JR Shikoku 8600 series

Data (as of 12 Jan 2024)

History

The 8600 series is a type of limited express train for Yosan Line. It was developed with subsidy of Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency. The series has a tilting feature, but not pendulum one like 8000 series, but a pneumatically-controlled one. This allows running fast enough while reducing costs of production and maintenance. The front end of the 8600 series looks like Siemens Desiro trains (like British Rail Class 350), but the 8600s were constructed by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Japan.

There are two and three-carriage units, and they can form up to eight coaches. They usually run Honshi-Bisan Line (also known as Seto-Ohashi Line) and Yosan Line, but they were also used for a rail tour on Hakubi Line (outside Shikoku) in 2019.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The 8600 series trains are used on Limited Express Ishizuchi (Takamatsu - Matsuyama) and Shiokaze (Okayama - Matsuyama). Schedules of trains provided by the 8600 series and the older 8000 series are separated and thus not random.