JNR 115 series

Data (as of 23 May 2026)

*Including six carriages converted from 113 series and 28 carriages converted from 117 series.

History

The 115 series was designed by Japanese National Railways as a standard suburban train type for railways with steep gradients, most of which are in cold regions. It is based on 111 and 113 series, but the 115 series has new features to deal with such harsh conditions, including enhanced braking system, more powerful motors and semi-automatic doors. Furthermore, the 115 series can be formed of fewer coaches than the 111 and 113s easily (such as three coaches), as less passengers than urban areas use the trains in rural areas. No Green Car (first class coach) was provided for the 115 series.

The 115 series trains were used on various lines from Niigata to Yamaguchi Prefectures including Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka. In the Greater Tokyo Area, they were once the most common type on the Chuo Main Line (from Tachikawa to the east), the Tohoku Main Line (also known as the Utsunomiya Line) and the Takasaki Line. They were also used in Shizuoka and Yamanashi Prefectures including the Gotemba and Minobu Lines. In the west, the 115 series had been very common in Okayama, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures.

When JNR was privatised in 1987, JR East, Central and West succeeded the series. Unlike the 113 series and other commuter trains introduced by JNR, the 115 series remained as a key player on mainline services until the 2010s. It is also worth noting that JR West converted and raised maximum speed of some 115 series trainsets and used in Osaka and surrounding cities until the early-2000s.

Some units were later transferred to private railways, such as Shinano Railway and Izukyu.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The 115 series trains are currently operational only on the JR West and Shinano Railway networks. Those on the JR Central and Izukyu networks have been withdrawn by 2008, while others used by JR East retired by 2022.

JR West uses them in Okayama and Yamaguchi areas, mostly on the San-yo Main Line as well as the Ako, Hakubi and Uno Lines. There are also limited services on the Fukuen and San-in Lines. The company has been replacing them with 227 series, and the number of the 115 series is dramatically declining. There are still quite a few units in Yamaguchi, but the 227 series will be introduced there as well from 2026.

Shinano Railway uses them on the entire lines, though gradually decreasing as brand new trains are introduced. The company plans to withdraw all 115 series trains by March 2029.

Photos

So-called "Yokosuka Livery", which was common on the Chuo Main Line.

Those in Nagano area were also common in the west of Tokyo.

The 115 series on Shinano Railway, Nagano Prefecture.

Those in Niigata Prefecture were painted in various ways. This one was once dominant in the area.

A refurbished unit in Niigata area.

JNR adopted "regional liveries" in the 1980s. This one was common in Hiroshima area.

JR West painted the 115 series in various ways as well, but sadly it started painting them yellow or green in 2009 to reduce costs.

Some 115 series trains have ugly front end as JR West converted intermediate carriages, to make trains for rural lines shorter.