# 203 series

The 203 series (203系) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated in Japan between 1982 and 2011 by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and later by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and currently operated by KAI Commuter and Philippine National Railways.

## Formation

The sets were formed as follows.
| | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration | Original 10-car EMU configuration |
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Numbering | KuHa 202 | MoHa 202 | MoHa 203 | SaHa 203 | MoHa 202 | MoHa 203 | SaHa 203 | MoHa 202 | MoHa 203 | KuHa 203 |
Cars 3, 6, and 9 were each fitted with one PS21 pantograph.

## Interior

* Interior view in September 2007
* Priority seating in November 2010

## History and operations

The 203 series sets were made to replace the 103-1000 series EMUs in 1982. The 203 series EMUs were on through services between the Joban Line and Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.

### Withdrawal

The trains were gradually replaced by new E233-2000 series EMUs, and the last set ran in revenue service on 26 September 2011.

## Overseas operations
### Indonesia

Five former 203 series ten-car sets (Set numbers 51, 52, 66, 68, 69) were shipped to KAI Commuter in Jakarta, Indonesia in 2011. The trainsets were subsequently reformed to create four trainsets formed as one eight-car set (set 108), two ten-car sets (sets 106 and 109), and one twelve-car set (set 2). One ten-car set, set 109, has 5+5 formation with two middle driving trailers which are used only during regular maintenance. The set 203-106 is the first 203 series to bear the latest KAI Commuter red-white livery, while the set 203-109 (5+5 trainsets) are bearing the latest KAI Commuter livery in September 2023.
* A KRL Jabodetabek 203 series 8-car set on the Bogor Line in July 2012
* Former set 52 reformed as a 12-car set BUD 2 in August 2017
* A typical Indonesian set code used on KAI Commuter 203 series set BOO 106 shows the head car's number in December 2017
* JR 203 106 new livery leaving the Tebet Station.

### Philippines

In November 2011, four former 203 series 10-car sets (set numbers 53, 54, 55, 67) were shipped to the Philippine National Railways (PNR) in the Philippines for Metro commuter service in Metro Manila, replacing former Japanese 12 and 14 series coaches. As of October 2013, seven four-car sets had been formed, as shown below, with car "A" at the Alabang end. Due to the lack of electrification in the PNR line, the units are equipped with a diesel-powered generator at the head car to provide power for the doors, lighting, and air-conditioning. They were usually hauled by 900 class locomotives for commuter service. The 2500 class and the 5000 class locomotives shunts the 203 series EMU in Tutuban for refueling.
EMU configurations as of October 2013 :
| | ← AlabangTutuban → | ← AlabangTutuban → | ← AlabangTutuban → | ← AlabangTutuban → |
| Set No. | A | B | C | D |
| EMU 01 | KuHa 203-107 | MoHa 203-11 | MoHa 202-7 | SaHa 203-9 |
| EMU 02 | KuHa 202-4 | MoHa 202-11 | MoHa 203-7 | MoHa 202-12 |
| EMU 03 | KuHa 203-5 | MoHa 203-9 | MoHa 202-9 | SaHa 203-10 |
| EMU 04 | KuHa 203-4 | MoHa 203-13 | MoHa 202-10 | SaHa 203-14 |
| EMU 05 | KuHa 203-3 | MoHa 203-121 | MoHa 202-120 | SaHa 203-8 |
| EMU 06 | KuHa 202-3 | MoHa 202-15 | MoHa 203-15 | SaHa 203-7 |
| EMU 07 | MoHa 203-10 | MoHa 202-8 | MoHa 203-120 | KuHa 202-107 |
In 2014, PNR started to operate the EMUs in 5-car configuration. As of December 2018, there are five sets in operation. Set 02 is the only 203 series EMU in 4 car formation until 2015.
EMUs 3, 4 and 7 were divided among the other EMUs to form the 5 sets, and their remnants are stored as reserve units or source of spare parts.
By April 2019, the head car of EMU 06 (KuHa 202-3) was transferred to EMU 02. By May 2019, the lead car of EMU 01 (KuHa 203-107) was replaced by EMU 04's head car (KuHa 203-4) and by July, EMU 07's lead car (KuHa 202-107) was transferred to EMU 08.
Due to aging reasons, the air-conditioning units of the 203 series bogged down. PNR conducted a bidding for the procurement of ten air-conditioning units for the 203 series from August to September 2018. PT INKA passed the bidding process, but after post-qualification the lone bidder was post-disqualified, causing a failed bidding. Again, a second bidding was conducted in December 2018. PT INKA once again participated, and passed the bidding process. The company passed the post-qualification process and was subsequently awarded the contract in February 2019. Replacement of air-conditioning units was conducted in February 2020, with the new Model ACI-4202 I-Cond air-conditioning units installed in EMUs 05 and 06. On the other hand, PNR is currently in the process of procuring 15 air-conditioning units for the coaches.
PNR procured polycarbonate panels from PT Industries Incorporated through public bidding in 2019 to replace the old windows of the 203 Series. The contract also covered the replacement of the windows of the Hyundai Rotem DMU, KiHa 350, KiHa 52, and the KiHa 59 (KoGaNe) trains. Replacement of windows was conducted in 2020, with EMU 05 as the first set to have new fitted windows, removing the need of grills. All four active EMU sets have polycarbonate windows.
In summer of 2020, PNR removed the blue livery of EMUs 04 and 07. The management have stripped off the paint and focus on the bodywork progress of the said EMUs (with some instance of revealing their old livery dating back to their JR incarnation). This in preparation for the new livery of the PNR EMU 203 Series.
As of February 2021, EMUs 04 and 07 still don't have their new livery yet, though they are painted in primer gray. But recently in July 2023, the new management finally decided to revert them back to the blue livery since they will be mostly allocated to Calamba, Laguna for commuter services connecting to Lucena City in Quezon province, right after the Metro South Commuter services will be finally halt by December 2023 in preparation of construction of the North-South Commuter Railway connecting from Clark, Pampanga to Calamba in Laguna.

#### Key

* KuHa: Former driving trailer car
* SaHa: Former intermediate trailer car
* MoHa 202: Former intermediate motor car
* MoHa 203: Former intermediate motor car with pantograph
* PNR EMU 02 at PNR San Andres Station (July 2016)
* PNR EMU 02 and 06 at Tutuban Station (2016)
* Interior of PNR EMU 203 coach (2017)
* PNR EMU 05 leaving Santa Mesa station (December 2018)
* PNR EMU 07 at Alabang (April 2019)
* PNR EMU 04 at FTI station (May 2019)
* PNR EMU 07 at FTI station (June 2019)
* PNR EMU 04 in stripped livery near Sucat station (December 2020)
* PNR EMU 06 in blue and orange livery near Sucat station, with polycarbonate windows and air-conditioning units from PT INKA (December 2020)
* PNR EMU 05 head car with polycarbonate windows, PNR and JNR logos in front cab (October 2021)
* PNR EMU 04/01 in primer gray livery at Santa Mesa station (March 2022)

## Incidents
### Japan

* On 20 March 1995, the train number A725K, or the Matsudo Train Set Number 67, which later transferred to Philippine National Railways in 2011, was involved on the sarin gas attack which happened on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line alone, southwest-bound section bound for Yoyogi-Uehara station at 7:48 AM, As the train approached Shin-Ochanomizu Station, the central business district in Chiyoda, one member of the team punctured one of his two bags of sarin, leaving the other untouched, and exited the train at Shin-Ochanomizu. And then finally, the train has been proceeded down the line with the punctured bag of sarin leaking until 4 stops later at Kasumigaseki Station. There, the bags were removed and eventually disposed of by station attendants, of whom two died. The train continued on to the next station where it was completely stopped, evacuated and cleaned.

### Philippines

* On 14 January 2018, a passenger in a 203 series trainset forced a train door open while the train was moving.
* On 16 February 2020, a 203 series trainset was involved in a stone-throwing incident. It damaged a door window and injured one passenger.
* On 12 April 2022, a 9-to-12-year-old child died after being run over by a 900 class locomotive hauling a 203 series EMU train at the intersection of Antipolo Street and Ipil Street in Sta. Cruz, Manila.
* On 18 April 2023, a 203 series trainset was involved in a derailment between Pasay Road station and EDSA station.

### Indonesia

* On 16 February 2022, a 203 series derailed in KM 47+0 Parungpanjang – Cilejit section. No one was injured
* On 28 November 2022, a 203 series set MaTo 52 (203-106/BUD2) derailed twice at Kampung Bandan Station and Manggarai Station. No one was injured.