa 120-206 in revised livery in April 2017
File:Kiha120-5 Kisuki.JPG, Kisuki-based KiHa 120-5
File:JRW DC kiha120-334.jpg, Okayama-based KiHa 120-334 in July 2006
File:JRW kiha120 332.jpg, Shimonoseki-based KiHa 120-332 in September 2007
File:JRW DC kiha120-346 349 345.jpg, Toyama-based KiHa 120-300s in August 2009
References
{{JR-West rolling stock
120
West Japan Railway Company
Train-related introductions in 1991
Niigata Transys rolling stock