783 series

The 783 series is an AC electric multiple unit train type operated on limited express services by Kyushu Railway Company in Japan since March 1988.

Design

The trains were built jointly by Hitachi, Kinki Sharyo, and JR Kyushu.

Formations

5-car ''Kamome'' sets (CM1–5)

The 5-car sets used on Kamome services are formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5
Designation	Thsc	M'1	T0	M2	Mc
Numbering	KuRoHa 782	MoHa 783	SaHa 783	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2 and 5 are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

4-car ''Midori'' sets (CM11–15)

The 4-car sets used on Midori services are formed as follows.

Car No.	11	12	13	14
Designation	Thsc	T2	M2	Mc
Numbering	KuRoHa 782-100	SaHa 783-200	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Car 14 is fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

4-car ''Huis Ten Bosch'' sets (CM21–25)

The 4-car sets used on Huis Ten Bosch services are formed as follows.

Car No.	7	8	9	10
Designation	Thsc	M2	M1	Tc1
Numbering	KuRoHa 782-500	MoHa 783-300	MoHa 783-200	KuHa 783-100

Car 9 is fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

5-car ''Nichirin'' sets (CM31–35)

The 5-car sets used on Nichirin services are formed as follows.

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5
Designation	Thsc	M1	T2	M2	Mc
Numbering	KuRoHa 782-500	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-200	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2 and 5 are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.
Set CM35 normally operates as a 4-car set.

Past formations

The following formations were used from introduction in 1988 until the fleet was refurbished and reformed in 2000.

9-car sets

9-car sets used on Hyper Kamome services from March 1990 until June 1994

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Numbering	KuRo 782	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-100	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-200	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-100	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2, 4, 6, and 9 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

8-car sets

8-car sets used on Hyper Kamome services from March 1990 until June 1994

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Numbering	KuRo 782	SaHa 783-100	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-200	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-100	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 3, 5, and 8 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

7-car sets

7-car sets used on Ariake and Hyper Ariake services during busy seasons from 1 April 1988

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Numbering	KuRo 782	MoHa 783	SaHa 783	MoHa 783	SaHa 783	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2, 4, and 7 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

7-car sets used on Hyper Kamome services from 18 March 1993

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Numbering	KuRo 782	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-200	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-100	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2, 4, and 7 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

6-car sets

6-car sets used on Hyper Nichirin services from 18 March 1993

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6
Numbering	KuRoHa 782	SaHa 783	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-100	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 3 and 6 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

5-car sets

5-car sets used on Ariake and Super Ariake services from 1 April 1988

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5
Numbering	KuRo 782	MoHa 783	SaHa 783	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2, and 5 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

5-car sets used on Hyper Ariake services from March 1990 until July 1992 and on Tsubame services from 15 July 1992

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5
Numbering	KuRo 782	MoHa 783	SaHa 783-200	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Cars 2, and 5 were each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

4-car sets

4-car sets used on Hyper Ariake services from March 1990 until July 1992 and on Ariake and Hyper Nichirin services from 15 July 1992

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Numbering	KuRoHa 782	SaHa 783	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Car 5 was fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

3-car sets

3-car sets used on Ariake and Super Ariake services from 1 April 1988 until 1990

Car No.	1	2	3
Numbering	KuRoHa 782	MoHa 783-100	KuMoHa 783

Car 3 was fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.

History

The 783 series trains were first introduced from 13 March 1988, initially branded as "Hyper Saloon".
On 30 May 1989, the 783 series design was awarded the 1988 Laurel Prize by the Japan Railfan Club. A special award ceremony was held at platform 1 of Hakata Station on 26 August 1989.
All cars were made no-smoking from the start of the revised timetable on 18 March 2007.