Japan National Railways (JNR) which developed
211 series were developing the new suburban train adopting 1M system in order to
make short formations for provincial city area. Then 213 series were built
and delivered in order to used on the rapid services of the Seto-Ohhashi
line. 213 series are equipped with two doors on each side of the body,
and switchable cross seating. So, their bodies are similar to those of
117-100
series, but they are made with stainless steel. 213 series don't adopt
M-M' unit system but 1M system for provincial transportation. Since 213 series
adopts traction motors, MT64, the voltage of which is 750V, traction control
system adopts traction motor connection switching control, field added excitation
control, and so on. So 213 series have same performance as 211 series, and
213 series can be coupled with 211 series. Moreover and 3-car unit consisted
of 1 motored car and 2 trailer cars becomes possible.
213 series adopt the lightweight stainless steel body, and loudspeakers,
which a train conductor uses in order to guide passengers waiting at a station,
are fitted on each side of the body. The windscreen was enlarged in order
to expand the view from the passenger room. 213 series adopt same bolster-less
bogies as 211 series.
Later JR-West built panoramic 1st class cars. Their seats are able to face
side windows to make easy to see beautiful seascape when the train is taking
across Seto-Ohashi Bridge.
Although 213 series had been used on rapid services of the Seto-Ohashi line from 1988, 213 series were replaced with 223-5000 series/5000 series in 2003. Although the formations of 213 series were 3 cars, the formations were reduced to 2 cars in order to use in Okayama region. Since there are not enough end cars, some 2-car formations were formed by fitting the cab sections onto non-powered intermediate cars. Now 213 series are used on the Ako line and Hakubi line. |
|
