815 series

The 815 series, branded Commuter Train 815, is a Japanese commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Kyushu Railway Company since October 1999.
==History==
The 815 series was designed specifically as a new design of train that could cope with the demand fluctuations between peak and non-peak hours, in addition to replacing the older 421, 423 and 715 series sets used on JR Kyushu then. A total of 52 cars were built, with the first sets entering service on 1 October 1999 for use on the Hōhi Main Line. NT015 was renumbered to NO027 in February 2000.
All 52 cars are in service and all are based at either the Kumamoto or Ōita Depots. The sets are used on the Hōhi, Kagoshima and Nippō Main Lines.
==Design==
The 815 series adopted a modern design language for commuter trains on the JR Kyushu system. This design language was adopted for most of JR Kyushu's commuter trains.
The sets have unpainted aluminum bodies with red accents, with Commuter Train 815 graphics splashed on the front, in addition to the small Tsubame swallow headmark splashed on the front of the cab on the gangway door as a homage to older JNR trains from times long past.
The sets were designed by famed industrial designer Eiji Mitooka.
==Specifications==
Construction is of a double-skinned aluminum alloy based on the Hitachi A-Train concept. Cars are 20 meters long, 2.95 meters high and 3.68 meters high. The 815 series sets use insulated gate bipolar transistor variable frequency drives manufactured by Hitachi which produce a shrill shriek; a software change caused the same drives to produce a different sound, this time being a loud hissing sound.
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Hitachi locomotives