Some former JR East sets were also sold for second hand use in Indonesia, where they operated on the KRL Jabodetabek system in Jakarta between 2004 and 2016.
Operations
JR East
Last remaining 103 series set on the Senseki Line, in January 2007
JR East has previously operated a large number of 103 series sets on the following lines.
Chūō Line (Rapid) (1973–1983; and then also used on the Diamond anniversary (75th anniversary) celebration of Mitaka Station in June 2005)
A JR-West refurbished set in USJ promotional livery in December 2005
JR-West continues to operate a large number of 103 series sets, many of which have received extensive life-extension refurbishment.[4]
JR-West currently operates 103 series sets on the following lines. They were also used on the Osaka Loop Line until October 2017. As of 2019, there are 63 cars still in service.
In 2015, six 6-car 305 series sets entered service and the 6-car 103 series sets were converted to 3-car sets and restricted to operating on Chikuhi Line services between Chikuzen-Maebaru and Nishi-Karatsu.[7]
As of 2018, there are six 3-car trainsets still remaining in service.
The 103–0 series trains were built between 1963 and 1981. Built for JNR as an "upgraded" version of the 101 series, the 103 series has been widely used around Japan and has been manufactured in a multitude of different body styles and configurations.
Based on the earlier 101 series, the 103 series has been used on various commuter services since 1963. In fact, some 103 series cars were actually converted from 101 series cars. The 103 series was the main rolling stock used on urban commuter services for a time.
Some sets have been used for at least 50 years, and their age is starting to show; as such, their use on various lines is diminishing and they are being replaced by newer trains. For instance, the 103 series are being replaced by the newer 323 series on the Osaka Loop Line where they famously operate.
The sets have been manufactured in a multitude of different body styles, with additional body styles being created over the years. Older sets had body styles similar to the one used on the 101 series.
Prototype
This 8-car unit was built in 1963 without air-conditioning. The cars were withdrawn from service between 1988 and 1991.
Moha 103: 901-902
Moha 102: 901-902
Kuha 103: 901-904
Standard series
These were built between 1964 and 1970. While not originally fitted with air-conditioning, most of the cars were fitted with air conditioning from 1975. The bogies of the trailer cars were changed from TR201 to TR212 for the cars built from 1968. Cars fitted with TR212 bogies feature disc brakes, because they needed to run on higher speeds on the Jōban and Hanwa Lines.
This single 10-car unit was built in 1970. It was equipped with various air conditioning units and tested on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo. It was subsequently modified to become a standard air-conditioned set in 1978. In 2000, four cars were scrapped at the Narashino Depot; the remaining six cars were scrapped at Keiyō Rolling Stock Center in 2005.
MoHa 103: 279-281
MoHa 102: 434-436
KuHa 103: 178-179
SaHa 103: 306-307
Sets without air-conditioning
Built during 1972 and 1973, these units were similar to the air-conditioned prototype but without air-conditioning. This type was used mainly in Osaka area. Most cars were fitted with air-conditioning from 1976.
MoHa 103: 282-330 & 364-374
MoHa 102: 437-486 & 520-530
KuHa 103: 180-212
SaHa 103: 308-323
Air-conditioned sets
Built in 1973, they were similar to the air-conditioned prototype. They were fitted with motorized destination blinds on both sides.
MoHa 103: 331-413 (excluding 364–374)
MoHa 102: 487-569 (excluding 520–530)
KuHa 103: 213-268
SaHa 103: 324-359
ATC equipped sets
Built between 1974 and 1980. The front end design was changed with the driver's cab raised so that an ATC signalling system could be included. Kuha 103 of this version was used in the Tokyo area only.
Built between 1979 and 1984. The front end design was the same as the ATC-equipped sets, although this type was not fitted with ATC. Kuha 103-811 & 816 were converted to include ATC in 1984.
JR East MoHa 103-734 car in brown livery, August 1999
Jōban Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, April 2005
Musashino Line air-conditioned 103–0 series showing different driver's cab heights, August 2003
Tsurumi Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, June 2004
Osaka Loop Line air-conditioned KuHa 103-802 car, September 2017
JR Central 103–0 series air-conditioned KuMoHa 103-18 car, April 2007
JR-West Hanwa Line 103–0 series air-conditioned car, July 2017
JR West 103 series on Nara Line local service, December 2017
JR West 103 series train Wadamisaki Line local service,July 2017
JR-West San'yō Main Line air-conditioned 103–0 series set H19, May 2009
KuHa 103-525 test car owned by Toshiba, March 2010
JR-West Sakurajima Line raised driver's cab KuHa 103-823 car, March 2012
Converted from 101 series
Some 101 series trailer cars were converted to the 103–0 series. The cars' bodies and bogies were 101 series originals as the conversions involved minimum modification. The last of these cars were withdrawn from service in 1999.
An insulated gate bipolar transistor traction system and direct-drive motors both manufactured by Toshiba were experimentally tested on car MoHa 103-502 (car #4) on ten-car set KeYo304 based on the Keiyō Line from May 2002; the car was originally manufactured in December 1975 by Nippon Sharyo. The direct-drive motors and IGBT inverters appear to be of the same specification as used on the experimental E993 series set due to similar cadences.
The use of direct-drive motors in the car gave the set a unique sound, with both the roar of the old-fashioned resistor-controlled traction motors and the more modern, high-pitched cadence of the variable frequency drive in car MoHa 103–502; MoHa 103-502's use of direct-drive motors gave the car itself a unique sound, as once the set reached a certain speed, the traction motors made no discernible noise.
The set entered service with the direct-drive motored car on 15 May 2003, but was retired and scrapped in December 2003 after just 7 months of service with this experimental car. Car MoHa 103-502 remains the last 103 series car to have been fitted with a variable frequency drive. No JR train since (other than the E993 and E331 series sets) has used direct-drive motors in combination with IGBT inverters.[10][unreliable source?]
103-1000 series
103-1000 series
JR East 103-1000 series in emerald-green Jōban Line livery, April 2003
160 103–1000 series cars (formed 16 10-car sets) were built in 1970 and 1971 for use on Jōban Line-Chiyoda Line inter-running services, which commenced in 1971. Originally painted in grey with a sea green stripe, they were subsequently displaced by new 203 series trains. Some sets were later converted to become 105 series sets, and the rest of the fleet was reallocated to Jōban Line services from Ueno.[11] In 1989, one Joban Line set was reallocated to the Chūō-Sōbu Line-Tōzai Line inter-running services. This set was repainted in grey with light-blue stripe, which was the same livery as the 103–1200 series. The last set was retired in March 2004.
Original JNR livery, 1985
Joban Line Rapid Service 103–1000 series Set MaTo 11, June 1989
Similar to the 103–1000 series, these were 7-car sets built by Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Car Corporation for use on Chūō-Sōbu Line-Tōzai Line inter-running services alongside the aluminium-bodied 301 series. Five sets (35 cars) were built between 1970 and 1978. They were initially painted in grey with a yellow stripe, but this was changed to a light blue stripe from 1989 to avoid confusion with the similarly coloured 205 series trains introduced on Chūō-Sōbu Line services.[11] The last set was retired in July 2003.
A JR East 301 series (left) and 103–1200 series (right) EMU formation at Funabashi Station, August 2002
103-1500 series
103-1500 series
Chikuhi Line 103-1500 series train running along the Nijino Matsubara pine trees, December 2019
Nine 103–1500 series 6-car sets were built between 1982 and 1983 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi for use on inter-running services between the Chikuhi Line and the Fukuoka City SubwayKūkō Line in Kyushu. In 1989, four sets were reformed as eight 3-car sets (numbered E11 to E18) by rebuilding MoHa 103 and MoHa 102 cars as KuMoHa 103 and KuMoHa 102 cars respectively. They were initially painted in light blue with a white stripe, but were repainted into a grey and red livery from 1995. The 3-car sets were modified for driver-only operation between December 1999 and March 2001.[12] Toilets were added to one end car of each set between June 2003 and October 2004.[13]
103-1500 series in original livery, February 1983
JR Kyushu 103–1500 series in revised livery, April 2006
Five three-car 103–3000 series sets (numbered 51 to 55) were formed in 1985 from former 72–970 series EMU cars for use on the Kawagoe Line following electrification in September 1985. Five MoHa 72970 cars were also converted to SaHa 103-3000 cars to augment Ome Line trains. These cars were fitted with passenger-operated door controls. The five Kawagoe Line sets were lengthened to four cars between October 1995 and March 1996 ahead of Hachiko Line electrification in March 1996.[11][14] The last set was withdrawn in October 2005.
Kawagoe Line 103–3000 series set 53 as a three-car set in May 1993
One 4-car 103–3500 series set was formed in December 1995 from surplus 103–0 series cars to augment the fleet ahead of Hachikō Line electrification in March 1996. As with the 103–3000 series sets, passenger-operated door controls were fitted. The motor/trailer car configuration differed from that of the 103–3000 series sets.[11][14] The single set was withdrawn in March 2005.
Nine 2-car 103–3500 series refurbished sets (H1 to H9) were formed between September 1997 and March 1998 ahead of Bantan Line electrification in March 1998. Toilets were added between 2005 and 2006.[12][4]
Formation
KuMoHa 102-3500 (with toilet)
KuMoHa 103-3500 (with pantograph)
103-3550 series
103-3550 series
JR-West refurbished Kakogawa Line 2-car 103-3550 series set, January 2008
Eight 2-car 103–3550 series refurbished sets (M1 to M8) were formed between January and October 2004 ahead of Kakogawa Line electrification in March 2005. These sets feature cab gangway connections and toilets.[12][4]
Formation
KuMoHa 102-3550 (with toilet)
KuMoHa 103-3550 (with pantograph)
Kakogawa Line 2-car 103–3550 series set M1 with Train with eyes livery by Tadanori Yokoo, October 2005
Kakogawa Line 2-car 103–3550 series set M2 with Travel in a galaxy livery by Tadanori Yokoo, February 2006
Kakogawa Line 2-car 103–3550 series set M8 with Run! Three-way junction livery side view by Tadanori Yokoo, August 2007
One internal crew training set, formed as KuMoHa 103-100 + MoHa 102–224, was used for internal crew training at the JR East Crew Training Center at Higashi-Omiya Depot. The set had different cab end designs, as MoHa 102-224 used the cab of former ATC equipped KuHa 103–332, sets. It was withdrawn in 2009 following the delivery of a new 209 series-based training set in 2008.
^"103系NS407編成・NS409編成が吹田へ" [103 series sets NS407 and NS409 go to Suita]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^ ab"和田岬線の103系R1編成が引退 - 鉄道ファン" [Wadamisaki line 103 series set R1 retired]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 18 March 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
^ ab JR電車編成表 '02夏号 [JR EMU Formations - Summer 2002]. Japan: JRR. June 2002. ISBN978-4-88283-037-5.
^ 京都鉄道博物館 [Kyoto Railway Museum]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 662. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2016. pp. 52–53.
^ 3/23,東芝府中工場の103系とクモニ83が工場外に [23 March: Toshiba Fuchu Factory 103 series and KuMoNi 83 moved outside]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 52 (615): 178. July 2012.
^ abcdSasada, Masahiro (25 November 2014). 国鉄&jr 保存車大全 2015-2016 国鉄&JR保存車大全2015-2016 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide 2015-2016] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. p. 123. ISBN978-4863209282.
^Sasada, Masahiro (September 2012). 国鉄&jr保存車大全: 日本全国全カテゴリー1312両 国鉄&JR保存車大全 [JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. p. 127. ISBN978-4863206175.
Further reading
Moro, Nobuaki (30 June 2012). 103系物語: 戦後日本の高度成長を支えた通勤電車 103系物語 [The 103 series story]. Japan: JTB Can Books. ISBN978-4533086991.
