205 series

The 205 series (205系, 205-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type introduced in 1985 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), and inherited by JR East and JR West after JNR was privatised two years later. It is currently operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), West Japan Railway Company (JR West), Fuji Kyuko (Fujikyu) in Japan and KAI Commuter in Indonesia. Some of them were re-designated as Fujikyuko Series 6000.
JR East (in alphabetical order)
JR West
Fuji Kyuko
KAI Commuter (in alphabetical order)
There have been many variations of the design of the 205 series trains.
The 205 series was designed in 1982 as a cheap-to-produce train that could complement the 201 series sets which were considered to be expensive to produce due to the latter's thyristor chopper-controlled traction systems. The first set entered service on the Yamanote Line on 1985. It was originally built with resistor-controlled traction systems, which were cheaper to produce than the typical thyristor chopper-controlled, but this was somewhat dated technology due to the advent of variable-frequency drives which had just started being used around this time. It uses a traditional design with an unpainted stainless steel body very much like most trains of the period. Each set has a different colour scheme to indicate which area the sets serve.
The 205 series was used on both JR East and JR West lines, and the 205–0 series will be finally ending operation in JR East on 2020. Following their retirement, 524 205–0 series vehicles were shipped to Jakarta, Indonesia from 2013 to 2020 to continue their operation overseas replacing aging commuter trains and mass improvement of public transportation in Greater Jakarta by train, while there are still 205–0 series operational on JR West lines.
The 205 series was manufactured from 1984 to 1991 and initially built as 10-car trainsets with a test-run conducted in 1984 for the JNR Yamanote Line. It was manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation, Hitachi for technical components, Nippon Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo, and Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The basic structure is similar to that of the subsequently manufactured vehicles such as the 201 series and the 203 series, with the difference that the window shape is a two-pane window panels with the upper stage descending and the lower stage rising. 205 series trainsets from all four manufacturers were introduced to the Yamanote line in March 1985. In 1991, the Saha 204-0 was introduced as a 6-door intermediate carriage for the Yamanote Line and assigned as the new car No. 10 which was then coupled to form 11-car Yamanote Line trainsets from December 1991.
In 2005, the Saha 204 intermediate carriages, were transferred to the Saikyo Line upon retirement from Yamanote Line. Some of the existing Yamanote Line 205 series were transferred to the Keiyo line to continue operation until 2011. The trip number indicator of each leading car was initially introduced as a traditional roller-binding display as commonly used by other JNR rolling stocks, but in 1985 a LCD type trip number indicator display was installed for the first time to be later installed on the 0-subseries mass-produced vehicles.
The 205-500 series 4-car sets were introduced into service by JR East on the Sagami Line in 1991, when the line was fully electrified. These sets featured a number of design changes over the original 205 series, such as passenger-operable doors as well as a revamped front-end design. Following the introduction of the newer E131-500 series trains, all sets were withdrawn from service by February 2022.
The 205-600 subseries was created in 2013, when cars from former Keiyo Line and Saikyo Line ten-car sets were reformed between 2012 and 2013 to create twelve four-car sets for use on Nikko Line and Utsunomiya Line services, entering service from 16 March 2013, replacing the ageing 107 series and 211 series sets. The four Nikko Line sets are finished in a livery with "classic ruby brown", "gold", and "cream" bodyside stripes. The Utsunomiya Line sets are finished in a livery with Shonan green and orange bodyside stripes. They were withdrawn on 11 March 2022 ahead of the introduction of newer E131-600 series trainsets.
The four-car sets, numbered Y1 to Y12, were formed as shown below, with two motored (M) cars and two non-powered trailer (T) cars.
Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout. A universal access toilet was added to the KuHa 205-600 car at the time of conversion.
In 2018, set Y3 was refurbished for Iroha Joyful Train services on the Nikko Line. Two doors were removed per car, and box seating and luggage racks were introduced.
Source:
The 205–1000 series of JR East operates as 2-car trainsets rebuilt from some former 205–0 series cars, which were used on the Nambu Branch Line since 2002, replacing the last standing cars of the ageing 101 series trains until 2003. As of 2024, three two-car sets are in operation.
The 205–1000 series of JR West was built into 4-car trainsets in 1988, they formerly operated in Hanwa Line services from March 1988 until they ended their operations in March 2018, and then they were transferred ahead to the Nara Line for local train services since 18 March 2018. Features include having a different windshield panel design, which is likely inverted their directions to avoid confusion of the pre-existing 205–0 series, which were formerly Tokaido Line Local Services in same blue stripe during that time.
As of 2024, nine 4-car sets are in operation, bearing the set numbers NE401 to NE409.
The 205–1100 series of JR East operates as 3-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, which were introduced on the Tsurumi Line since August 2004, replacing the aging 103 series cars until their retirement in 2006. As of 2024, three 3-car sets are in operation.
The 205–1200 series of JR East operates as six-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Line services from 2004 until they were replaced by the new E233-8000 series trainsets until January 2016.
The 205–3000 series are 4-car trainsets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, which were used on the Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line from 2003 up until 2018.
From November 2003 until July 2018, five 4-car sets were allocated to Kawagoe Depot for use on Hachiko Line and Kawagoe Line through services. These sets were formed as follows with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
The 205–3100 series are 4-car trainsets designated for operation on the Senseki Line.
As of April 2020, 17 4-car sets are allocated to Miyagino Depot. These sets are formed as follows with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars.
Two 4-car sets are designated as "Mangattan Liner" sets which feature artwork by local manga artist Shotaro Ishinomori.
Two 4-car sets, M7 and M9, were scrapped after damage from the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake.
The 205–5000 series are fitted with two-level insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives as a traction system which produce a distinctive, high-pitched whine and it is one of the latest refurbished trains among 205-series which is specifically unique compared to the other refurbished 205 series classification which their former Yamanote Line 205–0 series cars were modified with new VVVF-controlled AC motors between 2002 and 2008, used on the Musashino Line & some parts of Keiyō Line to be scheduled for ending operations on the late 2020 prior to the acquisition all of these trainsets for overseas use to be shipped to Jakarta, Indonesia to be operated by Kereta Commuter Indonesia from 2018 to 2020.
Upon resale & overseas use, there are 288 vehicles (36 eight-car trainsets) for 205–5000 series withdrawn from the Musashino Line are scheduled to be shipped to Jakarta between March 2018 and 2020.
As of December 2020, four 8-car sets, six 10-car sets, and fifteen 12-car sets are allocated to Bukit Duri, Depok, and Klaten Depot for use on the Duri-Tangerang Line, Jakarta Kota-Bogor Line, Jatinegara-Bogor Line, Rangkasbitung Line, Jakarta Kota-Cikarang Line, and Yogyakarta Line through services. These sets are formed as follows with four motored ("M") cars and four non-powered ("T") cars.
The 8-car 205 series subsection 5000 without middle cabin formation is as follows.
The 10-car 205 series subsection 5000 with middle cabin formation is as follows.
The 10-car 205 series subsection 5000 without middle cabin formation is as follows.
The 12-car 205 series subsection 5000 with middle cabin formation is as follows.
The 12-car 205 series subsection 5000 without middle cabin formation is as follows.
A number of former 205 series trains were sold to Fuji Kyuko in 2011 and modified to become 3-car 6000 series sets, entering service from February 2012. Four more withdrawn JR East 205 series cars (KuHa 205-107 + MoHa 205-287 + MoHa 204-287 + KuHa 204–107) were resold to Fuji Kyuko following withdrawal in November 2016.
A total of 812 vehicles (102 sets) from withdrawn Saikyo Line, Yokohama Line, Nambu Line, and Musashino Line sets were exported to Kereta Commuter Indonesia in Jakarta between late 2013 up to October 2020. In Japan, the 205 series which were imported to Indonesia operates in the formation of 6, 8, or 10 trains. However, in Indonesia, the 205 series is rearranged so that it can be operated with a formation of 10 or 12 trains, so that only the series from the Saikyo line still uses its original formation when operating in Japan, while the series formations from the Yokohama, Nambu and Musashino lines are almost entirely is already no longer original.
A total of 18 withdrawn Saikyo Line ten-car sets (180 vehicles) were shipped to Kereta Commuter Indonesia (KCI) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in 2013, and entered service from March 2014. The sets in use are former Kawagoe sets 1, 4, 7, 11 to 15, 18, 20, 22 to 26, and 30 to 32. All except sets 26, 30, and 32 include pairs of SaHa 204 cars with six pairs of doors per side. Sets 30 to 32 were originally Yamanote Line sets, distinguished by their smaller door windows. Set 23 was the first set to have a pair of LCD screens inside all cars, except SaHa 204 cars. Set 23 was also the first set to have working LED destination display in KuHa 204 and KuHa 205 cars. Set 15 and 32 were involved in a train accident in Juanda Station, Jakarta.
From July 2014, 22 withdrawn Yokohama Line eight-car sets, which in use are former trainset numbers 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 to 9; 11 to 15; 17 to 19; 21 to 25; and lastly 27 and 28, with a total of 176 vehicles were shipped to Jakarta and operated as 10-car or 12-car sets.
In 2015, 20 withdrawn Nambu Line six-car sets (120 vehicles) were shipped to Jakarta. The former Nambu Line sets are used on 12-car operations.
336 vehicles (36 trainsets for 205–5000 series & 6 trainsets for 205–0 series) withdrawn from the Musashino Line were shipped to Jakarta between March 2018 and December 2020. Sets are operated as 8, 10, and 12-car sets. The initial plan will see rearrangement of all sets into 12-car sets.