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200 Series Shinkansen

新幹線200系電車

The 200 series was a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1982 for the Tohoku and Joetsu Shinkansen, which both opened that year as the first Shinkansen routes built east of Tokyo; it passed to JR East on JNR's privatisation in 1987.

Externally it resembled the original 0 series but was lighter and more powerful for these steeper mountain routes, and it was engineered for winter with small snowploughs integrated into the front skirt, a snow-separation room that kept snow out of the traction-motor cooling air, and a body-mount double-floor structure enclosing the underfloor equipment against ice and flung ballast.

A 200 series shinkansen at Tokyo Station.
A 200 series shinkansen at Tokyo Station. · contri from Yonezawa-Shi, Yamagata, Japan · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

History

To hold its weight down, the 200 series became the first revenue Shinkansen EMU built with an aluminium-alloy body. In all, 700 vehicles in 59 sets were built between 1980 and 1991 by Hitachi, Kawasaki, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Car, with later cab conversions yielding 66 sets. As built, base-number cars (from 1980) ran at up to 210 km/h and 1000/1500/2000-number cars (from 1983) at up to 240 km/h, while four sets (F90-F93) were modified from 1990 to reach 275 km/h on a few down Asahi runs on the Joetsu Shinkansen.

It worked Tohoku services including Yamabiko and Joetsu services including Asahi and Toki, and won the Japan Railfan Club's Laurel Prize (the 23rd, in 1983), the first Shinkansen type to do so. Withdrawal from the Tohoku Shinkansen took effect on 19 November 2011, regular service ceased at the 16 March 2013 timetable revision, and the last public runs were made on 14 April 2013.

Timeline
  • 1982Revenue service begins on 23 June with the opening of the Tohoku Shinkansen; the type also serves the Joetsu Shinkansen, which opens later in 1982. Initial base-number sets run at 210 km/h.
  • 1983240 km/h 12-car F sets (200-1000 series) debut in November; the type receives the 23rd Laurel Prize, the first Shinkansen type so honoured.
  • 1987On JNR privatisation the fleet transfers to JR East; 10-car G sets (later 8-car) enter service from 18 April.
  • 1990Thirteen-car H sets with one bi-level Green car enter "Super Yamabiko" service from 23 June; four sets (F90-F93) are modified to run at up to 275 km/h on down Asahi services.
  • 1997Withdrawal of the earlier (210 km/h base-number) units begins.
  • 1998Set F80 (ex-F17) runs additional Nagano Shinkansen Asama services in February during the Nagano Winter Olympics.
  • 2004A refurbished set (K25, Toki 325) derails between Nagaoka and Urasa at about 200 km/h during the Chuetsu earthquake on 23 October, the first in-service derailment of a Shinkansen; none of the 155 passengers are injured.
  • 2011200 series operation on the Tohoku Shinkansen ends from 19 November; sets continue on the Joetsu Shinkansen.
  • 2013Regular scheduled services end at the 16 March timetable revision; final public runs (Sayonara 200 series) operate on 14 April, ending the type's career.

Sources

Last updated 16 October 2026.

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