JAPAN: Keio Electric Railway put the first of its Series 2000 EMUs into commercial service on January 31, operating on its 37·9 km Keio Line linking Tokyo’s Shinjuku hub with the western suburb of Hachioji.
Keio Corp announced last year that it had ordered four 10-car trainsets from J-TREC for operation on its 1 372 mm gauge network, which has a through running connection with Toei’s Shinjuku metro line. All four are scheduled to be delivered by August 2027, allowing the replacement of older rolling stock.
Each unit is formed of five motored and five trailer cars. The two driving trailers are 19·9 m long and the intermediate vehicles are 19·5 m. The carbodies are 2 800 mm wide with a maximum height of 4 080 mm above rail. Individual vehicle weights vary from 25 to 34 tonnes. The motor cars are fitted with VVVF inverter traction controls using SiC components, which Keio says will improve energy efficiency by 20% compared to its Series 7000 EMUs with conventional VVVF drives.
According to the operator, the EMUs have been designed to offer greater safety and peace of mind, with an interior that is ‘gentle and exciting for all generations’. This has been developed using sensory AI analytics and feedback from staff and customer focus groups. Rounded forms are used as a motif, along with pale yellow and pink colour schemes that create a space ‘that evokes joy and calmness’, and will ‘ensure that passengers can ride comfortably for years to come’.
Car 5 has been designed with a large open multifunctional space with no seating, designed for passengers with wheelchairs or children in buggies. This vehicle has large windows to improve the view for smaller children and wheelchair users; it has been nicknamed Hidamari, or ‘Sunny Space’. The vehicle has been positioned within the train to ensure that it is close to the station lifts at each stop, further improving accessibility.
