KiHa 38
The KiHa 38 is a Japanese diesel multiple unit train type introduced by the Japanese National Railways in 1986. These were converted from ageing KiHa 35's to meet modern standards as new rolling stock before the company was privatized in 1987. After JNR was privatized, all seven cars were transferred to JR East.
No KiHa 38s remain in service since they ceased operation on the Kururi Line in December 2012, along with the last KiHa 30, which were also retired from JR East in the same year They were replaced by the new KiHa E130s on the same line.
In 2014, five cars were transferred to Myanmar Railways, and one car was transferred to Mizushima Rinkai Railway which entered service in May 2014.
Operations
JR East
- Hachiko Line
- Kawagoe Line
- Kururi Line, until 2012
Mizushima Rinkai Railway
- Mizushima Main Line, since 2014
Myanmar Railways
- Yangon Circular Line, since 2014
Withdrawal and resale
Mizushima Rinkai Railway
In 2014, KiHa 38 1004 was transferred to the Mizushima Rinkai Railway and was renumbered to KiHa 38 103. It entered service on 12 May 2014.Myanmar Railways
Five former KiHa 38 railcars were shipped to Myanmar to be operated by Myanmar Railways in August 2014. They entered service in 2014.The following cars were transferred to Myanmar:
| Former number | RBE body number by Myanmar Railways |
| KiHa 38-2 | RBE 25101 |
| KiHa 38-3 | RBE 25102 |
| KiHa 38-4 | RBE 25103 |
| KiHa 38-1001 | RBE 25104 |
| KiHa 38-1002 | RBE 25105 |
Preserved examples
- KiHa 38 1: preserved at Isumi Poppo-no-oka.