Also, as they were designed for express service, they had entryways which required passengers to step up onto the main floor—unsuitable during peak commuter times.

The 117 series addressed these issues, matched the passenger accommodation offered by competing services and provided JNR with a train designed for the transit conditions in the Keihanshin region.

The sets' completion dates and manufacturers are as follows: The 117 series trains have 20 meters (65 ft 7 in) long corrosion-resistant steel bodies with two sets of semi-automatic sliding double doors per side (Nagoya-area cars have fully automatic doors).

All 117 series cars were originally equipped with reversible transverse seats, but lacked strap hangers.

The cars feature flat ceilings joined to the walls and an angled panel above the luggage rack.

The 117 series uses the standard PS16 pantograph, however for resistance to the effects of cold weather conditions and snow encountered when running on the Kosei Line, the PS16J variant is used.

In the timetable effective November 1, 1986, just before the April 1987 privatization of JNR, the frequency of special rapid services in the Keihanshin region increased, and 6-car sets in the Nagoya area were shortened to four cars.

After the arrival of the 221 series in the Keihanshin region, the maximum speed of special rapid trains was increased to 115 km/h (71 mph) as of the March 10, 1990, timetable.

[citation needed] That year, all 117 series cars underwent improvement to their brakes to accommodate this new operating speed.

117 series cars retained in special rapid service were used only in early morning and late night runs because of their 115 km/h (71 mph) limit and door configuration.

This helped to reduce the problem of rush hour trains being delayed due to the time needed for passengers to board and alight.

At this time, the lavatories were upgraded and the Sunliner livery appeared, and some of these sets operated at speeds of 115 km/h (70 mph).

In 1999, fare collection boxes were installed to support driver-only operation without a conductor on board.

In March 2000, two 4-car sets of 300 sub-series trains were reassigned to Hineno Depot for operation on the Wakayama Line.

Until the reassignment, 113 series trains (sets G416 and G417) in the Shōnan green/orange livery were used for the line's morning rush services.

In March 2001, the 117 series trains assigned to Miyahara Depot were removed from the Nara Line's Miyakoji rapid service.

In December of the same year, two surplus 300 subseries end cars and two MoHa units not in the G803 set were modified for driver-only operation and painted ocean green with a lavender stripe.

From October 2006, midday operation between Ōgaki and Maibara made up the majority of the 117 series' use by JR Central.

The headboard, which originally had "Rapid" written in yellow on a white background, had a black border added to its lettering to improve legibility.

The remaining 117 series sets operated by JR Central were withdrawn from regular services by spring 2013,[2] with the exception of the Joyful Train Train117 trainset.