Tobu 500 series

Tobu 500 series
Revaty
A 500 series EMU in April 2017
In service2017–present
ManufacturerKawasaki Heavy Industries
Built atKobe, Hyogo
Replaced300 series
Constructed2016–
Entered service21 April 2017
Number built33 vehicles (11 sets) as of September 2020
Number in service24 vehicles (8 sets)
Formation3 cars per trainset
Capacity161
OperatorsTobu Railway
Lines servedTobu Skytree Line, Tobu Urban Park Line, Tobu Isesaki Line, Tobu Nikko Line, Tobu Utsunomiya Line, Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line, Aizu Railway Aizu Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width2,870 mm (9 ft 5 in)
Height4,035 mm (13 ft 2.9 in)
Doors1 sliding door per side
Maximum speed
  • 120 km/h (75 mph) (service)
  • 130 km/h (81 mph) (design)
Traction systemTM-16 (190 kW) × 8 per set
Power output1.52 MW (2,038 hp) per set
Acceleration2.3 km/(h⋅s) (1.4 mph/s)
Deceleration
  • 3.7 km/(h⋅s) (2.3 mph/s) (service)
  • 5.3 km/(h⋅s) (3.3 mph/s) (emergency)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC
Current collector(s)Overhead line
Safety system(s)TST-ATS
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Tobu 500 series (東武500系, Tōbu 500-kei), branded Revaty (リバティ), is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway on limited express services in Japan since 21 April 2017. As of September 2020, 11 three-car sets (33 vehicles in total) have been built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

Design

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The trains were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with exterior and interior styling overseen by Japanese industrial designer Ken Okuyama.[1] The driving cabs at each end of the three-car trainsets includes an automatically extending gangway connection to allow trains to be coupled or split en route.[1]

  • The gangway connection between two coupled units
    The gangway connection between two coupled units
  • Two units being coupled en route in May 2017
    Two units being coupled en route in May 2017
  • Interior of the driving cab
    Interior of the driving cab
  • Interior of the right-hand side cab
    Interior of the right-hand side cab

The trains have active suspension, a first for trains operated by Tobu, and use permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) traction motors.[1]

Naming

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The trains are branded Revaty (リバティ), a name derived from the English words "Variety" and "Liberty".[2]

Operations

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A three-car set on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line on a Revaty Aizu service in May 2017

As of 21 April 2017, the trains are used on the following services.[3]

Service name Between Line(s) used
Revaty Kegon Asakusa - Tobu Nikko Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line
Revaty Kinu Asakusa - Shin-Fujiwara Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line - Tobu Kinugawa Line
Revaty Aizu Asakusa - Aizu-Tajima Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line - Tobu Kinugawa Line - Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line - Aizu Railway Aizu Line
Revaty Ryomo Asakusa - Tatebayashi Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Isesaki Line
Skytree Liner Asakusa - Kasukabe Tobu Skytree Line
Urban Park Liner Asakusa - Omiya/Nodashi Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Urban Park Line
Omiya - Unga Tobu Urban Park Line

Exterior

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The exterior livery consists of "champagne beige" with "forest green" and "future blue" (Tobu's corporate colour) highlights around the windows.[1]

Formation

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The fleet of three-car sets are formed as follows, with two driving motor ("M") cars and a non-powered trailer ("T") intermediate car.[4]

Designation Mc1 T Mc2
Numbering MoHa 50x-1 SaHa 50x-2 MoHa 50x-3
Capacity (seated/total) 56/112 87/136 56/112
Weight (t) 40.5 35.1 40.4

The two motored cars each have one single-arm pantograph.[4]

Interior

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Each three-car set has a seating capacity of 161 passengers. Seat pitch is 1,000 mm (39 in). Interior lighting is LED lighting.[1] Wi-Fi and at-seat AC power sockets are provided.[1]

The automated on-board passenger announcements use the voice of TV presenter Tomomi Kuno [ja].[5]

  • Passenger saloon interior
    Passenger saloon interior
  • Wheelchair space
    Wheelchair space
  • The connecting gangway between units
    The connecting gangway between units

Toilet facilities

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Each trainset includes a universal access toilet, western-style toilet, and urinal, located in the centre car.[4]

  • The universal-access toilet
    The universal-access toilet
  • Interior of the universal-access toilet
    Interior of the universal-access toilet
  • The standard western-style toilet
    The standard western-style toilet
  • The men's urinal
    The men's urinal

History

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Sets 505 and 504 on delivery in January 2017

Tobu Railway officially announced initial details of the new trains on 22 April 2015.[1] In April 2016, Tobu announced that the trains would be used on through services between Asakusa in Tokyo and Aizu-Tajima in Fukushima Prefecture via the Yagan Railway and Aizu Railway Aizu Line from spring 2017.[6]

The first three sets, 501 to 503, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in December 2016.[7]

The 500 series "Revaty" trains were a recipient of the 2018 Laurel Prize from the Japan Railfan Club.

Sets 509, 510, and 511 were delivered in September 2020. These sets' delivery was the final working on the Chichibu Railway Mikajiri Line before its closure.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Kusamachi, Yoshimasa (22 April 2015). 東武鉄道、新型特急「500系」2017年春導入へ...分割・併合運転に対応 [Tobu Railway to introduce new 500 series limited express trains in spring 2017 - To allow coupling/splitting en route]. Response (in Japanese). Japan: IID Inc. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. ^ 東武 新型特急車輌500系の愛称名「Revaty」に決定 [Brand name "Revaty" chosen for new Tobu 500 series limited express trains]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  3. ^ 2017年4月21日（金）ダイヤ改正を実施！ [Revised timetable to be introduced on Friday 21 April 2017] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original (pdf) on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  4. ^ a b c 東武鉄道500系 [Tobu Railway 500 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57, no. 674. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2017. pp. 80–84.
  5. ^ 東武鉄道 新型特急用車両500系の愛称は"Revaty"に決定 [Tobu Railway: New limited express trains to be named "Revaty"]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45, no. 392. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. December 2016. p. 72.
  6. ^ 東武鉄道の新型特急車両「500系」が2017年春より野岩鉄道・会津鉄道へ乗り入れます！ [New Tobu 500 series trains to inter-run on Yagan Railway and Aizu Railway from spring 2017] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  7. ^ 東武鉄道500系が甲種輸送される [Tobu 500 series delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 December 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  8. ^ 秩父鉄道三ヶ尻線で最後の甲種輸送 [The last class-A transport on the Chichibu Railway Mikajiri Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
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