205 series


The 205 series is a DC electric multiple unit commuter train type introduced in 1985 by Japanese National Railways, and inherited by JR East and JR West after JNR was privatised two years later. It is currently operated by East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, Fuji Kyuko in Japan and KAI Commuter in Indonesia. Some of them were re-designated as Fujikyuko Series 6000.

Operations

JR East
JR West
  • Nara Line: 4-car JR West 205-0 and 205–1000 series sets
Fuji Kyuko
KAI Commuter
  • Duri-Tangerang Line:8/10-car 205 series sets since 2018.
  • Jakarta Kota-Bogor Line: 8-car, 10-car and 12-car 205 series sets.
  • Cikarang Loop Line: 8-car, 10-car, and 12-car 205 series sets.
  • Rangkasbitung Line: 10-car 205 series sets
  • Tanjung Priok Line: 8-car 205 series sets.
  • Yogyakarta Line: 4/8-car and 8-car 205 series sets

    Former operations

  • Chuo-Sobu Line: 10-car 205–0 series sets
  • Hachikō Line: 4-car 205–3000 series sets
  • Hanwa Line: 4-car 205-1000 series sets, 6- and 8-car 205–0 series sets
  • Kawagoe Line: 4-car 205–3000 series sets / 10-car 205–0 series sets
  • Keihin-Tohoku Line: 10-car 205–0 series sets
  • Keiyō Line: 10-car 205–0 series sets
  • Loop Line: 8, 10, and 12-car 205 series sets
  • Musashino Line: 8-car 205–5000 series sets and 8-car 205–0 series sets and from 2002 until October 2020 )
  • Nambu Line: 6-car 205-0
  • Nikkō Line: Refurbished 4-car 205–600 series sets with toilets
  • Sagami Line: 4-car 205–500 series sets
  • Saikyo Line: 10-car 205–0 series set
  • Tokaido-Sanyō Local service : 7-car 205–0 series sets
  • Tokaido Local Service : 7-car 205–0 series sets
  • Utsunomiya Line: Refurbished 4-car sets with toilets
  • Yamanote Line: 11-car 205–0 series sets
  • Yokohama Line: 8-car 205–0 series sets

    Design variants

There have been many variations of the design of the 205 series trains.
  • 205-0 series: 6, 7, and 8-car sets used on the JR West Tokaido Line, and Hanwa Line. 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11-car sets used on the JR East Chuo-Sobu Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Keiyo Line, Nambu Line, Musashino Line, Saikyo Line, Yamanote Line, and Yokohama Line.
  • 205-500 series: 4-car sets used on the Sagami Line
  • 205-600 series: 4-car sets for use on the Nikko Line and Utsunomiya Line from 16 March 2013
  • 205-1000 series: 4-car JR-West sets that formerly ran on Hanwa Line. Currently runs on Nara Line.
  • 205-1000 series: 2-car JR East sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Branch Line
  • 205-1100 series: 3-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, introduced on the Tsurumi Line from 25 August 2004
  • 205-1200 series: 6-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Line
  • 205-3000 series: 4-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line
  • 205-3100 series: 4-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Senseki Line
  • 205-5000 series: Former Yamanote Line 205–0 series cars modified with new IGBT-VVVF-controlled AC motors between 2002 and 2008, used on the Musashino Line

    205-0 series

The 205 series was designed in 1982 as a cheap-to-produce train that could complement the 201 series sets which were considered to be expensive to produce due to the latter's thyristor chopper-controlled traction systems. The first set entered service on the Yamanote Line on 1985. It was originally built with resistor-controlled traction systems, which were cheaper to produce than the typical thyristor chopper-controlled, but this was somewhat dated technology due to the advent of variable-frequency drives which had just started being used around this time. It uses a traditional design with an unpainted stainless steel body very much like most trains of the period. Each set has a different colour scheme to indicate which area the sets serve.
The 205 series was used on both JR East and JR West lines, and the 205–0 series will be finally ending operation in JR East on 2020. Following their retirement, 524 205–0 series vehicles were shipped to Jakarta, Indonesia from 2013 to 2020 to continue their operation overseas replacing aging commuter trains and mass improvement of public transportation in Greater Jakarta by train, while there are still 205–0 series operational on JR West lines.
The 205 series was manufactured from 1984 to 1991 and initially built as 10-car trainsets with a test-run conducted in 1984 for the JNR Yamanote Line. It was manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation, Hitachi for technical components, Nippon Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The basic structure is similar to that of the subsequently manufactured vehicles such as the 201 series and the 203 series, with the difference that the window shape is a two-pane window panels with the upper stage descending and the lower stage rising. 205 series trainsets from all four manufacturers were introduced to the Yamanote line in March 1985. In 1991, the Saha 204-0 was introduced as a 6-door intermediate carriage for the Yamanote Line and assigned as the new car No. 10 which was then coupled to form 11-car Yamanote Line trainsets from December 1991.
In 2005, the Saha 204 intermediate carriages, were transferred to the Saikyo Line upon retirement from Yamanote Line. Some of the existing Yamanote Line 205 series were transferred to the Keiyo line to continue operation until 2011. The trip number indicator of each leading car was initially introduced as a traditional roller-binding display as commonly used by other JNR rolling stocks, but in 1985 a LCD type trip number indicator display was installed for the first time to be later installed on the 0-subseries mass-produced vehicles.
  • JR East 205–0 series gallery
  • JR West 205–0 series gallery
  • KAI Commuter 205-0 series gallery

    205-500 series

The 205-500 series 4-car sets were introduced into service by JR East on the Sagami Line in 1991, when the line was fully electrified. These sets featured a number of design changes over the original 205 series, such as passenger-operable doors as well as a revamped front-end design. Following the introduction of the newer E131-500 series trains, all sets were withdrawn from service by February 2022.

205-600 series

The 205-600 subseries was created in 2013, when cars from former Keiyo Line and Saikyo Line ten-car sets were reformed between 2012 and 2013 to create twelve four-car sets for use on Nikko Line and Utsunomiya Line services, entering service from 16 March 2013, replacing the ageing 107 series and 211 series sets. The four Nikko Line sets are finished in a livery with "classic ruby brown", "gold", and "cream" bodyside stripes. The Utsunomiya Line sets are finished in a livery with Shonan green and orange bodyside stripes. They were withdrawn on 11 March 2022 ahead of the introduction of newer E131-600 series trainsets.

Formations

The four-car sets, numbered Y1 to Y12, were formed as shown below, with two motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
  • The MoHa 205-600 cars are equipped with two PS33F single-arm pantographs.
  • The KuHa 205-600 cars have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.

    Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout. A universal access toilet was added to the KuHa 205-600 car at the time of conversion.

''Iroha''

In 2018, set Y3 was refurbished for Iroha Joyful Train services on the Nikko Line. Two doors were removed per car, and box seating and luggage racks were introduced.

Fleet list

Source:

205-1000 series (JR East)

The 205–1000 series of JR East operates as 2-car trainsets rebuilt from some former 205–0 series cars, which were used on the Nambu Branch Line since 2002, replacing the last standing cars of the ageing 101 series trains until 2003.
As of 2024, three two-car sets are in operation.

205-1000 series (JR West)

The 205–1000 series of JR West was built into 4-car trainsets in 1988, they formerly operated in Hanwa Line services from March 1988 until they ended their operations in March 2018, and then they were transferred ahead to the Nara Line for local train services since 18 March 2018. Features include having a different windshield panel design, which is likely inverted their directions to avoid confusion of the pre-existing 205–0 series, which were formerly Tokaido Line Local Services in same blue stripe during that time.
As of 2024, nine 4-car sets are in operation, bearing the set numbers NE401 to NE409.

205-1100 series

The 205–1100 series of JR East operates as 3-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, which were introduced on the Tsurumi Line since August 2004, replacing the aging 103 series cars until their retirement in 2006.
As of 2024, three 3-car sets are in operation.

205-1200 series

The 205–1200 series of JR East operates as six-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Line services from 2004 until they were replaced by the new E233-8000 series trainsets until January 2016.

205-3000 series

The 205–3000 series are 4-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, which were used on the Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line from 2003 up until 2018.

Formation

From November 2003 until July 2018, five 4-car sets were allocated to Kawagoe Depot for use on Hachiko Line and Kawagoe Line through services. These sets were formed as follows with two motored cars and two non-powered trailer cars.
  • Car 3 was originally fitted with a PS21 lozenge type pantograph, but they were converted into a PS33C single-arm type between April 2004 to February 2005.