381 series

History

The 381 series EMU was developed from the experimental 591 series 3-car articulated tilting EMU tested from 1970.

Trainsets entered revenue service from 10 July 1973 on the Shinano limited express between Nagoya and Nagano.

JR-West 381 series trains were removed from Kuroshio, Kounotori, Kinosaki, and Hashidate limited express services in October 2015, with the last services operating on 30 October.

As the new 273 series sets began service from 6 April 2024, it was announced by JR West in December 2023 that the remaining 381 series sets were scheduled to be retired from June 2024. The next sets to be retired were those repainted in various historic liveries; the sets sporting the Yuttari Yakumo livery were scheduled for retirement at a later date. The last regularly scheduled Yakumo run by this series took place on 15 June 2024 thus marking the end of regular service of the 381 series as a whole.

Operations

JR Central

• Shinano (1973–May 2008)

JR West

• Kuroshio (from October 1978 until 30 October 2015)
• Yakumo (from July 1982 until 15 June 2024)
• Kounotori (until 31 May 2011, from 1 June 2012 until 30 October 2015)
• Kinosaki (from 1 June 2012 until 30 October 2015)
• Hashidate (from 16 March 2013 until 30 October 2015)
• Hanwa Liner rapid service (until March 2011)
• Yamatoji Liner rapid service (until March 2011)

Livery variations

File:CentralJapanRailwayCompanyType381-1.jpg|JNR Livery (JR Central Shinano set), July 2006 File:Series381-501 Kuroshio.jpg|JR-West Kuroshio refurbished set File:JR West kuro380 super kuroshio kyoto.jpg|381 series Super Kuroshio set, 1992 File:Super-kuroshio3.jpg|381 series Super Kuroshio KuRo 380 refurbished car File:JRW 381 kantuu.jpg|JR-West Yakumo set, July 2007 File:JRW yakumo 381 super yakumo color.jpg|JR-West set in Super Yakumo livery, September 2007 File:Series381 Yakumo-17.jpg|JR-West set in Yuttari Yakumo livery, July 2023

Preserved examples

• KuHa 381-1: (built 1973 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya.
• KuRo 381-11: (built 1974 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) formerly at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, Nagoya, removed in June 2019.
• KuRo 381-1104: (built 1978 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries) Suita Depot, Osaka.

File:Kuha381-1.jpg|Preserved KuHa 381-1 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, April 2011 File:Kuro 381 Electric Railcar.JPG|KuRo 381 at the SCMaglev and Railway Park, March 2016 File:クロ381-1104.jpg|KuRo 381-1104 in May 2019

Notes

References

References

1. (2009). "Jēāru zensharyō handobukku: Rail Magazine 2009". Neko Publishing.
2. (December 2005). "プロトタイプの世界 – Prototype World". Kōtsū Shimbunsha.
3. (16 December 2023). "381系「リバイバル塗装車両」6月までに運転を終了".
4. (15 December 2023). "381 系特急やくも「リバイバル塗装車両」の今後の運行計画について".
5. (15 June 2024). "「国鉄特急型電車」定期運用は終焉へ 381系約50年の生涯を振り返る!". Neko Publishing.
6. link. (29 October 2015). Yomiuri Online. The Yomiuri Shimbun
7. (28 April 2011). "新型車両（287 系）追加投入の詳細". West Japan Railway Company.
8. (August 2012). "JR西日本 381系福知山車ＦＥ編成が営業運転開始". Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine.
9. link. (31 October 2015). Japan Railfan Magazine Online. Koyusha Co., Ltd.
10. (April 2011). "「リニア・鉄道館」ファーストガイド". Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine.
11. link. (17 May 2019). News release. Central Japan Railway Company