271 series

The 271 series, branded Haruka, is a Japanese limited express electric multiple unit operated by the West Japan Railway Company since March 2020.
==History==
Branded the Haruka, the 271 series sets are currently being built to supplement the older 281 series sets on Haruka services, a dedicated airport rail link service to and from Kansai International Airport. The first two sets, HA651 and HA652, were shown off to the public on 10 July 2019; sets HA653 and HA654 were delivered in late July 2019.
The sets entered service on 14 March 2020 with the introduction of JR West's revised timetable and are only coupled to the rear of 281 series sets; this is as part of an effort in standardizing train lengths on the Haruka service to nine cars in length (i.e. 6+3 cars). The sets were painted in a special Hello Kitty livery initially. 
Due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic leading to a decrease in passengers and air travel, all six sets were taken out of service on 1 April 2020 as JR West cancelled the rollout of nine-car Haruka services; the sets remained in temporary storage at Hineno Depot until 13 March 2021 when the sets re-entered service with the introduction of the revised timetable which allowed some Haruka services to run in nine-car formations.
==Design==
The 271 series uses a somewhat streamlined design with a white body and blue accents emulating the sky. The train's color scheme is based on the older 281 series sets. Unlike the 281 series, however, the large "JR" logos adorning the top of the cars is not present on the 271 series sets.
==Specifications==
Construction is of an aluminum alloy. Traction motors are Hitachi silicon carbide MOSFET-based variable frequency drives which give off a hissing sound when the train accelerates from idle. The trains feature the same four-note arpeggio musical horn as with all other modern JR West limited express trains.
==Gallery==
File:271 HA653 Hello Kitty Haruka 2020.jpg|HA653 in March 2020
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:JR Group trains
Category:Kinki Sharyo locomotives