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JR West 683 Series / JR西日本683系

The 683 Series (683系) is a limited express type EMU operated by JR West.

Developed as an improved model based on the 681 series, the 683 series was produced from 2001-2011. JNR's 485 series have been used in the Hokuriku region since the 1960s, and despite several rounds of renewal and modernization works, equipment deterioration became a serious problem for reliable operations. Therefore, 270 cars of the 683 series was produced to root out JNR era rolling stock. Like the 681 series, there are two types of leading cars, although the walk-through type became far more common. The 0 series produced for Thunderbird is arranged as a 9 car consist (6+3), while the 2000 series for Shirasagi is a 8 car consist (5+3). From the 2008 the 4000 series was produced as fixed 9 car sets, this group also has walk-through type front cars on both sides. The 8000 series was made up of a single 9 car formation (6+3) owned by Hokuetsu Express and used for Hakutaka, it was the only set to operate at 160km/h, although other variants were also capable of 160km/h from a technical perspective. As the Hokuriku Shinkansen opened in stages the most 2000 series sets were transferred to operations south of Osaka and converted to the 289 series, although 2 formations remain. The 8000 series was sold to JR West after Hakutaka ended in 2015. As both Shirasagi and Thunderbird only operate to Tsuruga after the 2024 timetable revision, the 683 series have been placed on a range of limited express services in northern Kyoto Prefecture and the Chūgoku region. There are currently 189 cars in service, not including those converted to the 289 series.

Basic Information:

Max Speed: 160km/h
Acceleration: 0.5m/s/s
Motor Output: 245kW x 4 per car
In Service: 2001-

The following formations are included:

683-0 Series (6 Car)

Configuration: 2M4T
Max Pax: 354

683-0 Series additional consist (3 Car)

Configuration: 1M2T
Max Pax: 182
-cannot be operated independently

683-4000 Series (9 Car)

Configuration: 3M6T
Max Pax: 546

-can be coupled in 6+3, 9+3, 9+3+3, and 9+9 formations