EMU Tokyu 9000 Series: 2025 Update

Trainset 9015 of the EMU Tokyu 9000 series (revival color), the Oimachi line

Do you remember when the EMU Odakyu 8000 and Tokyu 9000 series were sold to Seibu Railway last year? Eight months have passed since then. I made a post about the latest status of the Odakyu 8000 series the other day, so, I would like to update the information on the Tokyu 9000 series today.

Let me review this news to start. On September 26th, 2024, Seibu Railway made a press release announcing that a total of 100 units of trains will be purchased from Odakyu Electric Railway and Tokyu Railways. Since a major railway company (Seibu) purchased secondhand trains from the other major railway companies (Odakyu and Tokyu), it was shocking news for rail-fans. Eight months later, I found that the ex-Odakyu 8000 series was modified to "the EMU Seibu 8000 series" and had started its test runs.

Let's get down to the main topic. The EMU Tokyu 9000 series has not been moved to Seibu yet. It is still being prepared. Not really understanding the situation, but it is said that the major renovation is necessary. On the other hand, Tokyu is looking back on the history of the 9000 series. They restored the frontal stripes of trainset 9015 (see the top photo) and 9001 from an orange-to-yellow gradient (see the photo below) to the original, a red-colored stripe. I still remember that I saw the 9000 series with the red-colored stripe at old Shibuya station on the Tokyu-Toyoko line in 2013. Time really flies.

I fully enjoyed the revival-colored trains of the EMU Tokyu 9000 series.

Trainset 9014 of the EMU Tokyu 9000 series (present standard color), Oimachi line

The 100th Anniversary of Atami Station

Izukyu "Kurofune train" displays "the 100th anniversary of Atami station" plate

On March 25th, Atami City celebrated the 100th anniversary of Atami station. In commemoration, Atami City and the railway operators held several events.

Let's take a quick look at Atami City and Atami station to start. Atami is located about 100 kilometers southwest of Tokyo and well-known as a marine resort city. I often visit there with my family, and enjoy soaking in the hot spring, fish dishes and fireworks festivals. Furthermore, Atami is a gateway to Izu Peninsula, which is famous for its beautiful national park. Atami station was opened in 1925 by the Japanese Government Railways. Currently, JR East and JR Central jointly manage this station.

Let's get down to the main topic. Please look at the photos. There are anniversary plates on the front of the trains standing at Atami station. They are trainset R-4 (Kurofune Train) of the EMU Izukyu 2100 series and trainset TB5 of the EMU Izukyu 8000 series. The arrival of the trains with the 100th anniversary plates caused Atami station to instantly thrive… but wait a moment. Atami is not Izukyu Railway’s station. Why does Izukyu celebrate the 100th anniversary of Atami station? It is because Izukyu trains are directly operated onto the JR East Ito line and come to Atami station. Thoughtfulness to the colleague company is important, isn't it? In contrast, I haven’t seen any anniversary plates on the bodies of JR East and JR Central trains. Hasn’t their attitude been a bit chilly? Is that none of their business?

EMU Izukyu 8000 series displays "the 100th anniversary of Atami station" plate

Two Topics on the Seibu Railway

Test run of the EMU Seibu 8000 series (ex-Odakyu 8000 series)

I would prefer to keep going with the topic of Seibu Railway today.

I recently visited Tokorozawa Aviation Memorial Park in Tokorozawa City, Saitama Prefecture. I’m not an airplane enthusiast but enjoyed the birthplace of Japanese aviation as it is the site of Japan's first airfield. On the way home, I returned to be a trainspotter because I came across an unfamiliar train at Kokukoen (Aviation Park) station on the Seibu-Shinjuku line. What’s that train?

It immediately rang a bell, and I realized that I had been familiar with it before… ex-Odakyu 8000 series! As I posted before, Seibu Railway purchased 100 units of secondhand trains from Odakyu Electric Railway and Tokyu Railways in 2024. The EMU Odakyu 8000 and Tokyu 9000 series were sold to Seibu Railway. Eight months later, the ex-Odakyu 8000 series was modified to "the EMU Seibu 8000 series" and had started its test runs. According to Seibu Railway, the reborn 8000 series will debut in the end of this month. Can’t wait!

Just after the ex-Odakyu train leaving, a yellow-colored train with a special plate on the front came to the station. What’s that? It was the special train of "the 130th anniversary of Kawagoe Railway”. The Seibu-Shinjuku and Kokubunji lines were originally inaugurated by Kawagoe Railway in 1895. I found that the 130th anniversary plate was displayed on the front of trainset 2065 of the EMU Seibu 2000N series. The rounded plate was provided by Sayama City to the Seibu Railway. Congratulations on the 130th anniversary!

Seibu Railway is packed with interesting topics.

"The 130th anniversary of Kawagoe Railway" train leaves Kokukoen station

Official information about the 130th anniversary of Kawagoe Railway (in Japanese):

https://www.seiburailway.jp/file.jsp?newsroom/news/file/20250311_headmark_1.pdf

The 4th Generation L-train

The 4th generation L-train arrives at Higashi-Kurume station

Seibu Railway launched the 4th generation “L-train”. I’m going to show you this new wrapped train today.

Let me review “L-train” to start. L-train (Lions Train) is Seibu Railway's ad-wrapped train for the purpose of supporting their professional baseball team "Saitama Seibu Lions". The design of L-train is based on Legend Blue, which is the team color of Saitama Seibu Lions. The bodies of L-train are decorated with the team emblems and characters. Historically, the 1st generation L-train appeared in 2010 using the EMU 3000 series. The 2nd generation was then commissioned in 2016 using the EMU 9000 series. The 3rd generation debuted in 2018 using the EMU 20000 series.

On March 15th this year, trainset 40152 of the EMU 40000 series was commissioned as the 4th generation L-train. The 40000 series is Seibu's high-end commuter train launched in 2017. A total of 23 sets, 224 units, were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. The first batch 6 sets have multi-purpose seats, which a conductor can change from long seats to cross seats using a remote control; meanwhile, the second batch 17 sets, including trainset 40152 (L-train), have long seats only. I found that traditional Lions character “Leo” on the front of L-train. It’s same as the EMU 8500 series on the Seibu-Yamaguchi line. Leo, how have you been? It’s been a while.

Incidentally, I remembered that trainset 40152 was once used as the other ad-wrapped trains named "Kanahei" and “Moi! Moomin Hanno”. Trainset 40152 is always busy for promoting tourism to the Seibu lines.

Side view of the 4th generation L-train

Official information about the 4th generation L-train by Seibu Railway (in Japanese):

https://www.seiburailway.jp/newsroom/news/20250313_Ltrain/

Preserved Electric Locomotive in Hitachi City

Electric locomotive Hitachi Mining Railway Unit 13 is preserved in Hitachi City

Hitachi is known as the city where Hitachi Ltd. was founded. It’s located in the northern part of Ibaraki Prefecture, about 150 kilometers north of Tokyo. The origin of this city was Hitachi Copper Mine discovered in the late 16th century. It was rapidly developed in the early 20th century after introducing machinery such as rock drills, but this historical mine was unfortunately closed in 1981 due to running out of the resources.

Hitachi Mining Railway played an important role in the modernization of Hitachi Copper Mine. This railway was opened in 1908 to transport passengers, materials and resources. Connecting Sukegawa (present Hitachi) and Daiou-in, its total operating length was 5.4 kilometers. The gauge size was 762 millimeters. In 1957, there were 6,500 passengers per day taking this railway, but the route was unfortunately abolished in 1981 for streamlining.

Please look at the top photo. There's an electric locomotive... Unit 13. It's preserved in Nippon Mining Museum in the city. Unit 13 was built by Hitachi in 1926, and had been commissioned as mainly freight trains. It weighs 8,000 kilograms and has two 33 kW direct current motors. The axis arrangement is Ao-Ao. After operating for 34 years, it was retired from the track in 1960. What impressed me most was its pantograph. It looks like a tower. I don’t know how to insulate against current to ensure the safety of the locomotive body to avoid a short circuit. It was a mystery for me. Anyway, I enjoyed observing the precious electric locomotive in the early days.

Pantograph of Unit 13 electric locomotive

Official website, "Nippon Mining Museum": https://www.jx-nmm.com/english/museum/