| 201 series | |
| Background: | black |
| Service: | 1979 - present |
| Manufacturer: | Hitachi, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, Tokyu Car Corporation |
| Replaced: | 101 series 103 series |
| Successor: | E231 series, E233 series, 321 series, 323 series |
| Yearconstruction: | 1979 (201-900 series prototype) 1981 - 1985 |
| Yearservice: | 20 August 1979 |
| Refurbishment: | 2003–2007 (JR-West) |
| Numberbuilt: | 1,018 vehicles |
| Numberservice: | 132 vehicles |
| Numberpreserved: | 1 vehicle |
| Numberscrapped: | 885 vehicles |
| Depots: | Morinomiya Nara |
| Lines: | Yamatoji Line, Sakurai Line, Wakayama Line, Osaka Higashi Line |
| Carbody: | Steel |
| Maxspeed: | 100km/h (service) 110km/h (design speed) |
| Traction: | Thyristor chopper |
| Traction Motors: | MT60 (150kW) |
| Electricsystem: | 1,500 V DC overhead |
| Collectionmethod: | PS21 diamond-shaped pantograph |
| Brakes: | Regenerative brake, electro-pneumatic brake |
| Safety: | ATS-S, ATS-SN, ATS-SW, ATS-B, ATS-P |
The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type introduced in 1979 by Japanese National Railways (JNR). It has been operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) since 1987, and was formerly operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) from 1987 until 20 June 2011.
It was the first JNR train to use electronic chopper control.[1]
The 201 series stock has been used on a large number of lines.
A 4-car 201 series set (W1) was modified in 2001 by JR East to become the special tourist train, entering service on the Ōme Line from 4 August 2001. This train featured panorama windows and transverse seating bays on one side of the train only. It was repainted into a new livery in June 2005.[5] The train was withdrawn from regular service at the end of June 2009, with a number of special finale runs scheduled for July.[6]
On the evening of 12 October 1997, A 6-car Chuo Line 201 series trainset collided with a 12-car Super Azusa E351 series train which was passing through the Otsuki Station with a 2-minute delay at a running speed of, while on the right side which is a damaged 201 series trainset which collided at a speed of, the Super Azusa train derailed which has been led to decoupling of 4 cars (Car No. 5 to 9), while the last which had been rolled over to the ground. The accident resulted in 78 injuries but no recorded deaths. The main cause of this accident was about the shunting or decoupling of the two 201 series trainsets which was composed of 4 cars for Ome Line & 6 cars for Chuo Line Rapid, the 4-car set remained in Otsuki, while the 6-car set was leaving from the station for turnover, but unfortunately, there was a delayed Super Azusa train which was coming behind to the main line, resulting in collision.[8]
After this incident, the management of JR East decided to abolish the shunting work that is required the existing ATS to be turned off, and they completely repaired the damanged trainset to let them back from service.[9]