The 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.
Operations JR East (in alphabetical order) Nambu Branch Line: 2-car 205–1000 series sets (x1) (from 2002) (rebuilt by JR East from former 205–0 series sets)
JR West Nara Line: 4-car JR West 205-0 and 205–1000 series sets (transferred from Hanwa Line services)
Fuji Kyuko Fujikyuko Line: 3-car Fujikyu 6000 series sets converted from 205 series cars.
KAI Commuter (in alphabetical order) Duri-Tangerang Line:8/10-car 205 series sets since 2018. Jakarta Kota-Bogor Line: 8-car, 10-car (since 2014) and 12-car (since 2015) 205 series sets. Cikarang Loop Line: 8-car (since 2014), 10-car (since 2015), and 12-car (since 2015) 205 series sets. Rangkasbitung Line: 10-car (since 2016) 205 series sets Tanjung Priok Line: 8-car (since 2014) 205 series sets. Yogyakarta Line: 4/8-car (from 2021 to 2022) and 8-car (2025) 205 series sets
Former operations
Chuo-Sobu Line: 10-car 205–0 series sets (from 1989 until 2001) Hachikō Line: 4-car 205–3000 series sets (x5) (from 2003 until 15 July 2018) (former 205-0 sets modified by JR-East to form shorter trainsets for use in outer suburban services) (have passenger-operated door controls) Hanwa Line: 4-car 205-1000 (built by JR-West) series sets (from 1988), 6- and 8-car 205–0 series sets (from 2006 until 2010; March 2013 until 16 March 2018) (formerly operated on JR-West Tokaido-Sanyo Local services as 7-car sets) Kawagoe Line: 4-car 205–3000 series sets (x5) (from 2003 until 15 July 2018) (rebuilt by JR East from former 205–0 series sets, with passenger-operated door controls) / 10-car 205–0 series sets (from July 1989 until October 2016) Keihin-Tohoku Line: 10-car 205–0 series sets (from 1989 until 1996) Keiyō Line: 10-car 205–0 series sets (from 1990 until 2011) Loop Line: 8, 10, and 12-car (until 27 May 2022) 205 series sets Musashino Line: 8-car 205–5000 series sets (x36) and 8-car 205–0 series sets (x6) (from 1991 until October 2019 (205-0 series sets) and from 2002 until October 2020 (205-5000 series sets)) Nambu Line: 6-car 205-0 (x31) (including 4 sets with 205-1200 driving trailers which were converted from 205–0 series intermediate trailers) (from 1989 until 9 January 2016) Nikkō Line: Refurbished 4-car 205–600 series sets with toilets (x4) (from March 2013 until 11 March 2022) Sagami Line: 4-car 205–500 series sets (x13) (from 1991 until February 2022) Saikyo Line: 10-car 205–0 series set (from July 1989 until October 2016) (through service to Rinkai Line) Senseki Line: 4-car 205–3100 series sets (from 2004 until 13 March 2026) (rebuilt by JR East from former 205–0 series sets with passenger-operated door controls, toilets, and passenger seating which can be arranged in either transverse or longitudinal) Tokaido-Sanyō Local service (Biwako, Kyoto, Kobe, Fukuchiyama lines): 7-car 205–0 series sets (from 1986 until 2006) Tokaido Local Service (Kyoto, Kobe lines): 7-car 205–0 series sets (from 2011 until March 2013) (formerly operated on JR-West Hanwa Line as 6- and 8-car sets) Tsurumi Line: 3-car 205–1100 series sets (x9) (from 25 August 2004 until February 2024) (rebuilt from former 205-0 sets) Utsunomiya Line: Refurbished 4-car sets with toilets (x8) (from March 2013 until 11 March 2022) Yamanote Line: 11-car 205–0 series sets (from 1985 until 2005) (initially 10-car sets) Yokohama Line: 8-car 205–0 series sets (x28) (from 1988 until 23 August 2014, initially 7-car sets)
Design variants There have been many variations of the design of the 205 series trains. 205-0 series: 6, 7, and 8-car sets used on the JR West Tokaido Line, and Hanwa Line. 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11-car sets used on the JR East Chuo-Sobu Line, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Keiyo Line, Nambu Line, Musashino Line, Saikyo Line, Yamanote Line, and Yokohama Line. 205-500 series: 4-car sets used on the Sagami Line 205-600 series: 4-car sets for use on the Nikko Line and Utsunomiya Line from 16 March 2013 205-1000 series: 4-car JR-West sets that formerly ran on Hanwa Line. Currently runs on Nara Line. 205-1000 series: 2-car JR East sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Branch Line 205-1100 series: 3-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, introduced on the Tsurumi Line from 25 August 2004 205-1200 series: 6-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Nambu Line 205-3000 series: 4-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line 205-3100 series: 4-car sets rebuilt from former 205–0 series cars, used on the Senseki Line 205-5000 series: Former Yamanote Line 205–0 series cars modified with new IGBT-VVVF-controlled AC motors between 2002 and 2008, used on the Musashino Line
205-0 series
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.
JR East 205–0 series gallery
JR West 205–0 series gallery
KAI Commuter 205-0 series gallery
205-500 series
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.
205-600 series
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.
Formations 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.
Car No. 1 2 3 4 Designation Tc' M' M Tc Numbering KuHa 204-600 MoHa 204-600 MoHa 205-600 KuHa 205-600 Weight (t) 25.3 34.5 33.1 26.4 Capacity (Total/seated) 136/48 144/54 139/42 The MoHa 205-600 cars are equipped with two PS33F single-arm pantographs. The KuHa 205-600 cars have a wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Interior 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.
Iroha 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.
Fleet list Source: Set No. Livery/line colour Car numbers Former set No. Former car numbers Y1 Utsunomiya KuHa 204-601 MoHa 204-601 MoHa 205-601 KuHa 205-601 Keiyo 2 KuHa 204-109 MoHa 204-295 MoHa 205-295 KuHa 205-109 Y2 Nikko KuHa 204-602 MoHa 204-602 MoHa 205-602 KuHa 205-602 Keiyo 1 KuHa 204-108 MoHa 204-292 MoHa 205-292 KuHa 205-108 Y3 Iroha KuHa 204-603 MoHa 204-603 MoHa 205-603 KuHa 205-603 Keiyo 4 KuHa 204-111 MoHa 204-301 MoHa 205-301 KuHa 205-111 Y4 Utsunomiya KuHa 204-604 MoHa 204-604 MoHa 205-604 KuHa 205-604 Keiyo 3 KuHa 204-110 MoHa 204-298 MoHa 205-298 KuHa 205-110 Y5 KuHa 204-605 MoHa 204-605 MoHa 205-605 KuHa 205-605 Keiyo 6 KuHa 204-113 MoHa 204-307 MoHa 205-307 KuHa 205-113 Y6 Nikko KuHa 204-606 MoHa 204-606 MoHa 205-606 KuHa 205-606 Keiyo 5 KuHa 204-112 MoHa 204-304 MoHa 205-304 KuHa 205-112 Y7 Utsunomiya KuHa 204-607 MoHa 204-607 MoHa 205-607 KuHa 205-607 Keiyo 8 KuHa 204-115 MoHa 204-313 MoHa 205-313 KuHa 205-115 Y8 KuHa 204-608 MoHa 204-608 MoHa 205-608 KuHa 205-608 Keiyo 7 KuHa 204-114 MoHa 204-310 MoHa 205-310 KuHa 205-114 Y9 KuHa 204-609 MoHa 204-609 MoHa 205-609 KuHa 205-609 Keiyo 10 KuHa 204-117 MoHa 204-319 MoHa 205-319 KuHa 205-117 Y10 Nikko KuHa 204-610 MoHa 204-610 MoHa 205-610 KuHa 205-610 Keiyo 9 KuHa 204-116 MoHa 204-316 MoHa 205-316 KuHa 205-116 Y11 Utsunomiya KuHa 204-611 MoHa 204-611 MoHa 205-611 KuHa 205-611 Kawagoe (HaE) 16 KuHa 204-125 MoHa 204-341 MoHa 205-341 KuHa 205-125 Y12 KuHa 204-612 MoHa 204-612 MoHa 205-612 KuHa 205-612 Kawagoe (HaE) 17 KuHa 204-124 MoHa 204-338 MoHa 205-338 KuHa 205-124
205-1000 series (JR East)
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. ← Hama-kawasakiShitte → Car No. 1 2 Designation KuMoHa 204 KuMoHa 205
205-1000 series (JR West)