Kominato Railway KiHa 200 series

Japanese train type

Kominato Railway KiHa 200 series

A pair of KiHa 200 series cars in November 2021

In service| 1962–
Built at| Nippon Sharyo
Constructed| 1961–1977
Number built| 14 vehicles
Number in service| 14 vehicles (as of 1 April 2016[update])
Formation| Single-car units
Fleet numbers| KiHa 201–214
Capacity| 160 passengers
Operators| Kominato Railway
Depots| Goi
Lines served| Kominato Line
Specifications
Car body construction| Steel
Car length| 20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width| 2,903 mm (9 ft 6.3 in)
Height| 3,880 mm (12 ft 9 in)
Doors| Two per side
Prime mover(s)| DMH17c
Track gauge| 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Kominato Railway KiHa 200 series (小湊鐵道キハ200形, Kominato Tetsudō KiHa 200-gata) is a single-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by the third-sector railway operator Kominato Railway on the 39.1 km (24.3 mi) Kominato Line between Goi and Kazusa-Nakano in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, since 1962. As of 1 April 2016[update], all 14 of the Kiha 200 series cars built are in service.

## History[edit]

14 KiHa 200 series cars were built between 1961 and 1977.[1] The first cars entered service in January 1962.[2]

### Individual build histories[edit]

The individual car build histories of the fleet are as follows.[2]

Car No. | Date built | Service entry date

|
|

KiHa 201 | December 1961 | January 1962
KiHa 202
KiHa 203 | April 1963
KiHa 204
KiHa 205 | January 1964 | April 1964
KiHa 206
KiHa 207 | December 1970
KiHa 208
KiHa 209
KiHa 210
KiHa 211 | March 1975
KiHa 212
KiHa 213 | September 1977 | October 1977
KiHa 214

## Fleet status[edit]

As of 1 April 2016[update], all 14 Kiha 200 series cars are in service, based at the line's Goi Depot.[3] All cars except 209 and 210 are air-conditioned.[3]

* Interior

* Driver's cab

Following news reports, the Kiha 200 series is to be replaced by the later Kiha 40 Model trains from Spring 2021 following renovations to the newer models joining the route. The earlier Kiha 200 series will be retired after some time with both models running the route.[4]

## Popular culture[edit]

This train appears to have been used in various Gachimuchi songs on YouTube, most notably "Haru Yo Koi (Right Version)", amassing over 2.6 million views. This song has often been a part of Twitch.tv culture with many tributes held for the passing of the idol Billy Herrington.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Takai, Kunpei (30 June 2014). Morokawa, Hisashi; Hattori, Akihiro (eds.). 全国私鉄超決定版電車・機関車・気動車1700 全国私鉄超決定版 電車・機関車・気動車1700 [Nationwide Private Railway Ultimate Edition: 1700 EMUs, Locomotives, and DMUs] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Sekaibunka-sha. p. 82\. ISBN 978-4-418-14219-4.
2. ^ a b 小湊鐵道の車両概要一覧表 [Kominato Railway rolling stock list]. Official website (in Japanese). Japan: Kominato Railway. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
3. ^ a b 私鉄車両編成表 2016 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 22\. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
4. ^ "小湊鐵道、キハ40系2両を導入 - 今春デビュー、キハ200形は置換え". マイナビニュース (in Japanese). 4 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kominato Railway Kiha 200 series.

* Kominato Railway website (in Japanese)