The first subseries consists of 54 cars composed of 6 6-car trains (W31–W36) and 6 3-car trains (V31–V36) built in 2001–2002.[3][4]
683-2000 series
87 cars were built in 3-car and 5-car sets. This subseries was subsequently transferred to the 289 series with their AC equipment removed.[5] The move was made after the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen and the associated discontinuation of service by these sets on the Hokuhoku Line.
683-4000 series
108 cars were built in 9-car sets for a total of 12 trainsets.
683-4000 series
683-8000 series
This is the designation given to a 6-car train (N03) and a 3-car train (N13) formerly owned by Hokuetsu Express for services on the Hakutaka limited express. At the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen in March 2015, the sets were transferred to JR West.[6]
Home Liner Ōgaki rapid service (until 13 March 2015)
Home Liner Sekigahara rapid service (until 13 March 2015)
Formations
The various formations are configured as follows.
3-car sets
Thunderbird sets
Designation
Tpc
M
T'c
Numbering
KuHa 682-500
MoHa 683-1300
KuHa 683-700
Designation
Tpc
T
Mc
Numbering
KuHa 682-2700
SaHa 683-2400
KuMoHa 683-3500
Designation
T'c
M
Tpc
Numbering
KuHa 683-8700
MoHa 683-8000
KuHa 682-8500
Shirasagi sets
Designation
Mc
T
Tpc
Numbering
KuMoHa 683-3500
SaHa 683-2400
KuHa 682-2700
The KuHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.
5-car sets
Shirasagi sets
Designation
Mc
T
Tp
M
Tpsc
Numbering
KuMoHa 683-3500
SaHa 683-2500
SaHa 682-2200
MoHa 683-3400
KuRo 682-2000
The SaHa 682 and KuRo 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.
6-car sets
Thunderbird sets
Designation
Tsc
Tp
M
T
Tp
Mc
Numbering
KuRo 683
SaHa 682
MoHa 683-1000
SaHa 683-300
SaHa 682
KuMoHa 683-1500
Designation
Mc
Tp
T
M
Tp
Tsc
Numbering
KuMoHa 683-8700
SaHa 682-8000
SaHa 683-8000
MoHa 683-8300
SaHa 682-8000
KuRo 683-8000
The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one scissors-type pantograph.
9-car sets
Thunderbird sets
Designation
Tsc
Tp
M
Tp
M
T
Tp
Mc
Numbering
KuRo 683-4500
SaHa 682-4300
MoHa 683-5400
SaHa 682-4400
MoHa 683-5000
SaHa 683-4700
SaHa 683-4800
SaHa 682-4300
KuMoHa 683-5500
The SaHa 682 cars are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
683-2000 series odd number car Standard-class saloon, January 2012
683-2000 series even number car Standard-class saloon, January 2012
683-2000 series Green car saloon, January 2012
683-4000 series Green car saloon, June 2010
Refurbishment
All of the 683 series trainsets used on Thunderbird limited express services are scheduled to undergo a programme of refurbishment from autumn 2015 until the end of fiscal 2018.[8] The first set treated, nine-car 683-4000 series set T51, was returned to revenue service in September 2015.[9]
From 2015, 85 former Shirasagi 683 series vehicles were converted and reformed to become DC-only 289 series EMUs, formed as three-car, four-car, and six-car sets for use on Hashidate, Kinosaki, Kounotori, and Kurioshio limited express services in the Kyoto and Osaka area.[4]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to JR West 683.
オールガイド 681・683系 [Full Guide: 681/683 Series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 49 (577): 56–65. May 2009.
北越急行681・683系 [Hokuetsu Express 681/683 Series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. 49 (577): 46–55. May 2009.
^ abJr電車編成表 JR電車編成表 2017冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2017] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 16 November 2016. pp. 135–136, 144, 357. ISBN978-4-330-73716-4.
^ JR全車輌ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006. ISBN978-4-7770-0453-9.
^JR電車編成表 2011夏 [JR EMU Formations – Summer 2011] (in Japanese). Kotsu Shimbunsha. p. 145. ISBN978-4-330-21211-1.
^ ab JR電車編成表 2016冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 18 November 2015. pp. 145, 190. ISBN978-4-330-62315-3.
^JR西日本289系、683系を形式変更し「くろしお」などに投入! 381系は廃車に [JR-West to reclassify 683 series to 289 series for introduction on Kuroshio and other services. 381 series to be withdrawn.]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
^"683系8000番台が"サンダーバード"に" [683 series 8000 series transferred to "Thunderbird" services]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 24 April 2015. Archived from the original on 9 December 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
^より快適に!北陸~近畿を結ぶ特急「サンダーバード」、車両リニューアルへ [Rolling stock to be refurbished for Thunderbird limited express trains linking Hokuriku and Kinki]. Tetsudo Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
^683系4000番台リニューアル車が営業運転を開始 [Refurbished 683-4000 series enters revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 28 September 2015.