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JAPAN: The first of eight 10-car Series 71-000 electric multiple-units designed to ‘connect the sea, the city and the future’ entered passenger service on Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit’s Rinkai Line with a ceremony at Tokyo Teleport station on October 1.
The 1 067 mm gauge Rinkai Line runs 12 km between Shinkiba and Osaki, connecting the waterfront area with central Tokyo. The new trains have been ordered to enable the operator to support the continued development of the area, and are designed to provide a more comfortable and accessible environment for passengers, with better performance than the original Series 70-000 trains supplied around 30 years ago.
The exterior design of the 1·5 kV DC 120 km/h EMUs from manufacturer J-TREC’s Sustina family is based on the Series 70-000, with the rounded front modified to create the image of a ‘gentle smile’.
The livery inspired the sea and the city is a gradation of emerald and blue. The interior is similar to the Series 70-000, with a white base and grey and navy accents. The seats are grey and blue, with priority seats being pink.
The 20 m long stainless steel cars are 2 998 mm wide, wider than the previous generation to increase passenger space. The seat width has been increased and there are larger armrests.
The floor height is 50 mm lower for easier boarding, the luggage racks and handrails have been lowered to make them accessible to more passengers, and there are spaces for pushchairs and wheelchair users. There are audio and visual alerts when the doors open and close, and sounds to guide people to the open doors.
LCD screens above the doors to provide information on transfers, operational information and station facilities. The cooling capacity of the air-conditioning units has been increased, with equipment to protect against mould, pollen, bacteria or odours.
Safety measures included a stronger car body design and shock-absorbing materials on the front of the end cars. The interiors have CCTV and four emergency call points.
All eight Series 71-000 EMUs are expected to be in service in 2027.
AloJapan.com