The Tokyu 9000 series (Japanese: 東急9000系, Hepburn: Tōkyū 9000-kei) is a Japanese commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation in the Tokyo area of Japan. Introduced into service in March 1986, 14 eight-car sets and a five-car set were built between 1986 and 1991 by Tokyu Car Corporation for use on the Tokyu Toyoko and Oimachi lines. Between 2009 and 2013, the 9000 series sets allocated to Toyoko Line operations were transferred to the Oimachi Line.
Design
Cars are 20 metres (66 ft) long, 2.8 m (9 ft 2 in) wide, and have four pairs of doors per side. While they retain the stainless steel bodies used by older Tokyu train types, they have an offset front-end door. In addition, the 9000 series was the first train type to use variable-frequency drive (more commonly referred to as VVVF) technology from new.[4][5] Since its introduction in 1986, all subsequent Tokyu train types would implement the technology.[6]
Cars 2, 3, and 4 are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
Passenger accommodation consists primarily of longitudinal seating. Priority seating is composed of transverse seating bays.[9]
Interior view
Priority seating
History
The 9000 series fleet consists of 117 vehicles which were built by Tokyu Car Corporation. Construction commenced in 1986 and continued until 1991. The vehicles were initially formed into 14 eight-car sets and a five-car set, numbered 9001 to 9015. The train type first entered service on the Tokyu Toyoko Line in March 1986, and the sole five-car set (9007) was introduced on the Tokyu Oimachi Line in 1988.[1][2]
Refurbishment
From fiscal 2004,[10] the 9000 series fleet underwent a programme of interior refurbishment. The programme included the removal of intermediate partitions in favor of stanchion poles for seven-person seats, installation of onboard passenger information displays, and replacement of the original mixture of brown and orange seat moquette. The seat backs received patterned moquette, whereas the seats received plain red moquette.[9]
The interior of a 9000 series set in as-built condition
The interior of a refurbished 9000 series set
Transfer to the Tokyu Oimachi Line
5-car set 9007 with Oimachi Line-colored front-end band, March 2008
Set 9007 was the only 9000 series trainset on the Oimachi Line until July 2009, when eight-car set 9002 was transferred from Motosumiyoshi depot to Nagatsuta depot for use on the line. It was shortened to a five-car formation, and its solid-red front-end bands were replaced with ones with a red-to-orange gradient.[11] The rest of the fleet was transferred and modified as such from then, with the last of these sets—9001, 9005, and 9010—being withdrawn from Toyoko Line operations between 14 and 15 March 2013.[12] They were transferred to Nagatsuta shortly thereafter.[13]
8-car set 9001 with a headmark commemorating its final run on the Toyoko Line, February 2013
Future transfer to Seibu Railway
On 26 September 2023, it was announced that Tokyu Railway would be transferring over a number of 9000 series sets to the Seibu Railway, together with some Odakyu 8000 series sets from Odakyu Railway.[14][15] The 9000 series is expected to enter service with Seibu from 2025 onwards and the transfer is expected to be completed by 2029. Seibu announced that these sets will be used on branch lines such as the Tamako line, Tamagawa line, Chichibu line and the Sayama line.
Special liveries
A 9000 series set is due to receive a special livery to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tokyu Corporation's founding.[16] The set is due to enter service with the commemorative livery on 29 April 2022.[17]
References
^ abcd"知識の倉 別館-東急電鉄 元住吉検車区編成表" [Tokyu Corporation Motosumiyoshi Inspection Zone Organization Table]. formation.g1.xrea.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^ abc"知識の倉 別館-東急電鉄 長津田検車区編成表" [Tokyu Corporation Nagatsuta Inspection Zone Organization Table]. formation.g1.xrea.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^Abbott, James, ed. (1993). Jane's World Railways 1993-94 (35th ed.). Jane's Information Group Ltd. p. 472. ISBN0-7106-1082-3.
^"Tokyu 9000 Series". All About Japanese Trains. Archived from the original on 17 February 2022. Retrieved 17 February 2022.
^"東急9000系9002編成が試運転を実施" [Tokyu 9000 series set 9002 on trial operation]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 9 July 2009. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^"東横線から9000系が姿を消す" [9000 series disappears from the Toyoko Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 March 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^"東急9000系9001編成が長津田検車区へ" [Tokyu 9000 series set 9001 to Nagatsuta]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2 May 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
^"西武，東急9000系と小田急8000形を「サステナ車両」として譲受" [Seibu to take ownership of Tokyu 9000 Series and Odakyu 8000 series cars]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^Kinoshita, Kenji (26 September 2023). "西武鉄道「サステナ車両」東急電鉄9000系＆小田急電鉄8000形を譲受" [Acquisition of Tokyu 9000 Series and Odakyu 8000 Series Cars by Tokyu Railways]. Mynavi Corporation (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 26 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
^"特別企画列車「東急グループ100周年トレイン」を運転" [Tokyu to operate special 100th anniversary trains]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
^"「東急グループ100周年トレイン」目黒線3020系ラッピング車両公開" ["Tokyu Group 100th Anniversary Train"-wrapped Meguro Line 3020 series released]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Mynavi Corporation. 10 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
