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JR Kyushu 783 Series / JR九州783系

The 783 Series is a limited express type EMU operated by JR Kyushu since 1988.

The plans for this type was drawn up by JNR just prior to their dissolution, with development continued by JR Kyushu afterwards. The 783 series was thus introduced to improve the quality of intercity services in Kyushu, where competition from highway busses was steadily rising. Although the existing 485 was only around 20 years old, their level of service and comfort was deemed to be quite poor, and were restricted to a top speed of 120km/h. The type incorporated new features such as yaw dampers to improve ride quality, and the air spring type bogies first used for the 205 series. For the interior, each car is split into 2 passenger cabins via a dividing door. It was considered that this layout would be beneficial for trips operated with short formations. The total number of cars produced is 90, arranged flexibly up to 9 cars per set in the era before the Kyushu Shinkansen. The 783 series fleet was extensively remodelled over it's long service history. One of the passenger cabins on the leading green car was converted to ordinary seats, and several middle cars were converted to through-type end cars, which did not exist at production. These changes allowed all formations to be re-arranged in sets of 4 as they were reassigned to secondary routes. 783 series formations saw service across the island, but are now are mostly restricted to limited express trains on the Nagasaki Main Line and Sasebo Line, Including Midori and Huis Ten Bosch. As the oldest limited express trains in JR Kyushu's fleet, they are expected to be retired first, although with no official dates announced. Around half the fleet was taken out of service after the Nishi-Kyushu Shinkansen opened in 2022, which replaced a number of limited express runs. 44 cars remain in service per the latest data.

Basic Information:

Max Speed: 130km/h
Acceleration: 0.61m/s/s
Motor Output: 150kW x 4 per car
In Service: 1988-

The following formations are included:

783 Series (4 Car)

Configuration: 2M2T
Max Pax: 232
-can be coupled up to 3 sets

783 Series (5 Car)

Configuration: 3M2T
Max Pax: 288

783 Series (6 Car)

Configuration: 3M3T
Max Pax: 356