KiHa 40 series


The KiHa 40 series is a diesel multiple unit train type introduced by Japanese National Railways in 1977 and operated by all Japan Railways Group companies on suburban and rural services in Japan. Since 2017, the train type has seen use by other private railway companies in Japan who have purchased withdrawn units from JR Group companies. Additionally, it has also seen use in overseas operations in Myanmar since 2011 and is also scheduled to be used in Thailand.

Overview

The KiHa 40 series diesel multiple unit was introduced in 1977 by JNR to replace ageing KiHa 10 series DMUs on suburban and rural services nationwide. A total of 888 vehicles were built between 1977 and 1982, broadly divided into three main types: KiHa 40, KiHa 47, and KiHa 48. These were subdivided as shown below, with further variants and modifications made later in their lives by the various JR Group companies.
TypeNo. of cabsDoorsSubclassRegionToiletQuantityNumberingRemarks
KiHa 402Single-leaf-100Hokkaido
Yes150101–250
KiHa 402Single-leaf-500ColdYes94501–594
KiHa 402Single-leaf-1000WarmNo1481001–1007Former KiHa 40-2000 cars with toilets removed
KiHa 402Single-leaf-2000WarmYes1482001–2148
KiHa 471Pairs-0WarmYes1931–193
KiHa 471Pairs-500ColdYes22501–522
KiHa 471Pairs-1000WarmNo1341001–1134
KiHa 471Pairs-1500ColdNo211501–1521
KiHa 481Single-leaf-0WarmYes61–6
KiHa 481Single-leaf-300Hokkaido
Yes4301–304
KiHa 481Single-leaf-500ColdYes59501–559
KiHa 481Single-leaf-1000WarmNo41001–1004
KiHa 481Single-leaf-1300Hokkaido
No31301–1303
KiHa 481Single-leaf-1500ColdNo501501–1550

"Cold" regions refers to the Tohoku and Chubu regions.

JR Hokkaido

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Hokkaido received a total of 157 KiHa 40 series vehicles., JR Hokkaido operates 153 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
  • KiHa 40
  • KiHa 48-1300
  • KiHa 400-100
  • KiHa 480

JR East

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR East received a total of 219 KiHa 40 series vehicles. As of 1 April 2010, JR East operates 159 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
  • KiHa 40
  • KiHa 47
  • KiHa 48
KiHa 48-502 and KiHa 48-1512 were derailed and badly damaged by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami on 11 March 2011, and were withdrawn.

Joyful Train sets

Furusato Kirakira Michinoku Resort Minori Resort Shirakami "Aoike" Resort Shirakami "Buna" Resort Shirakami "Kumagera" Umineko View Coaster Kazekko
  • Koshino Shu*Kura

JR Central

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Central received a total of 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles. By April 2010, JR Central operated 59 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
  • KiHa 40
  • KiHa 47
  • KiHa 48
These were withdrawn by 2016.

JR West

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR-West received a total of 257 KiHa 40 series vehicles., JR-West operates 255 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
  • KiHa 40-3000
  • KiHa 41-2000
  • KiHa 47
  • KiHa 48

Joyful Train sets

Misuzu Shiosai Setonai Marine View Belles Montagnes et Mer Hanayome Noren Tenkū no shiro Takeda-jō ato
  • ''etSETOra''

JR Shikoku

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Shikoku received a total of 53 KiHa 40 series vehicles., JR Shikoku operates 43 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
  • KiHa 40-2000
  • KiHa 47

Joyful Train sets

  • ''Iyonada Monogatari''

JR Kyushu

Following the privatization and splitting of JNR in April 1987, JR Kyushu received a total of 142 KiHa 40 series vehicles. As of 1 April 2010, JR Kyushu operates 140 KiHa 40 series vehicles, classified as follows.
  • KiHa 40
  • KiHa 47
  • KiHa 140-2000
  • KiHa 147

Joyful Train sets

Hayato no Kaze Ibusuki no Tamatebako Aru Ressha

Resale

Nishikigawa Railway

In 2017, KiHa 40 1009 was taken over by Nishikigawa Railway, that ended operation on the Karasuyama Line by JR East in March 2017. The former diesel train is remodeled in retro style, and started operation on September 16 of the same year.

Kominato Railway

Two KiHa 40 carriages, which ended operation on the Tadami Line in March 2020, were transferred to Kominato Railway in May 2020 with the Tohoku livery.

Hojo Railway

The latest acquisition purchased by the third-sector railway company which has been funded by the local government of Kasai City to purchase a retired unit from JR East which had been recently ended their local services in Gono Line on 2021. The local government had been successfully collected their crowdfunding at a cost of about 30 million yen for purchasing cost, shipment from the Akita prefecture and for remodeling or refurbishment to make it like new. The railcar has been successfully remodeled and started began their operation in March 2022 with retaining its former livery used in Gono Line by JR East.

Conversions

Aizu Railway's AT-400 DMU was converted from a former JR East KiHa 40.

Overseas operations

Myanmar

A large fleet of former KiHa 40 series cars from JR East, JR Hokkaido, JR Shikoku, and JR Central were shipped to Myanmar between 2011 and 2016. A total of 48 diesel cars have been shipped to Myanmar for overseas operations. The cars are used on the Yangon Circular Railway.

Thailand

A total of 20 former KiHa 40 & 48 cars from JR East are expected to be shipped to Thailand for overseas operations by the State Railway of Thailand. On 27 March 2024, these cars were handed over to SRT prior to shipping from Niigata Port. On June 2, 2024, the KiHa 40 & 48 cars arrived in Thailand and the gauge conversion from 1,067 mm to 1,000 mm commenced.
SRT has received the following KiHa 40 & 48 cars:
  • KiHa 40-521
  • KiHa 40-522
  • KiHa 40-528
  • KiHa 40-532
  • KiHa 40-536
  • KiHa 40-543
  • KiHa 40-544
  • KiHa 40-547
  • KiHa 40-575
  • KiHa 48-515
  • KiHa 48-516
  • KiHa 48-518
  • KiHa 48-520
  • KiHa 48-522
  • KiHa 48-537
  • KiHa 48-544
  • KiHa 48-1507
  • KiHa 48-1509
  • KiHa 48-1540
  • KiHa 48-1550

Preserved examples

In popular culture