The is an AC

Alternating current

In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....

 electric multiple unit

Electric multiple unit

An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages, using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number of the carriages...

 operated by Hokkaido Railway Company

Hokkaido Railway Company

The is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....

 (JR Hokkaido) on Sapporo area suburban services in Hokkaido

Hokkaido

, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...

, Japan, since 1968. It was the first AC EMU train to be operated in Japan by the former Japan National Railways (JNR).

Formation

Car No.	1	2	3
Designation	Tc'	M	Tc
Numbering	KuHa 711-200	MoHa 711-100	KuHa 711-100

Car 2 is fitted with one N-PS785 single-arm pantograph.

Former prototype sets S901/902

Designation	Tc	Mc	Tc'
Numbering	KuHa 711-100	KuMoHa 711-900	KuHa 711-900

Source:

Interior

Seating consists of a mixture of transverse seating bays and longitudinal bench seating.

Prototype sets

Two prototype 2-car sets, numbered KuMoHa 711-901 + KuHa 711-901 and KuMoHa 711-902 + KuHa 711-902, were delivered in February 1967 for test running ahead of the start of electric suburban services between and from 1968. Both sets were based on the KiHa 22 diesel multiple unit design, but set 901 had opening two-pane windows and featured two sets of 4-leaf folding doors per side, whereas set 902 had sealed double-glazed windows, as used on the subsequent full-production sets. The two sets were modified to full-production standards in 1968 and 1970, but set 901 retained its opening windows.

Full-production sets

The first full-production 3-car sets were delivered from August 1968.

A third centre door was added to some of the KuHa 711 cars from 1987.

All cars became no-smoking from 1 July 1992.

Priority seating was added from 1 October 1997.

Air conditioning was added to the 2-door sets between 2001 and 2002.

The original scissors-type pantographs were replaced with N-PS785 single-arm pantographs between 2004 and 2005.