The 103–0 series trains were built between 1963 and 1981. Built for JNR as an "upgraded" version of the 101 series, the 103 series has been widely used around Japan and has been manufactured in a multitude of different body styles and configurations. Based on the earlier 101 series, the 103 series has been used on various commuter services since 1963. In fact, some 103 series cars were actually converted from 101 series cars. The 103 series was the main rolling stock used on urban commuter services for a time. Some sets have been used for at least 50 years, and their age is starting to show; as such, their use on various lines is diminishing and they are being replaced by newer trains. For instance, the 103 series have been replaced by the newer
323 series on the Osaka Loop Line. The sets have been manufactured in a multitude of different body styles, with additional body styles being created over the years. Older sets had body styles similar to the one used on the 101 series.
Prototype This 8-car unit was built in 1963 without air-conditioning. The cars were withdrawn from service between 1988 and 1991. • Moha 103: 901-902 • Moha 102: 901-902 • Kuha 103: 901-904
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. • KuMoHa 103: 1-155 • MoHa 103: 1-278 • MoHa 102: 1-433 • KuHa 103: 1-177 and 501-638 (TR212 bogies fitted: 115-177 and 617–638) • SaHa 103: 1-305 (TR212 bogies fitted: 226–305)
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. • MoHa 103: 279-281 • MoHa 102: 434-436 • KuHa 103: 178-179 • SaHa 103: 306-307
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. • MoHa 103: 282-330 and 364-374 • MoHa 102: 437-486 and 520-530 • KuHa 103: 180-212 • SaHa 103: 308-323
Air-conditioned sets Built in 1973, they were similar to the air-conditioned prototype. They were fitted with motorized destination blinds on both sides. • MoHa 103: 331-413 (excluding 364–374) • MoHa 102: 487-569 (excluding 520–530) • KuHa 103: 213-268 • SaHa 103: 324-359
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. • MoHa 103: 414-713 • MoHa 102: 570-869 • KuHa 103: 269-796 (excluding 500–700), 798, 809, 816 • SaHa 103: 360-471
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 and 816 were converted to include ATC in 1984. • MoHa 103: 714-793 • MoHa 102: 870-2050 (excluding 900–2000) • KuHa 103: 797, 799-850 (excluding 809, 816, 845, 847, 849) • SaHa 103: 472-503 File:JNR Tc103-235cab.jpg|Driver's cab of KuHa 103-235 car (without ATC), November 2008 File:103 and 205 Uguisudani 198602.jpg|JNR 103 and 205 series Yamanote Line meet at Uguisudani station, February 1986. File:L25 akabane Tc103-273 750.jpg|
Akabane Line KuHa 103-273 car with air-conditioning coupled with non air-conditioned middle cars, 1979 File:JNR kuha103-154.jpg|
Biwako Line-
JR Kyoto Line-
JR Kobe Line KuHa 103-154 car without air-conditioning, 1983 File:JNR Tc103-184.jpg|
JR Kobe Line KuHa 103-184 car without air-conditioning, August 1983 File:L25 Tc103-178 680.jpg|
Yamanote Line air-conditioned prototype KuHa 103-178 car, October 1978 File:JNR EC Tc103-347.jpg|
Yamanote Line ATC equipped KuHa 103-347 car, March 1985 File:JRE-EC103-Yokohama-Line.jpg|JR East
Yokohama Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, circa 1988 File:L25 Tc103-831 750.jpg|JR-West
Yamatoji Line raised driver's cab KuHa 103-831 car, circa 1993 File:Type103-sayonara.jpg|JR East
Negishi Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, March 1998 File:L25 Miha103.jpg|Two JR-West
Fukuchiyama Line (left) and
JR Kyoto Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, August 1999 File:JNR M103-734.jpg|JR East MoHa 103-734 car in brown livery, August 1999 File:JNR 103-0 Joban Line.jpg|
Jōban Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, April 2005 File:JR103-musashino.jpg|
Musashino Line air-conditioned 103–0 series showing different driver's cab heights, August 2003 File:JNR103 Tsurumi 04p5678v.jpg|
Tsurumi Line air-conditioned 103–0 series, June 2004 File:Series103 LA4.jpg|
Osaka Loop Line air-conditioned KuHa 103-802 car, September 2017 File:JNR Mc103-18.jpg|JR Central 103–0 series air-conditioned KuMoHa 103-18 car, April 2007 File:Series103 HK609.jpg|JR-West
Hanwa Line 103–0 series air-conditioned car, July 2017 File:Series103 NS413.jpg|JR West 103 series on Nara Line local service, December 2017 File:Series103 R1.jpg|JR West 103 series train Wadamisaki Line local service, July 2017 File:JNR 103 oka H19.JPG|JR-West
San'yō Main Line air-conditioned 103–0 series set H19, May 2009 File:Kuha103-525 Toshiba-test-car.jpg|KuHa 103-525 test car owned by
Toshiba, March 2010 File:JRW series103 Yumesaki-002.jpg|JR-West
Sakurajima Line raised driver's cab KuHa 103-823 car, March 2012
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. • SaHa 103: 751-780 (from SaHa 101) • KuHa 103: 2001-2004 (from KuHa 100), 2051-2052 (from KuHa 101)
Experimental direct-drive mechanism (DDM-VVVF) An insulated gate bipolar transistor traction system and direct-drive motors both manufactured by Toshiba were experimentally tested on car MoHa 103-502 (car #4) on ten-car set KeYo304 based on the Keiyō Line from May 2002; the car was originally manufactured in December 1975 by Nippon Sharyo. The direct-drive motors and IGBT inverters appear to be of the same specification as used on the experimental
E993 series set due to similar cadences. The use of direct-drive motors in the car gave the set a unique sound, with both the roar of the old-fashioned resistor-controlled traction motors and the more modern, high-pitched cadence of the variable frequency drive in car MoHa 103–502; MoHa 103-502's use of direct-drive motors gave the car itself a unique sound, as once the set reached a certain speed, the traction motors made no discernible noise. The set entered service with the direct-drive motored car on 15 May 2003, but was retired and scrapped in December 2003 after just 7 months of service with this experimental car. Car MoHa 103-502 remains the last 103 series car to have been fitted with a variable frequency drive. No JR train since (other than the
E993 and
E331 series sets) has used direct-drive motors in combination with IGBT inverters. ==103-1000 series==