Tōbu 50000 series

Infobox EMU
name = Tōbu 50000 series

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imagesize = 240px
caption = Tōbu 50050 series train on Isesaki Line
InService = 2005 - Present
Manufacturer = Hitachi
Family =
Built = 20 trainsets (as of June 2008)
Refurbishment =
Formation = 10 cars per trainset
Operator = Tōbu Railway
Depots = Shinrinkōen (50000, 50070, and 50090 series), Minami-Kurihashi (50050 series)
LinesServed = Tōbu Tōjō Line, Tōbu Isesaki Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line, Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line, Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line
CarBody = Aluminium
CarLength = 20 m
CarWidth = 2,800 mm (2,770 mm for 50050 series)
CarHeight =
MaxSpeed = 100 km/h (on Tōbu tracks only), 80 km/h (on Tōkyō Metro lines), 110 km/h (on Tōkyū Denentoshi Line)
Weight =
Capacity =
Acceleration = 3.3 km/h/s
Deceleration = 3.5 km/h/s (4.5 km/h/s for emergency brake)
Traction = VVVF
Power =
Gauge = 1,067 mm
Voltage = 1,500 V DC overhead
Brakes =
SafetySystem = Tōbu ATS, Tōkyō Metro CS-ATC (50050 series and 50070 series), Tōkyū CS-ATC (50050 series only), Tōkyō Metro ATO (50070 series only)

The 50000 series is a commuter EMU operated by Tōbu Railway in Japan and manufactured by Hitachi to its "A-train" concept. The trains closely resemble the Seibu 20000 series EMUs, and represent the first use of aluminium body cars on Tōbu commuter trains. They are also the first Tōbu trains to feature bilingual (Japanese and English) automated passenger announcements.

Variants

50000 series

Two 10-car 50000 series sets were built for use on the Tōbu Tōjō Line.
The first set (51001) entered service in 2005-03-16, followed by the second 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 Tōbu Isesaki Line (see below).

50050 series

The 10-car 50050 series sets were built for use on the Tōbu Isesaki and Nikkō lines, and inter-running services through the Tōkyō Metro Hanzōmon Line to the Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line displacing the earlier 30000 series sets.

The first set (51051) entered service on 2006-03-18, and as at January 2007, 10 sets were in service. While broadly based on the Tōjō Line 50000 series design with emergency end doors, cars are 30 mm narrower (2,770 mm compared with 2,800 mm) to cope with reduced clearances on the subway lines.

50070 series

The 10-car 50070 series sets were built for use on Tōbu Tōjō Line and Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line inter-running services, and also on Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line inter-running services from June 2008.

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. [Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine, June 2007 issue, p75]

A fifth set, 51075, was delivered in August 2008. [Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine, September 2008 issue, p127] This set differs in having opening windows similar in design to those added to JR East 209 series EMUs.

50090 series

Four 10-car 50090 sets were delivered in February and March 2008 for use on new Tōbu Tōjō Line limited-stop evening "TJ Liner" services starting from the start of the new timetable on 14 June 2008. [Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine, February 2008 issue, p126] 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. Externally, the sets feature a blue waistline stripe running the length of each car, with a "TOJO LINE" logo. [ [http://www.tobu.co.jp/file/85/071121.pdf "2008年6月 東武東上線に新ライナー登場"] Tobu News, 21 November 2007]

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. ["Your Tōjō" February 2008 issue]

References