JR Central 313 series

Data (as of 12 Jan 2024)

History

The 313 series is a type of suburban train, designed to be able to run all electrified lines on JR Central network. Its design is based on 373 series. It replaced various trains introduced by Japanese National Railways: 113 series, 115 series, 117 series, 119 series, 123 series and 165 series. There are various groups of the 313 series, from de facto commuter trains with longitudinal seating to more comfortable transverse seating for Liner services, but all carriages have three sets of doors. Each unit is formed of two, three, four or six coaches, and they can form up to ten coaches.

There are many variants, from those designed to ease congestion in Nagoya area to those for rural lines and used without a conductor. The most distinctive one must be the variant 8000, which had been used on Central Liner (Nagoya - Nakatsugawa). Since the services required additional fares to secure a seat, their transverse seating was better than that of other variants. The variant 8000 had been used for stopping services on Chuo Main Line as well, but they were reallocated to Shizuoka area in 2022.

JR Central also owns KiHa 25 series diesel trains, which look identical to the 313 series.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The 313 series are widely used on the entire JR Central network except non-electrified lines. It is not exaggerating to say that it is impossible to spend a day in Nagoya or Shizuoka area without looking them. The 313 series often form six coaches with 211 series.

Photos

The 313 series is also dominant in Shizuoka area.

An ex-Liner unit looks a little bit gorgeous.