Hankyu 6300 series


The Hankyu 6300 series is an electric multiple unit train type operated in Japan by the private railway operator Hankyu Railway since 1975.

Formations

4-car sets

The three 4-car sets, numbered 6351 to 6353, are formed as follows, with two motored cars and two unpowered trailer cars.
DesignationTcMM'Tc
TypeTc6350M6800M'6900Tc6450
Numbering6350680069006450

The "M" cars are fitted with two scissors-type pantographs.

6-car sets

The two 6-car sets remaining as of 1 April 2012, numbered 6350 and 6354, were formed as follows, with four motored cars and two unpowered trailer cars. In February 2016, set 6350 was sent to scrap.
DesignationTcMM'MM'Tc
TypeTc6350M6800M'6900M6800M'6900Tc6450
Numbering635068006900680069006450

The two "M" cars were each fitted with two scissors-type pantographs.

History

The Hankyu 6300 series were originally built for limited express services on the Hankyu Kyoto Main Line starting in 1975, displacing the 2800 series previously used on these services. Production continued until 1978.
The Hankyu 6300 series was awarded the 1976 Blue Ribbon Award of the Japan Railfan Club.
In 1983, following the completion of the rail viaduct between and stations, an additional 8-car set numbered 6330 was constructed, entering service on 1 January 1984. This set used field chopper control technology together with regenerative braking systems. It was withdrawn from service in around 2009.
On 2 April 2009, sets 6351-6353 entered service on the Arashiyama Line as 4-car sets. They were refurbished from 2008 with new interior panels and transverse seating arranged in a 2+1 abreast configuration along with some longitudinal seating near the doors.
The last remaining 8-car sets were removed from regularly scheduled limited express services on the Kyoto Main Line on 8 January 2010, with the official final operations taking place from 21 to 28 February of the same year.

Kyo-Train

On 21 February 2011, Hankyu Railway announced that they would introduce a sightseeing train branded "Kyo-Train" on the Kyoto Main Line. The set was composed of set 6354, which was shortened to a 6-car train and put into service on 19 March 2011. In addition, it began operating on regularly scheduled Rapid Limited Express services on weekends and holidays since 14 May of the same year. From the start of the revised timetable implemented on 19 January 2019, and with the installation of platform screen doors at Jūsō Station, a dedicated service for the Kyo-Train named Rapid Limited Express A, which skipped that station, was set up. However, set 6354 only ran on this service from 23 February 2019 following a round of inspections.
The 6-car Kyo-Train was discontinued from the start of Hankyu's revised timetable implemented on 17 December 2022.