223 series
Japanese electric multiple unit train type
The 223 series (223系, 223-kei) is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) in the Kansai region, Chūgoku region and Shikoku region of Japan. Multiple batches of the model have been built with varying differences (particularly motor output control), although the overall general appearance remains similar.
Design of the rolling stock was an improved adaptation of the 221 series, with three pairs of doors per side per car and a transverse seating layout. Production of the train type first began in 1993.
Variants
223-0, 223-2500 series
The first model (223–0) was delivered earlier than expected, and saw introduction into service on 1 April 1994, on the Hanwa Line. On 4 September of the same year, it began serving the Kansai Airport Line Rapid Service as Kansai International Airport opened. The train was initially fitted with luggage racks, for passengers travelling to/from the airport. A 1 + 2 seating configuration has been adopted to allow passengers to place bulky luggage on the floor where necessary.
Between 1996 and 1998, baggage cars were included, but due to lack of use it was reverted. Unable to cope with the increasing passenger traffic, new cars were produced and designated as the 223–2500, based on the 223-2000 model.
The public source identifies “223 series” as japanese electric multiple unit train type. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around series, Japanese and electric.
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This entry incorporates text from “223 series” on English Wikipedia. Contributors are listed in the page history. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Selected authority identifiers and statements are retrieved from Wikidata under CC0; their references and qualifiers remain part of the verification path.