455 series


The 455 series is a Japanese dual-voltage electric multiple unit train type introduced by Japanese National Railways on express services in 1965 and later operated by East Japan Railway Company, West Japan Railway Company, and Kyushu Railway Company.
The last sets operated by JR-West were withdrawn in 2015. However, 2 cars remain in service as the driving car of a mixed 413/455 series set.

Design

Intended for use in the Tohoku region, the basic design and appearance was identical to the 475 series dual-voltage EMUs introduced around the same time in Kyushu, and similar to the earlier 453 and 473 series EMUs. The first units built were not equipped with air-conditioning, except for the SaRo 455 "Green" cars.

Variants

These were the 455 series cars built from new between 1965 and 1971.
With the reduction in express services and gradual reassignment of 455 series sets to local services, a number of cab cars were subsequently rebuilt from intermediate cars or other EMU types from 1975 to allow shorter sets to be formed.

455-200 series

As of 1 October 2019, JR-West operates 2 KuHa 455-700 cars. These cars are included in mixed 413/455 series three-car sets based at Kanazawa Depot and used on the Nanao Line. They are formed as shown below.
DesignationMcM'Tc'
NumberingKuMoHa 413MoHa 412KuHa 455-700

As of October 1 2013, JR-West operated 16 KuHa 455 cars, included in mixed 413/455 and 475/455 series three-car sets based at Kanazawa Depot and used on the Hokuriku Main Line. They were formed as shown below.

413 series sets B04 and B11

DesignationMcM'Tc'
NumberingKuMoHa 413MoHa 412KuHa 455-700

A typical formation for a combined Bandai and Iwate service as of March 1972 is shown below.
Car No.12345678910111213
NumberingKuHa 455MoHa 454KuMoHa 455SaRo 455MoHa 454KuMoHa 455KuHa 451SaHaShi 451MoHa 450KuMoHa 451SaRo 455MoHa 454KuMoHa 455

JR East 3-car sets based at Sendai Depot and used in the Tohoku region until their withdrawal in 2008 were formed as shown below.
DesignationMcM'Tc'
NumberingKuMoHa 455MoHa 454KuHa 455

One JR East 3-car set, S40, based at Sendai Depot, was modified in 1999 with a KuRoHa 455 car at the north end including three rows of "Green" car accommodation arranged 2+2 abreast.
DesignationMcM'Tc'
NumberingKuRoHa 455-1MoHa 454-40KuMoHa 455-40

Designed for use on express services, passenger accommodation consisted of fixed 4-person seating bays.

Liveries

History

The 455 series trains were first introduced from the start of the 1 October 1965 revised timetable, operating on Iwate and Kitakami express services between in Tokyo and in the north-east of Japan, and also on Matsushima services between Ueno and.
From 1 July 1967, 455 series trains were introduced on new Bandai express services operating on the Banetsu West Line. From 1 October 1968, with the completion of AC electrification of the route between and Sendai via the Ou Main Line and Senzan Line, 455 series trains were introduced on Zaō services operating between Ueno and Yamagata.
From the late 1960s, JNR was beginning to install air-conditioning on its trains, and 455 series cars built from June 1968 were designed to allow air-conditioning to be added easily at a later date. Air-conditioning was subsequently retrofitted between 1969 and 1975.
With the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen, the number of express services in the region were cut back from the start of the 15 November 1982 timetable revision, and discontinued by March 1985. JR East 455 series sets were reassigned to local services, and withdrawn by 2008.

Preserved examples

As of 2012, three 455 series EMU cars are preserved, all at the Railway Museum in Saitama Prefecture.