Immediately after the privatization of JNR, the 117 series was JR Central's primary workhorse.
However, replacement on the western Chūō West Line by the then-new 211-5000 series cars began in 1988, and all 117 series cars were reassigned to Ōgaki Depot.
On the Tōkaidō Main Line, the 117 series was replaced on special rapid service by the 313 series.
The maximum operating speed on the Tōkaidō Line was raised to 120 km/h in 1999.

Interiors had longitudinal seats installed at the ends of the cars and directly behind the driver's cab.

From October 2006, midday operation between Ōgaki and Maibara made up the majority of the 117 series' use by JR Central.
From March 2008, departures from Okazaki Station on special rapid service increased.

From about 1999, all cars appeared in a simplified version of their previous livery.
A single, thick orange stripe below the windows replaced a thin stripe on the rain gutter along the sides of the roof, a thick orange band below the windows, and a thin orange band immediately below that.
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The remaining 117 series sets operated by JR Central were withdrawn from regular services by spring 2013, with the exception of the Joyful Train Train117 trainset.
Immediately after the privatization of JNR, the 117 series was JR Central's primary workhorse. However, replacement on the western Chūō West Line by the then-new 211-5000 series cars began in 1988, and all 117 series cars were reassigned to Ōgaki Depot. On the Tōkaidō Main Line, the 117 series was replaced on special rapid service by the 313 series. The maximum operating speed on the Tōkaidō Line was raised to 120 km/h in 1999.
Interiors had longitudinal seats installed at the ends of the cars and directly behind the driver's cab.
From October 2006, midday operation between Ōgaki and Maibara made up the majority of the 117 series' use by JR Central. From March 2008, departures from Okazaki Station on special rapid service increased.
From about 1999, all cars appeared in a simplified version of their previous livery. A single, thick orange stripe below the windows replaced a thin stripe on the rain gutter along the sides of the roof, a thick orange band below the windows, and a thin orange band immediately below that. 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, with the exception of the Joyful Train Train117 trainset.
117 series