211 series

211 series
211 series
	JR East 211 series set on a Joetsu Line service in January 2021
Manufacturers	Hitachi; Kawasaki Heavy Industries; Kinki Sharyo; Nippon Sharyo; Tokyu Car Corporation;
Replaced	111 series, 113 series, 115 series
Constructed	1985–1991
Entered service	March 1986
Scrapped	2012–
Number built	1,914 vehicles
Number in service	849 vehicles (as of 2018)
Successor	209 series, E233-3000 series, 315 series (from 2025) E131-200 series
Operators	■ JNR (1985–1987); JR East (1987–present); JR Central (1987–2025); JR West (1988–2010); Sangi Railway (from 2024);
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel; Steel (JR West version)
Car length	20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width	2,966 mm (9 ft 8.8 in)
Doors	3 pairs per side
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph) (JR West); 110 km/h (68 mph) (others);
Traction system	Resistor control + field system superimposed field excitation control
Traction motors	MT61 (211-0/1000/2000/3000 series); C-MT61A/C-MT64A (211-5000/6000 series);
Power output	120 kW
Acceleration	1.7 km/(h⋅s) (1.1 mph/s)
Electric systems	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Current collection	Pantograph
Bogies	DT50B (motored), TR235B (trailer) (211-0/1000/2000/3000 series); TR235G (SaRo 213/SaRo 212); C-DT56 (motored), C-TR241 (trailer) (211-5000/6000 series); WDT50B (KuMoRo 211/MoRo 210);
Multiple working	311/313 series
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The 211 series (211系, 211-kei) is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type introduced in 1985 by Japanese National Railways (JNR).

The trains are still being used by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). They were also formerly used by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) until 2010 and Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) until 2025 in Japan.

Sangi Railway will operate a total of eight former 211-5000 series 3-car sets (24 cars) with the first entering service in May, 2025, and Ryutetsu acquired four 211-6000 series 2-car sets (8 cars) on 9 July, 2025.

Design

The 211 series was developed by JNR to replace older 113 series and 115 series trains. The 211 series incorporated regenerative brakes and stainless steel body construction.

Variants

211-0 series (basic version with transverse seating)
211-1000 series (cold region version with transverse seating)
211-2000 series (basic version with all longitudinal seating)
211-3000 series (cold region version with all longitudinal seating)
211-5000 series (JR Central version)
211-6000 series (JR Central version with single motored car)
Joyful Train variants (JR West version)

Operations

211-0, 211-2000 series

Tōkaidō Main Line and Ito Line: Tokyo – Numazu/Ito (From 1986 - April 2012)
Tōkaidō Main Line: Hamamatsu – Maibara
Chūō Main Line: Tachikawa – Shiojiri
Shinonoi Line: Shiojiri – Shinonoi
Shinetsu Line: Shinonoi – Nagano

211-0 series in original JNR livery in August 1988
211-0 series in JR livery in December 2009
211-0 series interior view, February 2010
211-2000 series interior view, November 2021
Green car seating, July 2010

211-1000, 211-3000 series

Tohoku Main Line: Oyama – Utsunomiya(until March 2019)
Takasaki Line: Ueno - Takasaki (1986 - March 2014)
Ryomo Line: Takasaki – Oyama
Shinetsu Line: Takasaki – Yokokawa
Oito Line: Matsumoto –Shinano-Omachi(until March 2027)
Chuo Main Line: Takao – Shiojiri/Shiojiri – Nakatsugawa(until March 2027)
Shinonoi Line: Shiojiri – Shinonoi
Shinetsu Main Line: Shinonoi – Nagano(until March 2027)
Sobu Main Line: Chiba – Chōshi (via Yachimata) (21 October 2006 – 2012)^{[additional citation(s) needed]}
Narita Line: Chiba – Chōshi (via Narita) (21 October 2006 – 2012)^{[additional citation(s) needed]}
Kashima Line: Sawara – Kashima-Jingu (21 October 2006 – 2012)^{[additional citation(s) needed]}
Togane Line (since 21 October 2006 – 2012)^{[additional citation(s) needed]}
Uchibo Line: Chiba – Awa-Kamogawa (via Kisarazu) (21 October 2006 – 2012)^{[additional citation(s) needed]}
Sotobo Line: Chiba – Awa-Kamogawa (via Katsuura) (21 October 2006 – 2012)^{[additional citation(s) needed]}
Iida Line (since 15 March 2014)
Agatsuma Line (since 22 August 2016)
Joetsu Line: Takasaki - Minakami (since 23 August 2016)

211-3000 series with additional pantograph in March 2022
211-3000 series in Nagano area livery in January 2022
211-3000 series in Chiba area livery in May 2010
211-3000 series interior view, February 2022
Priority seats, February 2022

211-5000, 211-6000 series

Tokaido Main Line: Atami – Toyohashi
Chuo Main Line: Nagoya – Nakatsugawa
Kansai Main Line: Nagoya – Kameyama
Gotemba Line: Kōzu – Numazu (until 2025)
Minobu Line: Fuji – Nishi-Fujinomiya
Aichi Loop Line: Kozoji – Setoguchi

211-5000 series in December 2019
211-5000 series interior view, September 2021
Priority seats, September 2021

Sangi Railway

On 20 and 22 March 2024, JR Central transferred five 211-5000 series 3-car sets to Sangi Railway. On 10 March, 2025, they announced that they will operate a total of eight former 211-5000 series 3-car sets (24 cars).

Ryutetsu

On 9 July, 2025, Ryutetsu announced that they had purchased four 211-6000 series 2-car sets GG5/GG6/GG8/GG9 (8 cars) from JR Central. The trains will be refurbished before entering service to replace their current 5000 series (former Seibu New 101 series) trains.

Joyful Train sets

Super Saloon Yumeji: Three-car set converted from 211 and 213 series coaches which entered service in 1988 and withdrawn in March 2010. Operated by JR-West and based at Okayama Depot.

Super Saloon Yumeji in 1990
Joyful Train 211 series in JR-West Livery in January 1989
Interior view, September 2003

References

JR全車輌ハンドブック2006 [JR Rolling Stock Handbook 2006] (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 2006. ISBN 978-4-7770-0453-9.
JR電車編成表 '07冬号 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2007] (in Japanese). Japan: JRR. December 2006. ISBN 978-4-88283-046-7.

1 2 "5000keidonyu.pdf" (PDF). sangirail.co.jp. Retrieved 2 September 2025.
1 2 "お知らせ | 流鉄". Retrieved 2 September 2025.
1 2 "211系ホームページに掲載するリリース.pdf" (PDF). ryutetsu.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
1 2 3 上越線・吾妻線で211系の営業運転開始 [211 series enter service on Joetsu Line and Agatsuma Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.
↑ "中央本線211系の立川駅乗入れが終了" [The Chuo Main Line 211 series trains have ended service to Tachikawa Station]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 14 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "10/21, 房総211系, 営業運転開始" [Boso 211 series enter service]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 47 (549): 179. January 2007.
↑ 飯田線での長野色115系運用終了，211系運用開始 [Nagano-livery 115 series withdrawn from Iida Line; 211 series introduced]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
↑ ハスラートラ. "静岡車両区211系廃車・譲渡状況". tokaido-unyo-shizuoka.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 September 2025.
↑ "211系5600番代2本が三岐鉄道へ" [Two 211-5600 series sets to Sangi Railway]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
↑ "211系5600番代，さらに3本が三岐鉄道へ" [Three more 211-5600 series sets to Sangi Railway]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
↑ "静岡県内を走った「JR近郊型」が千葉の地方私鉄へ流鉄が「211系」譲受を発表". 鉄道コム (in Japanese). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.

External links

JR East 211 series (in Japanese)
JR Central 211 series information (in Japanese)

[:2-1] 1 2 "5000keidonyu.pdf" (PDF). sangirail.co.jp. Retrieved 2 September 2025.

[:0-2] 1 2 "お知らせ | 流鉄". Retrieved 2 September 2025.

[:1-3] 1 2 "211系ホームページに掲載するリリース.pdf" (PDF). ryutetsu.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 September 2025.

[railfan20160824-4] 1 2 3 上越線・吾妻線で211系の営業運転開始 [211 series enter service on Joetsu Line and Agatsuma Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2016.

[5] "中央本線211系の立川駅乗入れが終了" [The Chuo Main Line 211 series trains have ended service to Tachikawa Station]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 14 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.

[railfan549-6] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "10/21, 房総211系, 営業運転開始" [Boso 211 series enter service]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). 47 (549): 179. January 2007.

[railfan20140315-7] 飯田線での長野色115系運用終了，211系運用開始 [Nagano-livery 115 series withdrawn from Iida Line; 211 series introduced]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.

[8] ハスラートラ. "静岡車両区211系廃車・譲渡状況". tokaido-unyo-shizuoka.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 September 2025.

[9] "211系5600番代2本が三岐鉄道へ" [Two 211-5600 series sets to Sangi Railway]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 22 March 2024.

[10] "211系5600番代，さらに3本が三岐鉄道へ" [Three more 211-5600 series sets to Sangi Railway]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 March 2024. Retrieved 16 June 2024.

[11] "静岡県内を走った「JR近郊型」が千葉の地方私鉄へ流鉄が「211系」譲受を発表". 鉄道コム (in Japanese). 9 July 2025. Retrieved 2 September 2025.

v t e Electric multiple units of Japanese National Railways
DC commuter/suburban	12 63 70 72 101 103 105 111 113 115 117 119 121 123 201 203 205 207 211 213 301
DC express/limited express	52 80 151 153 155 157 159 161 165 167 169 181 183 185 187 189 381
AC/DC commuter/suburban	401 403 411 413 415 417 419 421 423
AC/DC express/limited express	451 453 455 457 471 473 475 481 483 485 487 489 581 583
AC commuter/suburban	711 713 715 717
AC limited express	781
Non-revenue/experimental	141 143 145 147 191 193 443 495 591 791
This list shows all JNR EMUs, both active and withdrawn. Shinkansen types are omitted.

211 series
JR East 211 series set on a Joetsu Line service in January 2021
Manufacturers	Hitachi Kawasaki Heavy Industries Kinki Sharyo Nippon Sharyo Tokyu Car Corporation
Replaced	111 series, 113 series, 115 series
Constructed	1985–1991
Entered service	March 1986
Scrapped	2012–
Number built	1,914 vehicles
Number in service	849 vehicles (as of 2018)
Successor	209 series, E233-3000 series, 315 series (from 2025) E131-200 series
Operators	■ JNR (1985–1987) JR East (1987–present) JR Central (1987–2025) JR West (1988–2010) Sangi Railway (from 2024)
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel Steel (JR West version)
Car length	20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width	2,966 mm (9 ft 8.8 in)
Doors	3 pairs per side
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph) (JR West) 110 km/h (68 mph) (others)
Traction system	Resistor control + field system superimposed field excitation control
Traction motors	MT61 (211-0/1000/2000/3000 series) C-MT61A/C-MT64A (211-5000/6000 series)
Power output	120 kW
Acceleration	1.7 km/(h⋅s) (1.1 mph/s)
Electric systems	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Current collection	Pantograph
Bogies	DT50B (motored), TR235B (trailer) (211-0/1000/2000/3000 series) TR235G (SaRo 213/SaRo 212) C-DT56 (motored), C-TR241 (trailer) (211-5000/6000 series) WDT50B (KuMoRo 211/MoRo 210)
Multiple working	311/313 series
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)