KiHa 189 series

Japanese train type

20,870 mm (68 ft 6 in) (end cars)
20,800 mm (68 ft 3 in) (intermediate cars)

Width2,900 mm (9 ft 6 in)Height3,650 mm (12 ft 0 in)DoorsOne per sideMaximum speed130 km/h (81 mph)^[2]Prime mover(s)SA6D140HE-2 (×2 per car)Power output450 hp (340 kW) per engine (at 2,100 rpm)TransmissionHydraulicAcceleration2.0 km/(h⋅s) (1.2 mph/s)Deceleration

Service: 4.6 km/(h⋅s) (2.9 mph/s)
Emergency: 5.2 km/(h⋅s) (3.2 mph/s)

BogiesWDT66Braking system(s)Engine brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakesSafety system(s)ATS-SW, ATS-PTrack gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The KiHa 189 series (キハ189系, Kiha-189-kei) is a diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on Hamakaze limited express services between Osaka and Tottori since November 2010 and Biwako Express services between Osaka and Maibara since March 2014. ^[3]

Operations

Hamakaze (from November 2010)
Biwako Express (from March 2014)

Formation

Trains are formed as 3-car sets, as shown below.^[4]

Car No.	1	2	3
Designation	Mc2	M1	Mc1
Numbering	KiHa 189-1000	KiHa 188	KiHa 189
Seating capacity	60	56	40
Weight (t)	48.0	47.5	49.5

KiHa 189-1000
KiHa 188
KiHa 189

Interior

The trains are all standard-class, with a total seating capacity of 156 passengers per 3-car set. Seating is in standard 2+2 abreast configuration with a seat pitch of 970 mm, an increase of 60 mm compared with the earlier KiHa 181 series trains.^[1]

Interior view, December 2011
LED passenger information display

History

The first three-car set was delivered from Niigata Transys to Fukui Depot on 19 March 2010, with test running commencing on 23 March.^[5]^[6]

The trains entered revenue service from 7 November 2010.^[7]

In October 2022, JR-West announced plans to remodel a KiHa 189 series set into a sightseeing train. The renovated train, designed by Yasuyuki Kawanishi, is scheduled to commence operation in late 2024.^[8]

References

^ ^a ^b JR西日本　キハ189系特急型気動車 [JR-West KiHa 189 series Limited Express DMU]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 39, no. 314. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. June 2010. pp. 68–69.
^ JR-West press release: "特急「はまかぜ」への新型気動車の投入について" [Introduction of new diesel trains on limited express Hamakaze services] (26 March 2009) Archived 17 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 15 March 2010. (in Japanese)
^ 特急「はまかぜ」新型車両展示会の開催について [Details of new "Hamakaze" train display] (in Japanese). JR-West. 10 September 2010. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 16 September 2010.
^ キハ189系特急形気動車 [KiHa 189 series Limited Express DMU]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 50, no. 590. Japan: Kōyūsha. June 2010. pp. 66–69.
^ 甲種鉄道車両輸送計画表 [New rolling stock delivery schedule]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 39, no. 312. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. April 2010. p. 124.
^ キハ189系が試運転を実施 [KiHa 189 series test running starts]. Japan Railfan Magazine online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 March 2010. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
^ キハ189系が“はまかぜ”で営業運転を開始 [KiHa 189 series enters revenue service on "Hamakaze"]. Japan Railfan Magazine online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 8 November 2010. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
^ JR西日本キハ189系改造、新たな観光列車が北陸DCに合わせデビュー [JR-West KiHa 189 series to be remodeled into a new sightseeing train for the Hokuriku Destination Campaign]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 12 October 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2023.