JNR KiHa 35 series

Data (as of 12 Oct 2024)

History

The KiHa 35 series is one of few commuter DMU type developed by Japanese National Railways. It is based on KiHa 20 series, but the KiHa 35 series have three sets of doors per carriage with longitudinal seating. There were initially three types in total: KiHa 30 (double-ended with no toilet), KiHa 35 (single-ended with a toilet) and KiHa 36 (single-ended without a toilet).

The series was initially introduced to stopping services on Kansai Main Line (Osaka and Nara), where passenger number was soaring. They were later introduced to Niigata, Greater Tokyo (such as Hachiko, Kawagoe and Sagami Lines) and Fukuoka areas, to deal with increase in demand. However, as most commuter lines were electrified, the KiHa 35s sharply declined by the 1980s. Ironically, the features specifically for transporting commuters were useless on rural lines, and the KiHa 35 series had "good ventilation" (i.e. cold in winter) due to the unique shape of doors. When JNR was privatised in 1987, only 156 of 413 carriages were in service.

JR East, Central, West, Shikoku and Kyushu succeeded small numbers of the KiHa 35s, but most of them were scrapped by the early-1990s. JR East retained three carriages until 2013 and used on Kururi Line.

Some small private railways purchased disused KiHa 35s. Kanto Railway introduced 39 carriages in 1987-92, and used on Joso Line until 2011. Two of them were preserved, but shifted to static display in 2017. Aizu Railway used one in 1999-2009. A few were also exported to The Philippines.

Current Situation & Future Prospects

Mizushima Rinkai Railway has been using one during peak hours on weekdays, but it runs only from November to March as it has no air-conditioning. Due to its poor condition, it is very rare to see it being in service. Isumi Railway has one as well and planned to preserve, but it has been left unregistered because of lack of funding.