Tobu Railway unveils new Hitachi Rail EMU model for Greater Tokyo

90000 series from Hitachi Rail for Tobu Railway. Source: Tomoyuki Asai/tetsudo-shimbun

Japan: Journalists got their first look at the ten-car 90000 series trainsets on 13 July, at the operator’s depot in the town of Namegawa. The EMUs are due to enter service on 26 September on the 75 km, 1,067 mm gauge Tobu Tojo commuter line.

Tobu Railway has ordered seven trains, which will be phased in gradually through to March 2029. They will replace 9000 series trainsets built by the local Tokyu Car (now J-TREC) between 1981 and 1994. The operator says the new EMUs cut electricity consumption by more than 40% compared with their predecessors, a result achieved through SiC-based traction converters, asynchronous motors and LED lighting.

The carbodies are made of aluminium. Each train has four motor cars, with four 215 kW traction motors apiece. Top speed is 110 km/h, and each train seats 498 of its 1,390 passengers. The saloon includes areas for wheelchairs and pushchairs.