323 series


The 323 series is a DC electric multiple unit train type operated by West Japan Railway Company on the Osaka Loop Line in Osaka, Japan, since December 2016. The trains are replacing ageing 103 series and 201 series trains.

Design

The eight-car trains have stainless steel bodies, and the exterior livery features orange highlights. Each car has three pairs of sliding doors per side, unlike the four pairs per side on 103 and 201 series trains.

Formation

The trains are formed of eight cars formed as follows, with all cars motored.
Car No.12345678
DesignationM'cMM'M'M5M'M'Mc
NumberingKuMoHa 322-xxMoHa 323-xxMoHa 322-xxMoHa 322-xxMoHa 323-5xxMoHa 322-xxMoHa 322-xxKuMoHa 323-xx
Weight 36.137.039.139.136.339.139.139.7
Capacity 139/43153/49153/49153/49153/49153/49153/49140/35

Car 2 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, and cars 5 and 8 each have one.
Car 4 is designated as a women-only car.

Interior

Passenger accommodation feature longitudinal bench seating throughout, with priority seating at one end of each car, and a wheelchair/stroller space at the opposite end. The passenger saloons use LED lighting, with the lighting in car 4 adjusted to have a more orange "tungsten lighting" tinge to distinguish it from other cars. On car 8, the seats closest to the doors are removed to improve passenger circulation. Passenger information announcements are provided in two languages, and information screens are in four languages, with pairs of screens over each door, and pairs at either end of the cars. WiFi service is also provided.

Entry into service

A total of 21 eight-car sets were scheduled to be introduced between fiscal 2016 and 2019, entirely replacing the fleet of 23 103 and 201 series trains. The first trains will enter revenue service on 24 December 2016.

History

Details of the new trains on order were first announced by JR West in December 2014. The first trainset, LS01, was unveiled to the press at the Kinki Sharyo factory in Osaka on 24 June 2016, and delivered to JR West on 30 June.
The trains entered revenue service on 24 December 2016.

Build details

The build details for the fleet are as follows.
Set No.ManufacturerDate delivered
LS01Kinki Sharyo3 July 2016
LS02Kinki Sharyo25 October 2016
LS03Kinki Sharyo8 November 2016
LS04Kinki Sharyo22 November 2016
LS05Kinki Sharyo6 December 2016
LS06Kinki Sharyo22 December 2016
LS07Kinki Sharyo12 January 2017
LS08Kawasaki Heavy Industries18 May 2017
LS09Kinki Sharyo24 August 2017
LS10Kinki Sharyo7 September 2017
LS11Kinki Sharyo12 October 2017
LS12Kinki Sharyo9 November 2017
LS13Kawasaki Heavy Industries8 August 2018
LS14Kawasaki Heavy Industries19 September 2018
LS15Kawasaki Heavy Industries31 October 2018
LS16Kinki Sharyo22 January 2019
LS17Kinki Sharyo1 February 2019
LS18Kawasaki Heavy Industries4 March 2019
LS19Kinki Sharyo27 February 2019
LS20Kinki Sharyo15 March 2019
LS21Kinki Sharyo27 March 2019
LS22Kinki Sharyo29 August 2018