The is an 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...

 train type operated jointly by Central Japan Railway Company

Central Japan Railway Company

The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...

 (JR Central) and West Japan Railway Company

West Japan Railway Company

, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...

 (JR West) on the overnight Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto

Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto

The and are two overnight train services that connect Tokyo and cities in the western part of Japan. They are operated jointly by Central Japan Railway Company and West Japan Railway Company .-Operation:...

limited express

Limited express

A limited express is a type of express train service. It refers to an express service that stops at a limited number of stops in comparison to other express services on the same or similar routes.- Japan :...

 service in Japan.

These EMUs were introduced from 10 July 1998 to replace ageing locomotive-hauled "Blue Train

Blue Train (Japan)

' in Japan are long-distance sleeper trains, nicknamed as such for the color of the train cars. They consist of 20-, 14- or 24-series sleeper cars, and currently run on six routes connecting major destinations within Japan across long distances, other routes being served by a fleet of newer...

" coaches which once operated on separate Seto and Izumo services between Tokyo, Shikoku

Shikoku

is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...

 and the San'in region.

Formations

The five sets, numbered I1 to I5 are formed as shown below. The JR Central sets, I4 to I5, have cars numbered in the -3000 series.

Car No.	1/8	2/9	3/10	4/11	5/12	6/13	7/14
Designation	T'Nc	TN2	MN	TNs	MN2	TN	TNc
Numbering	KuHaNe 285	SaHaNe 285-200	MoHaNe 285	SaRoHaNe 285	MoHaNe 285-200	SaHaNe 285	KuHaNe 285