681 series
Japanese train type
title: "681 series" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["electric-multiple-units-of-japan", "west-japan-railway-company", "train-related-introductions-in-1992", "hitachi-multiple-units", "niigata-transys-rolling-stock", "20-kv-ac-multiple-units", "kinki-sharyo-multiple-units", "kawasaki-multiple-units", "1500-v-dc-multiple-units-of-japan", "3-car-emus"] description: "Japanese train type" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/681_series" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Japanese train type ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox train"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | 681 series |
| image | JRW Series681-0 V12.jpg |
| imagesize | 300px |
| caption | A JR-West 681 series train on a Thunderbird service in April 2022 |
| manufacturer | Niigata Transys, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Hitachi |
| yearconstruction | 1992 (Prototype set) |
| 1995–1997 | |
| yearservice | 1992 |
| refurbishment | 2015–2018 |
| yearscrapped | 2015– |
| numberbuilt | 102 vehicles |
| numberservice | 99 vehicles () |
| numberscrapped | 3 vehicles |
| formation | 3/6 cars per trainset |
| operator | JR-West (1992–) |
| Hokuetsu Express (1997–2015) | |
| depots | Kyoto, Kanazawa |
| lines | Tokaido Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, Nanao Line, Shinetsu Main Line, Joetsu Line, Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line |
| carbody | Steel |
| maxspeed | 160 km/h (Hokuhoku Line) |
| 130 km/h (JR lines) | |
| acceleration | 1.8 km/h/s (1.2 mph/s) |
| deceleration | 5.5 km/h/s (3.4 mph/s) |
| traction | Thyristor drive + Variable frequency (GTO) |
| electricsystem | 20 kV AC 60 Hz / 1,500 V DC overhead |
| collectionmethod | WPS27C scissors-type pantograph |
| brakes | Regenerative brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, snow-resistant brake |
| safety | ATS-SW, ATS-P |
| multipleworking | 683 series |
| gauge | |
| :: |
| name = 681 series | image = JRW Series681-0 V12.jpg | imagesize = 300px | caption = A JR-West 681 series train on a Thunderbird service in April 2022 | service = | manufacturer = Niigata Transys, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Hitachi | factory = | family = | replaced = | yearconstruction = 1992 (Prototype set) 1995–1997 | yearservice = 1992 | refurbishment = 2015–2018 | yearscrapped = 2015– | numberconstruction = | numberbuilt = 102 vehicles | numberservice = 99 vehicles () | numberpreserved = | numberscrapped = 3 vehicles | formation = 3/6 cars per trainset | fleetnumbers = | capacity = | operator = JR-West (1992–) Hokuetsu Express (1997–2015) | depots = Kyoto, Kanazawa | lines = Tokaido Main Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Main Line, Nanao Line, Shinetsu Main Line, Joetsu Line, Hokuetsu Express Hokuhoku Line | carbody = Steel | carlength = | width = | height = | floorheight = | doors = | maxspeed = 160 km/h (Hokuhoku Line) 130 km/h (JR lines) | weight = | acceleration = 1.8 km/h/s (1.2 mph/s) | deceleration = 5.5 km/h/s (3.4 mph/s) | traction = Thyristor drive + Variable frequency (GTO) | aux = | powersupply = | hvac = | electricsystem = 20 kV AC 60 Hz / 1,500 V DC overhead | collectionmethod = WPS27C scissors-type pantograph | bogies = | brakes = Regenerative brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakes, snow-resistant brake | safety = ATS-SW, ATS-P | coupling = | multipleworking = 683 series | gauge =
The 681 series is a dual-voltage electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on limited express services in Japan.
Variants
681-0 series
Four six-car sets (T01–T03, T06) and five three-car sets (T11–T13, T15, T17) are used on Thunderbird services. These trains feature Thunderbird branding. Also four six-car sets (W01–W04) and four three-car sets (W11–W14) were used on Hakutaka services. These trains featured "White Wing" logos.
From February 2015, Hakutaka W sets began being repainted into the same livery as 683 series trainsets used on Shirasagi services, with thin blue and orange lines below the window band.
681-1000 series
The pre-series six-car set (T18) and one three-car set (T07) are used on Thunderbird services.
681-2000 series
Two six-car sets (N01–N02) and two three-car sets (N11–N12) were formerly used on Hokuetsu Express Hakutaka services. These trains featured "Snow Rabbit Express" logos.
File:JRW-Series681 W08.jpg|JR-West Shirasagi livery (681-0 series) File:Hokuhoku line hakutaka13 service.JPG|Hokuetsu Express livery (681-2000 series) File:JRW Series681-0 Shirasagi-12.jpg|Gangwayed cab car File:681系リニューアル車.jpg|A refurbished 681-0 series set
Interior
File:JRW series681-1000 ordinarycar-inside.JPG|681-1000 series Standard-class saloon File:681kei syanai.JPG|681-0 series odd number car Standard-class saloon File:681kei syanai 2.JPG|681-0 series even number car Standard-class saloon File:JRW series681 greencar-inside.jpg|681-0 series Green car saloon
Refurbishment
All of the 681 series trainsets used on Thunderbird limited express services underwent a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018.
References
References
- Kotsu Shimbunsha. (November 2015)
- Neko Publishing. (2006)
- Sugiyama, Junichi. (23 November 2014). "特急「はくたか」在来線最速160km/h! ほくほく線の黄金時代". Mynavi Corporation.
- Kotsu Shimbunsha. (June 2009)
- link. (10 February 2015). RM News. Neko Publishing Co., Ltd.
- link. (28 January 2015). Tetsudo Shimbun
::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::