JR Hokkaido H100 series DECMO

Data (as of 5 Apr 2025)

History

H100 series DECMO is a type of diesel-electric train for regional services, replacing 40-year-old KiHa 40 series. DECMO stands for "Diesel Electric Car with MOtors".

The H100 series is the first rolling stock for regional services in more than 20 years. JR Hokkaido has been struggling with immense financial difficulties since the privatisation of Japanese National Railways. However, more than 80% of trains for regional services were JNR trains (i.e. more than 30 years old) so that the staff also sufferred from reliability issues. Hence, the company decided to introduce brand new trains based on the one developed by another JR, which would be cheaper than making them from the ground up.

All H100 series trains are double-ended, but they can be formed of up to four coaches. The H100 series is mostly based on JR East GV-E400 series, but the H100 series is optimised for severe climate in winter, as temperatures could go below -40 degrees celsius (-104 degrees fahrenheit) with huge amount of snow. The specification is similar to that of the KiHa 40 series, but stable acceleration and enhanced braking systems significantly reduced journey time between stations. Seating is mostly transverse, and there is an accessible toilet.

Some carriages were introduced effectively by a local government and Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. They can have tables between seats and used for rail tours. They are painted in eight different ways designed by local governments.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The H100 series is used across the island, namely on Furano Line, Hakodate Main Line between Oshamambe and Asahikawa (including Sapporo area), Muroran Main Line between Oshamambe and Tomakomai as well as Muroran area, Nemuro Main Line, Sekihoku Main Line (including Special Rapid Kitami), Senmo Main Line and Soya Main Line between Asahikawa and Nayoro (including Rapid Nayoro).

JR Hokkaido will also allocate the series to Special Rapid Taisetsu (Asahikawa - Abashiri) and Sekisho Line services from 2025.

Photos

Special livery (Sekihoku Main Line version), though this train was running Soya Main Line.

Special livery (Nemuro Main Line version) somehow came into Asahikawa station.