781 series

{{short description|Japanese train type}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox train | background = | name = 781 series | image = 781 Lilac Asahikawa 20061103.jpg | imagealt = | imagesize = 300px | caption = 781 series on a ''Lilac'' service, November 2006 | service = 1980–2007 | manufacturer = | factory = | family = | replaced = [[485 series|485-1000 series]] | yearconstruction = 1978–1980 | yearservice = | refurbishment = | yearscrapped = 2006–2007 | numberconstruction = | numberbuilt = 48 vehicles (12 sets) | numberservice = None | numberpreserved = 4 vehicles | numberscrapped = 44 vehicles | formation = 4/6 cars per trainset | fleetnumbers = L1–L7, L101–L104, L901 | capacity = | operator = [[JNR]] (1980–1987)<br>[[JR Hokkaido]] (1987–2007) | depots = Sapporo | lines = | carbody = Steel | trainlength = | carlength = {{convert|21250|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} (end cars)<br>{{convert|20500|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} (intermediate cars) | width = {{convert|2949|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | height = {{convert|3945|mm|ftin|0|abbr=on}} | floorheight = | platformheight = | entrylevelorstep = | doors = 2 per side | maxspeed = {{convert|120|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}} | weight = | acceleration = | deceleration = | traction = [[Thyristor drive]] | traction motors = MT54E | poweroutput = | transmission = | aux = | powersupply = | hvac = | electricsystem = 20 kV AC (50 Hz) | collectionmethod = Overhead line | bogies = DT38A (motored), T208A (trailer) | brakes = | safety = | coupling = | multipleworking = | gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}} }}

The {{Nihongo|'''781 series'''|781系}} was an [[Alternating current|AC]] [[electric multiple unit]] (EMU) train type formerly operated by [[Japanese National Railways]] (JNR) and later [[Hokkaido Railway Company]] (JR Hokkaido) on limited express services in [[Hokkaido]], Japan, between 1980 and 2007.<ref name="neko2005">{{cite book | title = JR全車輌ハンドブック2005 |trans-title= JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2005| publisher = Neko Publishing | date = August 2005 | location = Japan | isbn = 978-4-7770-0382-2}}</ref>

==Operations== [[File:781 white arrow.jpg|thumb|781 series 4-car set in JNR livery on a ''White Arrow'' service, 1990]] * ''[[Ishikari (train)|Ishikari]]'' (1980) * ''[[Lilac (train)|Lilac]]'' (1 October 1980 – 30 September 2007) * ''[[White Arrow (train)|White Arrow]]'' (3 March 1986 – August 1990) * ''[[Suzuran]]'' (1 July 1992 – 30 September 2007) * ''Airport'' Rapid (1992 – 15 March 2002)

==Formations==

===4-car sets (1986–2007)=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Car No. ! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 |- ! Designation | TAc' || M || TA || Mc |- ! Numbering | KuHa 780 || MoHa 781 || SaHa 780 || KuMoHa 781 |- ! Weight (t) | 45.2-45.4 || 46.2 || 43.1 || 48.5-48.8 |- ! Capacity | 60–64 || 68 || 64 || 56 |}

Cars 1 and 3 were each fitted with one N-PS785 single-arm pantograph (from 2004 onward).<ref name="jrr2007">{{cite book |title = JR電車編成表 '07冬号 |trans-title= JR EMU Formations – Winter 2007| publisher = JRR | date = December 2006 | location = Japan | isbn = 978-4-88283-046-7}}</ref>

===6-car sets (1980–1986)=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Car No. ! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 |- ! Designation | TAc' || M || TA || M || TA || Mc |- ! Numbering | KuHa 780 || MoHa 781 || SaHa 780 || MoHa 781 || SaHa 780 || KuMoHa 781 |}

Cars 1, 3, and 5 were each fitted with one PS102B scissors-type pantograph.<ref name="neko2005"/>

===6-car ''Doraemon Undersea Train'' set L7 (2003–2006)=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Car No. ! 1 !! 2 !! 3 !! 4 !! 5 !! 6 |- ! Designation | TAc' || M || TA || M || TA || Mc |- ! Numbering | KuHa 780 || MoHa 781 || SaHa 780 || MoHa 781 || SaHa 780 || KuMoHa 781 |- ! Colour | Blue || Light green || Yellow || Vermillion || Pink || Red |}

Cars 1, 3, and 5 were each fitted with one N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.<ref name="jrr2007"/>

==Interior== The 781 series trainsets did not include Green class (first class) accommodation, but from March to June 2001, improved "u-Seat" seating was added to half of car 4 for reserved seat passengers. All other cars were normally designated as non-reserved seating.<ref name="neko2005"/>

==History== [[File:781 Lilac.jpg|thumb|JNR 781 series 6-car set on a ''Lilac'' service, 1986]] [[File:781 Suzuran Sapporo 20010627.jpg|thumb|Reliveried 781 series on a ''Suzuran'' service, June 2001]] The 781 series electric multiple unit was designed specifically for limited express services on electrified lines in the [[Sapporo]] area of Hokkaido, to replace the [[485 series|485-1500 series]] EMUs first introduced on ''[[Ishikari (train)|Ishikari]]'' services in 1975, but which proved unreliable in the harsh winter conditions of Hokkaido.<ref name="prototype2005">{{cite book | title =プロトタイプの世界 – Prototype World | publisher = Kōtsū Shimbunsha | date = December 2005 | location = Japan | page = 111 | oclc=170056962}}</ref>

A pre-production 6-car set, classified 781–900 series, was delivered in November 1978. The body was based on the JNR 485 series design, with a more rounded profile to prevent snow adhering, and the electrical systems were based on the earlier [[711 series]] suburban EMU.<ref name="prototype2005"/>

Seven full-production 6-car sets were delivered from 1980, with minor improvements including the abolishment of two opening windows on each side. The pre-production set was modified to bring it in line with full production standards in October 1981.<ref name="neko2005"/><ref name="prototype2005"/>

The eight 6-car sets were reformed into twelve 4-car sets to cope with increased service frequency from the November 1986 timetable revision. This entailed converting eight MoHa 781 and SaHa 780 cars into KuMoHa 781-100 and KuHa 780-100 cars respectively by adding new cab ends.<ref name="neko2005"/>

A second side door was added to the KuHa 780 and SaHa 780 cars between 1991 and 1993 to reduce station dwell times.<ref name="neko2005"/> The MoHa 781 cars of sets L1 to L7 only were similarly treated in 1993.<ref name="jrr2007"/>

Trains were repainted from the original JNR livery into a new livery based on that of the ''[[Super Tokachi]]'' between February 1992 and March 1993.<ref name="jrr2007"/>

Improved "u-Seat" reserved seating accommodation (rows 1 to 7) was added to half of car 4 between March and June 2001.<ref name="jrr2007"/>

In 2003, sets L7 and L104 were reallocated to Hakodate depot and reformed to become 6-car set L7 for use on special ''Doraemon Undersea Train'' services between {{STN|Hakodate|x}} and {{STN|Yoshioka-Kaitei|x}} inside the undersea [[Seikan Tunnel]] from 19 July 2003. Each car was painted a different colour and decorated with ''[[Doraemon]]'' characters. This operated until August 2006.<ref name="jrr2007"/> The set was subsequently scrapped together with the two stored cars from former set L104.

The remainder of the fleet was withdrawn in September 2007.

==Preserved examples== A complete 4-car set, consisting of cars KuHa 780–2, SaHa 780–4, MoHa 780–4, and KuMoHa 781–2, were preserved, minus the bogies, at Kikyo Kindergarten in [[Hakodate, Hokkaido]].<ref name="sasada2012">{{cite book |title = 国鉄&JR保存車大全 |trans-title= JNR & JR Preserved Rolling Stock Complete Guide| last = Sasada| first = Masahiro| publisher = Ikaros Publications Ltd.| date = September 2012 | location = Tokyo, Japan|language=ja| page = 128| isbn = 978-4863206175}}</ref> They were removed and scheduled to be scrapped in 2025 following the reconstruction of the kindergarten. A crowd-funding campaign raised 20 million yen to restore and preserve KuMoHa 781-2 on new bogies from withdrawn [[415 series]] trains at Poppo no Oka in [[Chiba Prefecture]]. As of March 2026, the car is ready for the relocation. KuHa 780-2's cab structure is now privately owned. <ref>{{cite web |title=解体阻止！甦れ、国鉄781系ライラック号！咲き誇れ奇跡の花 |url=https://readyfor.jp/projects/series_save781 |website=ReadyFor}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}} {{commons category}}

[[Category:Electric multiple units of Japan]] [[Category:Hokkaido Railway Company]] [[Category:Train-related introductions in 1978]] [[Category:20 kV AC multiple units]] [[Category:Kawasaki multiple units]] [[Category:Hitachi multiple units]] [[Category:Raised cab multiple units]] [[Category:1978 establishments in Japan]]