Saturday 28 February 2015

Sayonara, EMU Keisei 3300 Series

EMU Keisei 3300 series travels on the Kanamachi Line (September, 2012)
 
Old trains in Tokyo retire one after another. On February 12th, Keisei Electric Railway made a press release announcing that the EMU Keisei 3300 series will be retired from the track by the end of February.

The 3300 series was launched in 1968 for direct operating trains between the Keisei and the Toei Asakusa Subway lines. A total of 54 units have been manufactured for five years by Tokyu Sharyo, Nippon Sharyo and Kisha Kaisha. Its specification is rather old (DC motors with a rheostatic control system); however, the 3300 series still keeps a beautiful figure on the track.

I like this nostalgic train, as the four large front lights are very cute. When I was a child, the Keisei train was synonymous with the 3300 series. It was called Akaden (the red train), since the body color was red at that time. The 3300 series really goes with the nostalgic old town of Tokyo.

For your information, the successor of the 3300 series is the EMU 3000 series. It was launched in 2002 and is still manufactured to replace the old trains on the Keisei Line. I know that the 3000 series is a modern commuter train with latest specifications, but I get a cold impression from this train with its stainless steel body.

If there's a beginning, there will be an end (Japanese proverb). The last run of the 3300 series is planned on February 28th. Sayonara (good bye), the Keisei 3300 series.
 
EMU Keisei 3000 series travels on the Keisei Main Line (September, 2014)