200 Series Shinkansen
| 200 series | |
|---|---|
Refurbished 200 series train near Ōmiya Station, July 2008 | |
| In service | 23 June 1982 – 14 April 2013 (30 years, 295 days) |
| Manufacturers | |
| Constructed | 1980–1991 |
| Entered service | 23 June 1982 |
| Refurbished | 1999–2002 (K sets) |
| Scrapped | 1997–2013 |
| Number built | 700 vehicles (66 sets) |
| Number in service | None |
| Number preserved | 4 vehicles |
| Number scrapped | 695 vehicles |
| Successor | E1, E2, E4 and E5 series |
| Formation | 8, 10, 12, 13 or 16 cars per set |
| Operators | |
| Depots | Niigata, Sendai |
| Lines served | |
| Specifications | |
| Car body construction | Aluminium |
| Car length | 25 m (82 ft) |
| Width | 3.385 m (11 ft 1 in) |
| Height | 4.41 m (14 ft 6 in) |
| Doors | Two per side, per car |
| Maximum speed |
|
| Traction system | Thyristor drive |
| Electric systems |
|
| Current collection | Pantograph |
| Safety systems | ATC-2, DS-ATC |
| Multiple working | Up to two units: 400 or E3 series |
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge |
The 200 series (Japanese: 200系) was a Shinkansen high-speed train type introduced by Japanese National Railways (JNR) in June 1982 for use on the newly opened Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen lines, the first Shinkansen routes built east of Tokyo. Externally, the design was derived from the original 0 series, but were lighter and more powerful to handle the steeper gradients and mountainous terrain on these lines, and incorporated features for winter operation. A total of 700 vehicles, arranged into 66 sets, were built between 1980 and 1991 by Hitachi, Kawasaki, Kinki Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo, and the Tokyu Car Corporation.
The 200 series predated the 100 series; under JNR's numbering scheme, Shinkansen types operating east of Tokyo were assigned even-numbered designations, while those to the west received odd numbers. Following JNR's privatization in 1987, the trains were transferred to the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), and many sets were refurbished during their service lives before being withdrawn from service in 2013.