On October 17, JR West held a press release of its new Series 273 limited express DC train “Limited Express Yakumo,” which is scheduled to be successively introduced in the spring of 2024.
The design and body of the new Yakumo have been completely redesigned based on the concept of “a car body that echoes the scenery of the San’in and Hakubi Lines and looks good in nature. The new Yakumo will be in service from the spring of 2024. The new Yakumo will be in service from the spring of 2024, replacing the conventional 381 Series, which was introduced 40 years ago with the electrification of the entire line in 1982, and is scheduled to consist of 11 trains of 4 cars each.
The most attractive feature of the new train is the significant improvement in ride quality due to the adoption of the newly developed and commercialized onboard controlled natural pendulum system. The conventional 381 Series trains were not very comfortable, and were said to be prone to motion sickness because they used a natural pendulum system that tilted the train using centrifugal force when the train approached a curve and centrifugal force began to act on the train.
In the new Series 273, a new pendulum control device is activated to tilt the car body before approaching a curve, based on accurate current position information obtained by comparing detailed driving data with map data. This system provides a more natural ride comfort. As a result, the motion sickness evaluation index has been improved by up to 23%, making it a much more comfortable ride than the conventional Series 381 and less susceptible to motion sickness.
The design concept of the train is “to echo the scenery of the San’in and Hakubi Lines and to reflect the natural beauty of the area”. The Yakumo Bronze image color was inspired by the scenery along the Hakubi Line, such as the “copper color” of the bonfire at the Oyama Summer Festival, the “red copper color” of the Ishu roof tiles, etc. The Yakumo Bronze image color was inspired by the scenery along the Hakubi Line.
In addition to supervision by Ichibansen’s Kawanishi and the Kinki Sharyo Design Office, the design reflects the voices of JR West’s local employees to create a train that is distinctively San-in and along the Hakubi Line. The design is instantly recognizable as a train going to the San-in region.
The interior of the train is based on the concept of “a warm and cozy interior that makes you feel at home in the San-in region,” and the standard coach seats have a green base color, inspired by the green of the mountains along the route, with a “hemp leaf” design, which has been used in Shinto rituals since ancient times to ward off evil spirits.
The green cars are based on the color yellow, which gives a bright atmosphere and a spacious feeling, and feature a “Sekiseki Tortoise Shell” pattern, which is based on legends and place names related to tortoises that are often seen along the San-in region, as well as the shell of a tortoise, a symbol of wealth and longevity, as in the first-class cars.
In addition to the standard and green car seat types, a new semi-compartment seat is available for the same price as the standard seat reservation fare. A large table is placed in the center of the seat, and the seat can also be arranged as a flat seat. JR West hopes that families and groups will take advantage of these seats.
All seats in the train are equipped with power outlets and support on-board Wi-Fi. In addition, the train is equipped with a free space and utility space as well as a large luggage storage area. Passengers with children can use these spaces for a quick change of scenery or to change diapers. The train is also barrier-free, with wheelchair-accessible restrooms and wheelchair-accessible spaces.
In an interview with representatives, Kenji Sekiya, General Manager of the Train Department, West Japan Railway Company, said, “I hope that this train will become a symbol of the San’in area in the future. I hope that this train will remind people of the charm of the San’in region and become a train that will be loved by everyone for a long time,” he said.
© Source travel watch