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JR West 281 Series / JR西日本281系

The 281 Series (281系) is an EMU operated by JR West on Kansai Airport Express Haruka.

Entering service in 1994, the 281 series is specially built for Limited Express Haruka, which links Kyoto/Osaka with Kansai Airport. Operations of the type started on Semptember 4th, the same day as the airport's opening. The 281 series's body is made from ordinary steel, with the lead car having a S shaped front, and has a through door installed for emergency situations. The JR logo is painted on the roof of the vehicles, an rather uncommon practice. The interior of the vehicle has green car seats in with 3 abreast, and regular seats of 4 abreast. To reduce turnaround types, the direction of the seats can be flipped all at once from the drivers cab. Formations of the type are 6 car basic consists and 3 car additional consists, with a total of 63 cars manufactured. The basic consists were produced as 5 car sets, with an additional trailer car produced later as the service had good occupancy rates. Haruka is operated with 9 cars during mornings and evenings, and 6 cars otherwise. JR West had planned to replace the 281 series with the new 271 series, which entered service shortly before the COVID pandemic in 2020. The sharp drop in demand since led to the production of the new type being suspended, and the planned withdrawal of the 281 series in 2024 was delayed to an undetermined date. Some sets were stored and listed as inactive during the pandemic years, since mid-2023 all cars have returned to active service.

Basic Information:

Max Speed: 130km/h
Acceleration: 0.5m/s/s
Motor Output: 180kW x 4 per car
In Service: 1994-

The following formations are included:

3 Car

Configuration: 1M2T
Max Pax: 136

6 Car

Configuration: 2M4T
Max Pax: 260

-can be operated as 6+3, 6+6, 6+6+3, or 6+6+6.