103 series

103-0 series

The 103-0 series trains were built between 1963 and 1984.

Prototype

This 8-car unit was built in 1963 without air-conditioning. The cars were withdrawn from service between 1988 and 1991.

Standard series

These were built between 1964 and 1970. While not originally fitted with air-conditioning, most of the cars were fitted with air conditioning from 1975. The bogies of the trailer cars were changed from TR201 to TR212 for the cars built from 1968. Cars fitted with TR212 bogies feature disc brakes, because they needed to run on higher speeds on the Jōban and Hanwa Lines.

Air-conditioned prototype

This single 10-car unit was built in 1970. It was equipped with various air conditioning units and tested on the Yamanote Line in Tokyo. It was subsequently modified to become a standard air-conditioned set in 1978. In 2000, four cars were scrapped at the Narashino Depot; the remaining six cars were scrapped at Keiyō Rolling Stock Center in 2005.

Sets without air-conditioning

Built during 1972 and 1973, these units were similar to the air-conditioned prototype but without air-conditioning. This type was used mainly in Osaka area. Most cars were fitted with air-conditioning from 1976.

Air-conditioned sets

Built in 1973, they were similar to the air-conditioned prototype. They were fitted with motorized destination blinds on both sides.

ATC equipped sets

Built between 1974 and 1980. The front end design was changed with the driver's cab raised so that an ATC signalling system could be included. Kuha 103 of this version was used in the Tokyo area only.

Raised driver's cab

Built between 1979 and 1984. The front end design was the same as the ATC-equipped sets, although this type was not fitted with ATC. Kuha 103-811 & 816 were converted to include ATC in 1984.

Converted from 101 series

Some 101 series trailer cars were converted to the 103-0 series. The cars' bodies and bogies were 101 series originals as the conversions involved minimum modification. The last of these cars were withdrawn from service in 1999.

103-1000 series

160 103-1000 series cars (16 10-car sets) were built in 1970 and 1971 for use on Jōban Line-Chiyoda Line inter-running services, which commenced in 1971. Originally painted in grey with a sea green stripe, they were subsequently displaced by new 203 series trains. Some sets were later converted to become 105 series, and the rest of the fleet was reallocated to Jōban Line services from Ueno. The last set was retired in March 2006.

103-1200 series

Similar to the 103-1000 series, these were 7-car sets built by Nippon Sharyo and Tokyu Car Corporation for use on Chūō-Sōbu Line-Tōzai Line inter-running services alongside the aluminium-bodied 301 series. 5 sets (35 cars) were built between 1970 and 1978. They were initially painted in grey with a yellow stripe, but this was changed to a light blue stripe from 1989 to avoid confusion with the similarly coloured 205 series trains introduced on Chūō-Sōbu Line services. The last set was retired in July 2003.

103-1500 series

Nine 103-1500 series 6-car sets were built between 1982 and 1983 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi for use on inter-running services between the Chikuhi Line and the Fukuoka City Subway Kūkō Line in Kyushu. In 1989, four sets were reformed as eight 3-car sets (numbered E11 to E18) by rebuilding MoHa 103 and MoHa 102 cars as KuMoHa 103 and KuMoHa 102 cars respectively. They were initially painted in light blue with a white stripe, but were repainted into a grey and red livery from 1995. The 3-car sets were modified for driver-only operation between December 1999 and March 2001. Toilets were added to one end car of each set between June 2003 and October 2004.

103-3000 series

Five three-car 103-3000 series sets (numbered 51 to 55) were formed in 1985 from former 72 series EMU cars for use on the Kawagoe Line following electrification in September 1985. Five MoHa 72970 cars were also converted to SaHa 103-3000 cars to augment Ome Line trains. These cars were fitted with passenger-operated door controls. The five Kawagoe Line sets were lengthened to four cars between October 1995 and March 1996 ahead of Hachiko Line electrification in March 1996. The last set was withdrawn in October 2005.

Formation

1. KuMoHa 102-3000
2. MoHa 103-3000 (with pantograph)
3. SaHa 103-3000
4. KuHa 103-3000

103-3500 series (JR East)

One 4-car 103-3500 series set was formed in December 1995 from surplus 103-0 series cars to augment the fleet ahead of Hachikō Line electrification in March 1996. As with the 103-3000 series sets, passenger-operated door controls were fitted. The motor/trailer car configuration differed from that of the 103-3000 series sets. The set was withdrawn in March 2005.

Formation

1. KuHa 103-3502 (formerly KuHa 103-738)
2. MoHa 102-3501 (formerly MoHa 102-2047)
3. MoHa 103-3501 (with pantograph) (formerly MoHa 103-790)
4. KuHa 103-3501 (formerly KuHa 103-725)

103-3500 series (JR-West)

Nine 2-car 103-3500 series refurbished sets (H1 to H9) were formed between September 1997 and March 1998 ahead of Bantan Line electrification in March 1998. Toilets were added between 2005 and 2006.

Formation

1. KuMoHa 102-3500 (with toilet)
2. KuMoHa 103-3500 (with pantograph)

103-3550 series (JR-West)

Eight 2-car 103-3550 series refurbished sets (M1 to M8) were formed between January and October 2004 ahead of Kakogawa Line electrification in March 2005. These sets feature cab gangway connections and toilets.

Formation

1. KuMoHa 102-3550 (with toilet)
2. KuMoHa 103-3550 (with pantograph)

Internal training sets

One internal crew training set, formed as KuMoHa 103-100 + MoHa 102-224, was used for internal crew training at the JR East Crew Training Center at Higashi-Omiya Depot. The set had different cab end designs, as MoHa 102-224 used the cab of former ATC equipped KuHa 103-332, sets. It was withdrawn in 2009 following the delivery of a new 209 series-based training set in 2008.

JR East

JR East formerly operated a large number of 103 series sets on the following lines.

One 4-car 103 series set remained in use by JR East on the Senseki Line in the Sendai area between November 2006 and 21 October 2009.

JR Central

JR Central formerly used 103 series sets on Chuo Main Line services in the Nagoya area, but these were subsequently replaced by 211 series and 313 series EMUs.

JR-West

JR-West continues to operate a large number of 103 series sets, many of which have received extensive life-extension refurbishment. JR-West currently operates 103 series sets on the following lines.

JR Kyushu

JR Kyushu operates a fleet of 103-1500 series sets on Fukuoka City Subway and JR Chikuhi Line inter-running services.

Overseas operations

Four former JR East 103 series 4-car units (Musashino Line sets KeYo 20, 21, 22, and 27) were shipped to Indonesia in 2004 to operate on the KRL Jabotabek system in Jakarta.

These cars retain their Japanese numbering.

Preserved examples