Symbols of the Japanese Trains

| Electric Trains | Shinkansen Bullet Trains | Diesel Trains | Electric Locomotives | Diesel Locomotives | Passenger Cars | Freight Cars |

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Electric Trains
(Except Shinkansen Bullet Trains)

Example

 

(1)=Type  (2)=Usage  (3)=Electric System  (4)=Classification  (5)=Developed Order  (6)=Classification Number  (7)=Manufacturing Number

   (1) Type

This symbol shows if the car is equipped with a motor or a cab.

Symbol

Type

 Example

KUMO

Motorized with Cab   

KUMOHA, KUMORO, KUMOYA.

MO

Motorized

MOHA, MORO, MOHANE

KU

Cab

KUHA, KURO, KURU

SA

Accompany car   

SAHA, SARO, SAHASI

Basic type are MO, KU and SA.
Car with a cab is equipped with a motorman's seat and is basically the car at both ends.
Accompany car would be a car without a motor or a cab.

   (2) Usage

This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol

Usage

 Example

RO

First class

KUMORO, MORO, KURO, SARO  

HA

Normal class

KUMOHA, MOHA, KUHA, SAHA

RONE

First class Sleeping car

SARONE

HANE

Normal class Sleeping car   

MOHANE, KUHANE, SAHANE

SI

Dining car

SAHASI

NI

Luggage car

KUMONI

YA

Crew car

MOYA, SAYA

YU

Mail car

KUMOYUNI

RU

Storage car

KUMORU, KURU

Symbols may be combined with (1)Type and (2)Usage. For example, SAHASI, KUMOYUNI...

   (3) Electric System

This symbol shows which electric is used for the car.

Number

Type

 Example

 1 -3

Direct current
(can only run on Direct current section)

Series 103, 221, 381

 4 - 6

Direct and Alternating current
(equipped with an inverter and can run on both sections)   

Series 485, 521, 683

 7 - 8

Alternating current
(can only run on Alternating current section)

Series 731, 787, 813

 9

Trial car

Series 991

   (4) Classification

This symbol shows what type of train it is operated.

Number

Type

 Example

 0 - 3

Normal train (Commuter train, Suburban train)   

Series 103, 415, 221, E331

 4

Working train (Inspection car, Rescue car)

KUMOYA145

 5 - 8

Express train

Series E255, 373, 681

 9

Trial train

Series 991

   (5) Developed Order

This number is used as a developed order of the train but this may not apply to newly developed trains.

   (6) Classification Number

Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number such as Type *000.
For example, Series 223 had the following classification number,
Type 0, Type 100, Type 1000, Type 2000, Type 2500, Type 5000

   (7) Manufacturing Number

Basically, manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.

　    

Shinkansen Bullet Trains

Example

 

(1)=Classification  (2)=Usage  (3)=Type  (4)=Classification Number  (5)=Manufacturing Number
   (1) Classification
Shinkansen trains operated at present
[JR Tokai]  Tokaido, Sanyo Shinkansen
 - 3 = Series 300  Nozomi, HIkari, Kodama
 - 7 = Series 700  Nozomi, HIkari, Kodama
 - 7 = Series N700
[JR West]  Tokaido, Sanyo Shinkansen
 - 0 = Series 0  Kodama
 - 1 = Series 100 Kodama
 - 3 = Series 300 Hikari, Kodama
 - 5 = Series 500 Nozomi
 - 7 = Series 700 Nozomi, HIkari, Kodama
[JR Kyushu]  Kyushu Shinkansen
 - 8 = Series 800
[JR East]  Tohoku, Jouetsu, Nagano, Yamagata, Akita Shinkansen
 - 2 = Series 200
 - 4 = Series 400
 - E1 = Series E1
 - E2 = Series E2
 - E3 = Series E3
 - E4 = Series E4
   (2) Usage  - 1 = First Class
 - 2 = Normal Class
 - 3 = Dining Car
 - 4 = First Class Double Decker
 - 5 = Normal Class Double Decker
 - 6 = Dining Car Double Decker / First Class & Normal Class combination
 - 7 = First Class & Normal Class Double Decker / First Class
 - 8 = Normal Class
*There are some cars that these number may not apply.
   (3) Type  - 1-2 = Motorized with Cab (equipped with a motorman's seat)
 - 3-4 = Cab (equipped with a motorman's seat)
 - 5-7 = Motorized
 - 8-9 = Accompany car
   (4) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number such as Type 3000, 5000, 7000.
   (7) Manufacturing Number Basically, manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.


Diesel Trains

Example

 

(1)=Diesel Train  (2)=Usage  (3)=Engine  (4)=Cab  (5)=Manufacturing Number
   (1) Diesel Train All Diesel Train starts with the symbol "KI".
Car with a cab and without a motor is named as "KU".
Car without a cab and a motor is named as "SA".
   (2) Usage

This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol

Usage

RO

First class

HA

Normal class

RONE

First class Sleeping car

HANE

Normal class Sleeping car   

SI

Dining car

NI

Luggage car

YA

Crew car

YU

Mail car

RU

Storage car
   (3) Engine  - 0 = Mechanical Gas Electric Engine
 - 1 = Engine with Torque Converter (body width 2.6 meter)
 - 2-4 = Engine with Torque Converter (body width 2.8 meter)
 - 5 = Two Engine with Torque Converter
 - 6-7 = High Power Engine with Torque Converter
 - 8 = High Power Engine with Torque Converter (Express Type)
 - 9 = Trial Car
   (4) Cab  - 0-4 = Cab on both ends
 - 5-9 = Cab on one end or car without a cab
   (5) Manufacturing Number Basically, manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.


Electric Locomotives

Example

 

(1)=Electric Locomotive  (2)=Number of Driving Axle  (3)=Electric and Speed  (4)=Developed Order
(5)=Classification Number  (6)=Manufacturing Number
   (1) Electric Locomotive All Electric Locomotive starts with the symbol "E".
   (2) Number of Driving Axle This shows how many driving axle the locomotive is equipped.
   
　
  - D = 4 driving axle    Example: ED75, ED76, ED79

  - F = 6 driving axle    Example: EF66, EF81, EF210

  - H = 8 driving axle    Example: EH500, EH200
   (3) Electric and Speed Japan National Railway Type (this will not apply to new locomotives which has 3 digit numbers)
 - 1-2 = Direct current (Low Speed)   Example: EF15, ED18
 - 3 = Direct and Alternating current (Low Speed)   This locomotive does not exist
 - 4 = Alternating current (Low Speed)   This locomotive does not exist
 - 5-6 = Direct current (High Speed)   Example: EF58, EF65, EF66
 - 7 = Alternating current (High Speed)   Example: ED75, ED76, ED79
 - 8 = Direct and Alternating current (High Speed)   Example: EF81
 - 9 = Trial Car
Low Speed would be maximum speed lower than 85km/h and High speed would be maximum speed higher than 85km/h.
Newly developed locomotives with 3 digit numbers would the following 6 types,
     Direct current (High Speed)  EF200, EF210, EH200
     Alternating current (High Speed)  EF500, EH500, EF510
   (4) Developed Order This number is used as a developed order of the locomotive but this may not apply to newly developed locomotives.
   (5) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number (there are some locomotives without this number).
   (6) Manufacturing Number Basically, manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.


Diesel Locomotives

Example

 

(1)=Diesel Locomotive  (2)=Number of Driving Axle  (3)=Speed  (4)=Developed Order
(5)=Classification Number  (6)=Manufacturing Number
   (1) Diesel Locomotive All Diesel Locomotive starts with the symbol "D".
   (2) Number of Driving Axle This shows how many driving axle the locomotive is equipped.
   - D = 4 driving axle    Example: DD51
  - E = 5 driving axle    Example: DE10
  - F = 6 driving axle     Example: DF200
   (3) Speed Japan National Railway Type (this will not apply to new locomotives)
  - 1-4 = Low Speed     Example: DE10
  - 5-8 = High Speed    Example: DD51
  - 9 = Trial Car
Low Speed would be maximum speed lower than 85km/h and High speed would be maximum speed higher than 85km/h.
   (4) Developed Order This number is used as a developed order of the locomotive but this may not apply to newly developed locomotives.
   (5) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number (there are some locomotives without this number).
   (6) Manufacturing Number Basically, manufacturing number is named starting from 1 with its manufacturing order.


Passenger Cars

Example

 

(1)=Type  (2)=Usage  (3)=Electric System  (4)=Classification  (5)=Developed Order  (6)=Classification Number  (7)=Manufacturing Number
   (1) Weight Category This symbol shows the weight of the car.
　
Symbol    Weight    Example
KA    More than 47.5 tons       KANI, KAYA
MA    42.5-47.5 tons    MAITE, MANI
SU    37.5-2.5 tons    SUHA, SUROFU   
O    32.5-37.5 tons    OHA, ORONE
NA    27.5-32.5 tons    NAHA, NASI
HO    22.5-27.5 tons
KO    Less than 22.5 tons
   (2) Usage

This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol

Usage

 Example

I

Old Type First class

MAITE

RO

First class

ORO, ORONE

HA

Normal class

SUHA, OHANE

NE

Sleeping car

RONE, HANE

SI

Dining car

OSI, SUSI

YU

Mail car

OYU, SUYUNI

NI

Luggage car

KANI, MANI

YA

Crew car

OYA, MAYA

TE

Observation car

MAITE, OKUHATE   

E

Relief car

SUE

FU

Conductors car

SUHAFU, OHANEFU (car equipped with a conductors cabin)   

KU

Cab car

OKUHATE (car equipped with a motorman's seat)
   (3) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, trains have a classification number such as Type 20.
   (4) Car Number Car number (each number are different with the cars).

　

Freight Cars

Example

 

(1)=Usage  (2)=Weight Category  (3)=Classification Number
   (1) Usage

This symbol shows what the car is used for.

Symbol

   Usage

 Example

WA

   Freight car with roof

 WAMU80000   

RE

   Refrigerator car

 RE12000

NA

   Live fish car

  

TA

   Tank car

 TAKI43000

HO

   Hopper car

 HOKI9500

SE

   Coal car

 SEKI6000

TO

   Freight car without roof    

TOKI25000

RI

   Sand car

  

CHI

   Long goods car

 CHI1

SHI

   Heavy duty car

SHIKI800

KU

   Vehicle transporter car

 KU5000

KO

   Container car

 KOKI10000
YO    Caboose car YO8000
KI    Snowplow car KI100
YA    Inspection car  
E    Rescue car  
   (2) Weight Category This symbol shows the loadage of the car.
　
Symbol    Weight
-    Less than 16 tons   
MU    14-16 tons
RA    17-19 tons
SA    20-24 tons
KI    More than 25 tons
   (3) Classification Number Depending on the operation area or manufacturing period, cars have a classification number.

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