The 225 series (225系) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on suburban services in the "Keihanshin" Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area since December 2010.

Design

226 vehicles were ordered, at a cost of approximately 30 billion yen. The trains incorporate increased front-end crash protection with the inclusion of crushable zones.

Variants

The total order of 226 vehicles consists of 110 225-0 series vehicles with a maximum speed of 130 km/h for use on Tokaido Main Line and Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid services and 116 225-5000 series vehicles with a maximum speed of 120 km/h for use on the Hanwa Line. Livery for each is identical to that of the 223 series vehicles on each of these routes. The first 225-100 series second-batch sets were delivered in early 2016, formed as four-, six- and eight-car units. These were followed by 225-5100 series second-batch sets, also delivered in early 2016, formed as four- and six-car sets.

Operations

225-0/100 series

225-700 series (4 cars)

225-5000/5100 series (4 cars)

225-5100 series (6 cars)

225-6000 series

Formations

225-0 series

The 225-0 series sets are formed as eight-car and four-car sets, as follows.

8-car sets

Cars 2, 5 and 8 are each fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

4-car sets

Cars 2 and 4 are each fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

225-100 series

The 225-100 series sets are formed as eight-car, six-car and four-car sets, as follows.

8-car sets

Car 2 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, while Cars 5 and 8 each have one.

6-car sets

Car 3 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, while Car 6 has one.

4-car sets

Car 2 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, while Car 4 has one.

225-700 series

The 225-700 series sets are formed as four-car sets, as follows. Car 2 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, while Car 4 has one.

225-5000 series

The 225-5000 series sets are formed as follows. Cars 2 and 4 are each fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

225-5100 series

The 225-5100 series sets are formed as six-car and four-car sets, as follows.

6-car sets

Car 3 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, while Car 6 has one.

4-car sets

Car 2 has two WPS28E single-arm pantographs, while Car 4 has one.

225-6000 series

The 225-6000 series sets are formed as six-car and four-car sets, as follows.

6-car sets

Cars 3 and 6 are each fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

4-car sets

Cars 2 and 4 are each fitted with one WPS28C single-arm pantograph.

Interior

History

The first 225-0 series 8-car train was delivered from Kinki Sharyo on 18 May 2010. The first pair of 225-5000 series 4-car trains was delivered from Kinki Sharyo on 7 September 2010. Both the 225-0 and 225-5000 series entered revenue service from 1 December 2010. The unvelling of a new 225-700 series set took place on 18 January 2023. Intended for expansion of the current "A-Seat" paid reserved seating program rolled out on 223-1000 series sets, the new 4-car sets feature an end car which is equipped with Wi-Fi, 2 + 2 abreast seating, a washroom, and two single sliding doors per side (differing from the "A-Seat" cars on the 223-1000 series trainsets which feature three pairs of doors per side). The sets are expected to begin revenue service on the 18 March 2023 timetable revision when the "A-Seat" program is expanded on special rapid services on the Tokaido and San'yo main lines. As of 30 January 2023, two sets have been delivered and have since been undergoing testing and driver training.