Tobu 50000 series

The Tobu 50000 series (東武50000系, Tōbu 50000-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since March 2005, manufactured by Hitachi to its "A-train" concept. The trains represent the first use of aluminium body cars on Tobu commuter trains. They are also the first Tobu trains to feature bilingual (Japanese and English) automated passenger announcements.

Tobu 50000 series
Tojo Line 50000 series trains
A lineup of Tobu Tojo Line 50070/50090/50000 series trains in March 2008
ManufacturerHitachi
Built atKudamatsu, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Family nameHitachi A-train
Constructed2004–2011
Entered service16 March 2005
Number built400 vehicles (40 sets)
Number in service400 vehicles (40 sets)
Formation10 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers51001–09, 51051–68, 51071–77, 51091–96
Operator(s)Tobu Railway
Depot(s)Shinrinkoen (50000, 50070, 50090 series)
Minami-Kurihashi (50000, 50050 series)
Line(s) served
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Width2.77 m (9 ft 1 in) (50050 series)
2.8 m (9 ft 2 in)(Other)
Doors4 pairs per side
Maximum speed105 km/h (65 mph) (Tobu Tojo Line)
100 km/h (62 mph) (Tobu tracks)
80 km/h (50 mph) (Tokyo Metro lines)
110 km/h (68 mph) (Tokyu lines)
Traction systemIGBT–VVVF (Hitachi)
Acceleration3.3 km/(h⋅s) (2.1 mph/s)
Deceleration3.5 km/(h⋅s) (2.2 mph/s) (service)
4.5 km/(h⋅s) (2.8 mph/s) (emergency)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC Overhead lines
Current collector(s)Pantograph
Safety system(s)Tobu ATS (50050 series), Tokyo Metro CS-ATC (50050 series and 50070 series), Tokyu CS-ATC (50050 series only), Tokyo Metro ATO (50070 series only), T-DATC (excluding 50050 series)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Variants
  • 50000 series: 9 x 10-car sets introduced from March 2005 on the Tobu Tojo Line and from September 2020 on the Tobu Skytree Line inter-running services
  • 50050 series: 18 x 10-car sets introduced from March 2006 on Tobu Skytree Line inter-running services
  • 50070 series: 7 x 10-car sets introduced from July 2007 on Tobu Tojo Line inter-running services
  • 50090 series: 6 x 10-car sets with variable seat configurations introduced from June 2008 on Tobu Tojo Line TJ Liner services

50000 series

The first 50000 series set, 51001, was delivered in November 2004 and entered service on the Tobu Tojo Line on 16 March 2005, followed by second-batch set 51002 in October 2005. The second set differs in having an emergency door in the front ends, and externally resembles the 50050 series used on the Tobu Skytree Line (see below).[1]

Two more sets, 51003 and 51004, were delivered during fiscal 2009.[2] 51003 was delivered to Shinrinkōen Depot in January 2010,[3] followed by 51004 in February 2010.[4] These two sets have pairs of opening windows and interiors based on sets 51061 onward.

  • Set 51001 with no front-end doors in December 2019
    Set 51001 with no front-end doors in December 2019
  • Set 51009 with modified side windows including opening sections in December 2019
    Set 51009 with modified side windows including opening sections in December 2019
Year built Set numbers External features Internal features
2004 51001
2005 51002 Emergency front end doors
2009–2010 51003–51009 Pairs of windows instead of large single pane. Redesigned seats with darker blue moquette. Conventional handrails next to doors.

Total number of vehicles built: 90

Formation
Car No. 10987654321
Designation Tc1M1M2T1M3T2T3M1'M2'Tc2
Numbering 51000520005300054000550005600057000580005900050000

The 52000, 55000, and 58000 cars each have one single-arm pantograph.[1]

Interior
  • Interior view of set 51001 showing the original seat style in August 2011
    Interior view of set 51001 showing the original seat style in August 2011
  • Interior view of set 51004 showing newer seat style and conventional handrails at the doorways in March 2010
    Interior view of set 51004 showing newer seat style and conventional handrails at the doorways in March 2010
  • Driver's cab
    Driver's cab
  • Interior view
    Interior view
  • Priority seating
    Priority seating
  • Wheelchair space
    Wheelchair space
  • LED passenger information display
    LED passenger information display

50050 series

The 10-car 50050 series sets were built for use on the Tobu Isesaki, Skytree and Nikko lines, and inter-running services through the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line to the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line displacing the earlier 30000 series sets.[5]

The first set (51051) entered service on 18 March 2006, and as of January 2007, 10 sets were in service. While broadly based on the Tojo Line 50000 series design with emergency end doors, cars are 30 mm (1.2 in) narrower (2,770 mm (9 ft 1 in) compared with 2,800 mm (9 ft 2 in)) to cope with reduced clearances on the subway lines.

Sets 51061 onward have different seat covers and pairs of opening windows (like the 50090 series) instead of the large single-pane sealed windows on earlier units.

Three more sets (51066 to 51068) were delivered during fiscal 2009.[2]

From October 2012, set 51052 was modified with opening panes in four side windows per car, in the same style as Tojo Line set 51075 and JR East 209 series sets.[6]

Year built Set numbers External features Internal features
2006 51051–51060 Emergency end doors  
2007–2010 51061–51068 Pairs of windows instead of large single pane. Redesigned seats with darker blue moquette. Conventional handrails next to doors.

Total number of vehicles built: 180

Formation
Designation Tc1M1M2T1M3T2T3M1'M2'Tc2
Numbering 51050520505305054050550505605057050580505905050050
Weight (t) 27.533.032.523.031.523.033.032.527.5
Capacity
(total/seated)		 137/48152/51151/54152/51137/48

The 52050, 55050, and 58050 cars each have one single-arm pantograph.[5]

Interior
  • Interior of set 51061
    Interior of set 51061
  • Early batch type interior

50070 series
Set 51075, showing the opening side windows, October 2008

The 10-car 50070 series sets were built for use on Tobu Tojo Line and Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line inter-running services, and also on Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line inter-running services from June 2008.[7]

The first set (51071) was delivered in early March 2007, entering revenue-earning service in July. It differs from earlier variants in having full-colour LED destination indicators, and is also equipped with ATO for subway operation.

A total of four sets were delivered by March 2008.[8]

A fifth set, 51075, was delivered in August 2008.[9] This set differs in having opening windows similar in design to those added to JR East 209 series EMUs.[6]

A further two sets, 51076 and 51077, were delivered during fiscal 2011, with 51076 delivered in November 2011,[10] and 51077 in January 2012.[11] These sets differ in having 17" LCD displays above every door, instead of the LED dot-matrix displays used on earlier sets, and also have pairs of opening side windows instead of the large single panes.

Year built Set numbers External features Internal features
2008 51071–51074 Full-colour LED destination indicators  
2008 51075 Opening sections included in windows.  
2011 51076–51077 Pairs of windows instead of large single pane. 17" LCD displays above doors.

Total number of vehicles built: 70

Formation
Car No. 10987654321
Designation Tc1M1M2T1M3T2T3M1'M2'Tc2
Numbering 51070520705307054070550705607057070580705907050070
Capacity
(total/seated)		 140/48154/51153/54154/51140/48

The 52070, 55070, and 58070 cars each have one single-arm pantograph.[7]

Interior
  • Interior view
    Interior view
  • Priority seats
    Priority seats
  • LCD passenger information display
    LCD passenger information display

50090 series
50090 series set 51094 in October 2021

Four 10-car 50090 sets were delivered in February and March 2008 for use on new Tobu Tojo Line limited-stop evening TJ Liner services starting from the start of the new timetable on 14 June 2008.[12] Internally, these trains feature rotating seats that can be arranged longitudinally for daytime services and in forward-facing transverse pairs for "Liner" services. These trains are also used on up "Rapid Express" services in the late afternoon and night as well as the newly introduced Kawagoe Limited Express services from 16 March 2019. Externally, the sets feature a blue waistline stripe running the length of each car, with a "TOJO LINE" logo.[13]

A public preview run of the 50090 series took place on 23 March 2008 from Ikebukuro to Shinrinkōen station, followed by a photographic event at Shinrinkōen depot.[14]

A fifth set, 51095, was delivered from Hitachi in September 2010,[15] followed by 51096 in November 2010, in preparation for an increase in the number of TJ Liner services from the start of the revised timetable on 5 March 2011.[16]

Year built Set numbers External features Internal features
2008 51091–51094 Pairs of windows. Full-colour LED destination indicators. Rotating seat pairs
2010 51095–51096   Conventional handrails next to doors.

Total number of vehicles built: 60

Formation
Car No. 10987654321
Designation Tc1M1M2T1M3T2T3M1'M2'Tc2
Numbering 51090520905309054090550905609057090580905909050090
Weight (t) 28.233.933.425.532.325.533.933.428.2
Capacity (total/seated)
longitudinal config.		 124/42136/45135/48136/45124/42
Capacity (total/seated)
transverse config.		 118/42131/45129/48131/45118/42

The 52090, 55090, and 58090 cars each have one single-arm pantograph.[17]

Interior

The 50090 series sets have seats that can be rotated and configured in longitudinal style for regular daytime services or in forward-facing transverse style for TJ Liner services and late afternoon/evening Ikebukuro-bound Rapid Express services.[18] When configured in transverse mode, the rows have a seat pitch of 1,000 mm (39 in).[18]

  • Interior view of a 50090 series in forward-facing transverse configuration
    Interior view of a 50090 series in forward-facing transverse configuration
  • Seats of 50090 series in transverse configuration
    Seats of 50090 series in transverse configuration
  • Seats of 50090 series in longitudinal configuration
    Seats of 50090 series in longitudinal configuration
  • Priority seats with armrests
    Priority seats with armrests

Special liveries

"Flying Tojo" livery
Set 51092 in commemorative "Flying Tojo" livery in October 2017

From 28 November 2015, 50090 series set 51092, based at Shinrinkoen Depot, received full-body vinyls recreating the dark blue with yellow stripe livery carried by 54 series and 53 series EMUs used on Flying Tojo limited express services on the Tobu Tojo Line during the 1950s.[19] The livery was commemorated with a special run on 2 February 2019, removed soon afterwards, and replaced with the "Ikebukuro - Kawagoe Art Train" livery.

"Ikebukuro - Kawagoe Art Train" livery
Set 51092 in "Ikebukuro - Kawagoe Art Train" livery in October 2021

Ahead of the 16 March 2019 timetable revision on the Tobu Tojo Line, 50090 series set 51092 was repainted from its previous "Flying Tojo" into a new art-based livery. The livery, designed by Koyano Yuuki, is designed to advertise the city of Kawagoe with the theme of "adding colour to Kawagoe".[20] The set was reintroduced into service on 12 February 2019, and was used on the first down departure of the new "Kawagoe Limited Express" train category operating on the Tojo Line since the 16 March 2019 timetable revision.

Crayon Shin-chan 25th anniversary liveries

From 3 November 2016, 50050 series set 51055 received a yellow vinyl wrapping livery to mark the 25th anniversary of the cartoon character Crayon Shin-chan.[21] This was followed by set 51056 in blue livery from 25 November,[22] set 51057 in red livery from 28 November,[23] set 51058 in orange livery from 12 December,[24] and set 51059 in green livery from 19 December.[25] These sets were originally scheduled to remain in these liveries until May 2017,[25] but the period was extended until late August 2017.[26]

ColourSet No.Character designIn service from
  Yellow51055Shinnosuke Nohara3 November 2016
  Blue51056Kazuma-kun25 November 2016
  Red51057Nene-chan28 November 2016
  Orange51058Bo-chan12 December 2016
  Green51059Masao-kun19 December 2016
  • Set 51055 in yellow livery in February 2017
    Set 51055 in yellow livery in February 2017
  • Set 51056 in blue livery in July 2017
    Set 51056 in blue livery in July 2017
  • Set 51057 in red livery in September 2017
    Set 51057 in red livery in September 2017
  • Set 51058 in orange livery in June 2017
    Set 51058 in orange livery in June 2017
  • Set 51059 in green livery in August 2017
    Set 51059 in green livery in August 2017

See also
  • Seibu 40000 series, a Seibu Railway commuter EMU type that also features rotating longitudinal/transverse seating
  • Keio 5000 series, a Keio commuter EMU type that also features rotating longitudinal/transverse seating
  • Keikyu 2100 series, a Keikyu commuter EMU type also features transverse seating
  • Keikyu N1000 series, another Keikyu commuter EMU type also features rotating transverse seating (batch 20 only)

References
  1. 東武鉄道５００００系2次車 [Tobu 50000 series 2nd-batch set]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 46, no. 537. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. January 2006. p. 87.
  2. その後の東京メトロ・東武・西部の話題 [Subsequent Tokyo Metro, Tobu, and Seibu topics]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 49, no. 578. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2009. pp. 64–69.
  3. 東武鉄道50000系50003編成が甲種輸送される [Tobu 50000 series set 50003 delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 25 January 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  4. EF210-160が東武鉄道50000系の甲種輸送をけん引 [EF210-160 delivers Tobu 50000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 8 February 2010. Retrieved 8 February 2010.
  5. 東武鉄道50050系 [Tobu 50050 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 46, no. 538. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. February 2006. pp. 104–108.
  6. 東武50050系に側窓開閉化改造施行車 [Tobu 50050 series modified with opening side windows]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 17 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  7. 東武鉄道50070系 [Tobu 50070 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 47, no. 555. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2007. pp. 84–87.
  8. 東武鉄道 50070系／9000系（地下鉄副都心線乗入れ対応車） [Tobu Railway 50070 and 9000 series sets for Fukutoshin Line subway inter-running]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 36, no. 278. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. June 2007. p. 75.
  9. 甲種鉄道車両輸送計画表） [Rolling stock delivery schedule]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 37, no. 293. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. September 2008. p. 127.
  10. 東武鉄道50070型51076編成の甲種輸送をEF66 33が牽引 [Tobu 50070 series set 51076 hauled by EF66 33]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  11. 50070型51077Fが甲種輸送される [Tobu 50070 series set 51077 delivered]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 18 January 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  12. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine, February 2008 issue, p. 126
  13. 2008年6月 東武東上線に新ライナー登場 [New Tojo Line Liner trains starting in June 2008] (PDF). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 21 November 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2011.
  14. "Your Tōjō" February 2008 issue
  15. 東武50090系が甲種輸送される [Tobu 50090 series delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 5 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 6 September 2010.
  16. 東武鉄道50090系甲種輸送をEF65 1127がけん引る [Tobu 50090 series delivered by EF65 1127]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2010.
  17. 東武鉄道50090系 [Tobu 50090 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 48, no. 566. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2008. pp. 66–69.
  18. Kusui, Toshihiko (June 2014). 特別料金不要のクロスシート車総覧 [An overview of transverse-seating trains not requiring supplementary fares]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 43, no. 362. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. p. 7.
  19. 行楽列車「フライング東上号」リバイバルカラー車両２編成を運行します！ ["Flying Tojo" tourist train revival livery to be applied to two trains] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 22 October 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  20. ２０１９年３月１６日（土） 東武東上線ダイヤ改正 東上線に新種別「川越特急」が誕生します [Tobu Tojo Line 16 March 2019 timetable revision New train category "Kawagoe Limited Express" will commence] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 17 January 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  21. 東武鉄道で「クレヨンしんちゃんラッピングトレイン」の営業運転開始 [Tobu Railway operates "Crayon Shinchan wrapping train"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 November 2016. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  22. 東武鉄道で「クレヨンしんちゃんラッピングトレイン〜風間くんデザイン〜」運転開始 [Tobu Railway operates "Crayon Shinchan wrapping train" (Kazama-kun design)]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  23. 東武50050系「クレヨンしんちゃんラッピングトレイン〜ネネちゃんデザイン〜」運転開始 [Tobu 50050 series enters service as "Crayon Shinchan wrapping train" (Nene-chan design)]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 13 December 2016. Archived from the original on 13 December 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  24. 東武鉄道50050系「クレヨンしんちゃんラッピングトレイン〜ボーちゃんデザイン〜」運転開始 [Tobu 50050 series enters service as "Crayon Shinchan wrapping train" (Bo-chan design)]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 15 December 2016. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  25. 東武50050系「クレヨンしんちゃんラッピングトレイン〜マサオくんデザイン〜」運転開始 [Tobu 50050 series enters service as "Crayon Shinchan wrapping train" (Masao-kun design)]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  26. 「東武鉄道クレヨンしんちゃんラッピングトレイン」を運行期間延長！ ["Tobu Railway Crayon Shin-chan wrapping train" operating period to be extended!] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 30 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
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