The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) for use on suburban services in the Kansai and Chūgoku regions of Japan since 14 March 2015.
On 14 March 2015, the 227-0 series trains, branded "Red Wing", commenced operation in the Hiroshima area. They are the first new train to be introduced to the Hiroshima area in 32 years.
From 16 March 2019, the 227-1000 series began operating in the Kansai region on the Wakayama Line, Sakurai Line, and Kisei Main Line (Kinokuni Line), marking their introduction outside the Hiroshima area.
Starting on 22 July 2023, 227-500 series trains, branded "Urara", were introduced in the greater Okayama and Fukuyama (Okayama/Bingo) areas.
On 27 June 2026, 227-500 series trains under the brand "Kizashi" began operations in the Yamaguchi area.
Design Trains have unpainted stainless steel bodies. Each motored car has one motored bogie. The first batch of trains, branded "Red Wing", have logos applied on the sides of the body and on the prominent anti-fall plates on the front ends, which inspired the name.
Passenger saloons use LED lighting, and the trains are equipped with universal access toilets and wheelchair spaces. They are also equipped with LED passenger information displays.
The 227 series design is based on the earlier 225 series, also with lightweight stainless steel bodies.
Variants 227-0 series: 2- and 3-car sets for use on the Sanyō Main Line, Kabe Line, and Kure Line services, branded Red Wing 227-1000 series: 2-car sets for use on Wakayama Line services 227-500 series: 2- and 3-car sets for use on the Sanyō Main Line, Hakubi Line, Uno Line, Honshi–Bisan Line, and Akō Line services, branded Urara and Kizashi
227-0 series
The 227-0 series fleet consists of 276 vehicles (42 two-car sets and 64 three-car sets), which were delivered from autumn 2014 for test running and driver training before entering revenue service initially on the Sanyo Main Line between and , replacing JNR-era 115 series EMUs. The trains were also intended to displace 115 series EMUs on the Kure Line and Kabe Line. The entire fleet was delivered by February 2019.
On 6 March 2015, JR West announced that the 227 series trains will have the official nickname "Red Wing".
The fleet entered revenue service from 14 March 2015. They were the first new trains to operate in the Hiroshima area since the 113-3000 series, which was introduced near the end of JNR; trains introduced since the series were inherited from the Kansai area. The last sets of this sub-series delivered were 2-car sets S41 and S42 in February 2019.
In January 2022, it was announced that the 227-0 series would undergo a trial for platform-side cameras. The cameras would be activated on the right side of the train relative to the direction of driving.
Set A65 was formed in 2022 by combining two cars (KuMoHa and MoHa ) from three-car set A11 and one car (KuMoHa ) from three-car set A33.
Formations The 227 series fleet consists of 42 two-car and 64 three-car sets, allowing formations of up to eight cars to be formed in service.
3-car sets The three-car sets are numbered A01 onward, and are formed as shown below with all three cars motored (one motored bogie per car).
Designation Mc M M'c Numbering KuMoHa 227-0 MoHa 226-0 KuMoHa 226-0 Weight (t) 40.2 37.1 40.5–40.6 Capacity (total/seated) 133/56 149/72 126/52 The seating capacity figures above include 12 flip-down seats in the end cars and 16 in the intermediate cars. The KuMoHa 227 car is fitted with a WPS28E single-arm pantograph. The KuMoHa 226 car has a universal access toilet.
2-car sets
The two-car sets are numbered S01 onward, and are formed as shown below with both cars motored (one motored bogie per car).
Designation Mc M'c Numbering KuMoHa 227-0 KuMoHa 226-0 Weight (t) 40.2 40.5–40.6 Capacity (total/seated) 133/56 126/52 The seating capacity figures above include 12 flip-down seats in each car. The KuMoHa 227 car is fitted with a WPS28E single-arm pantograph. The KuMoHa 226 car has a universal access toilet.
Interior Passenger accommodation consists of transverse seating with flip-over seat backs, and longitudinal bench seating at the ends of cars. Flip-down seats are also provided next to the doorways.
Fleet details
3-car sets Set No. Manufacturer Date delivered A01 Kinki Sharyo 7 October 2014 A02 A03 Kawasaki Heavy Industries 2 October 2014 A04 Kinki Sharyo January 2015 A05 A06 Kawasaki Heavy Industries January 2015 A07 Kinki Sharyo February 2015 A08 A09 Kawasaki Heavy Industries A10 Kinki SharyoMarch 2015 A11 A12 A13 May 2015 A14 April 2015 A15 A16 Kawasaki Heavy Industries April 2015 A17 Kinki SharyoMay 2015 A18 A19 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesMay 2015 A20 Kinki SharyoJune 2015 A21 A22 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesJune 2015 A23 Kinki SharyoJuly 2015 A24 A25 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesAugust 2015 A26 Kinki SharyoAugust 2015 A27 A28 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesAugust 2015 A29 Kinki SharyoSeptember 2015 A30 October 2015A31November 2015A32Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesNovember 2015A33December 2015A34A35A36A37January 2016A38A39A40A41February 2016A42A43Kinki SharyoApril 2018A44Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesApril 2018A45Kinki SharyoMay 2018A46Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesApril 2018A47Kinki SharyoJune 2018A48Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesApril 2018A49Kinki SharyoAugust 2018A50Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesAround May 2018A51Kinki SharyoAround August 2018A52Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesJune 2018A53Kinki SharyoSeptember 2018A54Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesAugust 2018A55Kinki SharyoAround October 2018A56Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesDecember 2018A57Kinki SharyoNovember 2018A58Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesDecember 2018A59Kinki SharyoDecember 2018A60Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesOctober 2018A61Kinki SharyoAround January 2019A62Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesOctober 2018A63A64A65N/ANovember 2023
2-car sets Set No. Manufacturer Date delivered S01 Kawasaki Heavy Industries January 2015 S02 February 2015 S03 April 2015 S04 S05 S06 S07 S08 S09 S10 S11 S12 S13 S14 S15 S16 S17 S18 S19 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesApril 2018 S20 S21 S22 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesApril 2018 S23 S24 S25 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesApril 2018 S26 S27 S28 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesAround May 2018 S29 Kinki SharyoAround August 2018 S30 Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesJune 2018S31S32Kawasaki Heavy IndustriesDecember 2018S33Kinki SharyoAround October 2018S34S35Kinki SharyoNovember 2018S36November 2018S37December 2018S38December 2018S39Around January 2019S40Around January 2019S41Around February 2019S42Around February 2019
Special liveries On 23 September 2024, set A12 returned to service in the "Green Mover Max" livery used by the Hiroden 5100 series tramcars for the collaboration with Hiroshima City and Hiroshima Electric Railway. It is scheduled to operate in this livery until the end of fiscal 2026. In return, 5100 series set 5101 received the "Red Wing" livery used by the 227-0 series trains.
227-1000 series
In March 2018, JR West announced plans to introduce a new version of 227 series trains to Sakurai and Wakayama Lines, as well as part of Kisei Main Line, from Spring 2019. The planned 56-car fleet (28 sets of 2-car units) was completed by the end of September 2019, and would displace all 105 series and 117 series trains on the two lines by Spring 2020. Once the order is complete, the trains would have smart card readers on board, expanding ICOCA acceptance to all JR West service in Nara prefecture and on Wakayama Line.
The fleet entered service from 16 March 2019. Formation The sets are formed as follows. Car No.12 Designation M'c Mc Numbering KuMoHa 226-1000 KuMoHa 227-1000 Capacity (total) 130 137 The seating capacity figures above include longitudinal seats in each car. The KuMoHa 227 car is fitted with a WPS28E single-arm pantograph. The SD sets are equipped with a second de-icing pantograph. The KuMoHa 226 car has a universal access toilet.
Interior Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout. As the 227-1000 series trains are equipped for operation, doorways are equipped with ticket machines.
Fleet details Set No. Date delivered SD01 September 2018 SD02 SD03 November 2018 SD04 SD05 SD06 December 2018 SD07 SD08 SR01 January 2019 SR02 SR03 SR04 February 2019 SR05 SR06March 2019SR07SR08March 2019SR09SR10SR11July 2019SR12SR132019SR14SS01September 2019SS02SS03SS04September 2019SS05SS06
227-500 series
The series was first announced by JR West in May 2022 for use on rail lines serving Okayama and Bingo, such as the San'yō Line. Designated as 227-500 series, the first three sets were delivered from Kinki Sharyo in February 2023. By September 2024, 25 three-car sets and 13 two-car sets had been delivered. The series was given the brand name owing to a naming contest run by JR West. The sets carry a pink livery, which is associated with cherry blossoms as well as the softer climate experienced along the lines in which these trainsets will be running.
Kizashi variant
On 30 October 2025, JR West announced plans to introduce new 227 series trainsets for use on the San'yō Main Line section that serves the Yamaguchi region. Six 3-car "V" sets and three 2-car "X" sets are to be built for use on services between and . These trains will be branded and are planned to enter revenue service in around mid-2026, replacing ageing 115 series sets. As of 29 April 2026, their planned entry into service is scheduled to take place on 27 June of that year, which went head as scheduled at Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
Operational history The first of these sets entered revenue service on 22 July 2023 on the San'yō Line and the Hakubi Line. As of October 2025, the Urara sets operate on the San'yō Line ( – ), the Hakubi Line ( – ), the Uno Line, the Seto-Ōhashi Line ( – ) and the Akō Line ( – ).
On 19 September 2025, JR West announced its plans to introduce the 227500 series fleet on Akō Line services between Banshū-Akō and Higashi-Okayama from 12 October, and extend its operational range on the Hakubi Line to from 15 October.
In December 2025, JR West announced its plans to further extend the operational range of the 227500 series on the Hakubi Line to and begin operating the subseries on San'in Main Line services between Hōki-Daisen and from the start of the revised timetable on 14 March 2026.
Exterior
Interior
Fleet details 3-car sets Set No. Manufacturer Date deliveredL1Kawasaki Railcar Mfg.May 2024L2L3Kinki SharyoNovember 2023L4L5December 2023L6L7February 2024L8L9February 2024L10March 2024L11L12March 2024L13L14March 2024L15L16Kawasaki Railcar Mfg.June 2024L17L2031 July 2024L21L22August 2024L23L24September 2024L25L26 Kinki Sharyo March 2025L27 March 2025L28 April 2025L29L30 May 2025L31 May 2025L32L33 June 2025L34 July 2025L35L36 August 2025L37 September 2025L38L39 September 2025L40 October 2025L41V01 February 2026V02March 2026V03V04April 2026V05V06
2-car sets Set No. Manufacturer Date deliveredH1Kinki Sharyo December 2025H2 January 2026H3 H4H5February 2026H6H7February 2026H8R1 February 2023R2 R3 R4 9 March 2023R5 R6 23 March 2023R7 R8 R9Kawasaki Railcar Mfg.December 2023R10Kinki SharyoNovember 2023R11December 2023R12Kawasaki Railcar Mfg.December 2023R13R14 Kinki Sharyo March 2025R15R16 March 2025R17R18 April 2025R19 May 2025R20R21 May 2025R22 June 2025R23R24 July 2025R25 August 2025R26R27 September 2025R28 September 2025R29R30 October 2025R31 November 2025R32R33R34 December 2025R35X01April 2026X02X03 The H sets are equipped with a second de-icing pantograph.
Notes
References
Further reading
External links
JR-West press release (19 June 2014) JR West press release (Okayama sets) (in Japanese)