The Tobu 30000 series (東武30000系, Tōbu 30000-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1997.[3] Initially formed as six-car and four-car sets, sets are mostly formed as permanently coupled ten-car formations since 2011.
Formations
As of 24 January 2020[update],[4] the fleet consists of one six-car and one four-car set based at Minami-Kurihashi and Kasukabe depots for Tobu Skytree Line and Tobu Nikko Line services, and 14 permanently coupled 6+4-car sets based at Shinrinkoen Depot for Tobu Tojo Line services.[5]
10-car Tobu Tojo Line sets
Car No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Designation
Tc2
M2A
M1A
T
T
M3
T1
M2
M1
Tc1
Numbering
34400
33400
32400
31400
36600
35600
34600
33600
32600
31600
The M1 and M1A cars are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M3 cars are fitted with one.[5]
Six-car set 31613 on a Nikko Line service in May 2012
Designation
Tc1
M1
M2
T1
M3
Tc2
Numbering
31600
32600
33600
34600
35600
36600
The M1 cars are fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M3 cars are fitted with one.[5]
4-car sets
Four-car set 31407 on a Nikko Line service in November 2013
Designation
Tc1
M1A
M2A
Tc2
Numbering
31400
32400
33400
34400
The M1A cars are fitted with two single-arm pantographs.[5]
Bogies
SS038 trailer bogie
SS138 motored bogie
Interior
Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal seating throughout.[1]: 43
The first three sets delivered, sets 31601, 31401, and 31402, had flat panels on the seat ends and no centre stanchions. Set 31403 was fitted with contoured seats, and these were fitted on all subsequent sets delivered. Sets 31607 and 31407 onward had higher light blue panels on the seat ends.[3]
Interior view showing seating style in early sets (car 33405)
Interior view showing seating style in later sets (car 32612), November 2015
Priority seating in car 32612, November 2015
A wheelchair space in car 32612, November 2015
History
A six-car set being delivered in July 2001
The first set, 31601, was delivered in November 1996, with the first trains entering service on 25 March 1997.[3] Initially used primarily on Tobu Isesaki Line services, they were introduced on through-running services to and from the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line via the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line from March 2003,[3] operating in 6+4-car formations.[6] However, as the driving cabs between the two sets led to reduced capacity, which hampered the fleet's ability to cope with the congestion rates of the Hanzomon and Den-en-toshi lines, the 30000 series' usage on these services was reduced in late 2005.[6] They were largely superseded by new 50050 series fixed 10-car sets from 18 March 2006.[7]: 70–71 Sets withdrawn from Hanzomon Line through services were reallocated to services on the Isesaki, Nikko, and Utsunomiya lines.[6]
Transfer to Tojo Line
From January 2011, pairs of four- and six-car sets were transferred to the Tobu Tojo Line, commencing with sets 31601 and 31401.[8] These sets entered revenue service from 13 June 2011 following modifications at Shinrinkōen Depot to form a permanently coupled 10-car set with control equipment and skirts removed from the two intermediate driving cabs.[9] In addition, the electrical couplers from the end cars were removed.[7]: 71
Permanently coupled sets 31401 and 31601 undergoing driver training on the Tojo Line, April 2011
Permanently coupled intermediate driving cabs of cars 36610 and 31410, November 2021
^When operated in multiple with a 10000 series set, acceleration was limited to 2.5 km/(h⋅s) (1.6 mph/s).[1]
References
^ abc 東京私鉄通勤電車図鑑 [Illustrated book of commuter trains in Tokyo]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 39, no. 454. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. February 1999. pp. 8–49.
^ 新車ガイド 東武鉄道30000系 [New Rolling Stock Guide: Tobu 30000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 37, no. 430. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. February 1997.
^ abcd ２００６東武鉄道通勤車両カタログ [2006 Tobu Railway Commuter Rolling Stock Catalogue]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 35, no. 263. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. March 2006. pp. 13–15.
^ ab東武30000系31606編成と31406編成が東上線へ [Tobu 30000 series sets 31606 and 31406 transferred to the Tojo Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
^ abcdefghi 私鉄車両編成表 2015 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 23 July 2015. pp. 40–42, 204. ISBN978-4-330-58415-7.
^ abcKeiju, Osano (19 September 2021). "東上線でも大活躍､｢転勤族｣東武30000系の半生" [The double-life of the Tobu 30000 series]. Toyo Keizai Online (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
^ abHogan, Kishida (March 2012). "The Tobu Railway World". Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 52, no. 611. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 70–75.
^東武30000系31601編成+31401編成が森林公園検修区へ [Tobu 30000 series sets 31601 and 31401 move to Shinrinkōen Depot]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
^ 東武鉄道30000系 東上線で運用開始 [Tobu 30000 series enters service on Tojo Line]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 40, no. 329. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. September 2011. p. 73.
^ ab 私鉄車両編成表 2012 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. July 2012. p. 199. ISBN978-4-330-29911-2.
^ abcd 私鉄車両編成表 2013 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 July 2013. p. 205. ISBN978-4-330-39313-1.
^ abc 私鉄車両編成表 2014 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2014]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 24 July 2014. p. 199. ISBN978-4-330-48414-3.
Further reading
東武鉄道30000系 [Tobu 30000 series]. Railway Journal (364). March 1997.
