Tokyu Iketama Happy Train

Iketama Happy Train travels on the Tokyu-Ikegami line

On June 23rd, Tokyu Railways launched a special poster train, named Iketama Happy Train, on their Ikegami and Tamagawa lines. I’m going to introduce you to this unique train today.

Let me quickly review the Tokyu-Ikegami and Tamagawa lines to start. They are short commuter routes in the southwestern part of Tokyo. Connecting Kamata and Gotanda, the route length of the Ikegami line is 10.9 kilometers. On the other hand, the Tamagawa line connects Kamata and Tamagawa. Its route length is 5.6 kilometers. The track is 1,067 millimeters-wide double and the electric system is 1,500 V direct current. All the trains belong to Yukigaya-otsuka Depo, and are commonly used for both the Ikegami and the Tamagawa lines.

According to Tokyu Railways, purpose of Iketama Happy Train is to make people, who look this train, happy. For that purpose, its design is colorful and polka-dotted. Pink is the symbol color of the Ikegami line; meanwhile, dark-red is that of the Tamagawa line. This design was proposed by Tokyu employees. The vehicle modified to Iketama Happy Train is Set 1522 of the EMU 1000-1500 series.  It was recently renovated from Set 1022 of the EMU 1000 series. The major difference between the original 1000 series and the renovated 1000-1500 series is its interior. The latter is calm and wood-grained, so passengers can get more relaxed with it.

Incidentally, please also check out my previous posts introducing the other poster trains on the Ikegami and Tamagawa lines… namely the green-colored train and the two-toned revival-colored train.

Tokyu Yukigaya-otsuka Depo

Official information about Iketama Happy Train by Tokyu Railways (in Japanese):

https://www.tokyu.co.jp/image/information/pdf/20240610-iketama-d.pdf

The Yukarigaoka Line: Update

EMU Yamaman 1000 series travels on the Yukarigaoka line

As I recently posted, I took the Yamaman-Yukarigaoka line for the first time in eleven years. What has changed and what has remained the same on this small AGT (Automated Guideway Transit) line?

The trains haven't changed. The EMU 1000 series is still operated on the line as a sole model. These lovely trains were built by Nippon Sharyo in 1982. The 1000 series is comfortable to ride except in summer. What does that mean? What I’m saying is air conditioners are not equipped on the trains. That must be tough for passengers in this season, but instead, each passenger gets a wet towel and a paper fan for free on the train. What's more, I got a bottle of water and salt tablets as well from the promotion. The salt tablets, which were offered by a snack maker, Kabaya, had a sweet-sour taste… definitely my favorite! Such a wonderful service.

One more news on the Yukarigaoka line is how to ride the trains for passengers with commuter passes. The existing commuter pass is no longer necessary. You need only your face. The railway company, Yamaman, started a facial recognition boarding system on June 15th this year. I couldn’t try this boarding system, as I’m not a frequent passenger of the Yukarigaoka line, but the facial recognition system seems to be very convenient. Incidentally, a single ticket has also been changed from a magnetic ticket to the QR code ticket.

The Yamaman-Yukarigaoka line… the trains are little worn-out, but the services to passengers are really on the leading-edge.

Two automatic ticket gates on the right are the facial recognition boarding system

Officilal information about the facial recognition and the QR code boarding system by Yamaman (in Japanese):

https://town.yukarigaoka.jp/yukariline_post/yukariline_post-11685/

Senzoku Pond: An Urban Oasis on the Ikegami Line

Set 1523 of the EMU Tokyu 1000-1500 series arrives at Senzokuike station 

The Japan Meteorological Agency made an announcement that this year's rainy season ended on July 18th in the Tokyo metropolitan area, which is one day earlier than usual. It’s the beginning of midsummer in Tokyo.

I visited an urban oasis in Tokyo. That's Senzoku Pond in Ota Ward, about 10 kilometers southwest of the city center. This pond was originally a spring. If we look back at the history, it was developed as a precinct of Senzoku-hachiman Shrine in 860. The spring was then changed to a pond for irrigation. Currently, Senzoku Pond is designated as a Scenic Beauty by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. When I visited there, it was very hot around the pond, but the wind across the pond was very comfortable. Midsummer was right there.

To get to this urban oasis, the nearest railway station is Senzokuike on the Tokyu-Ikegami line. The Ikegami line is a short commuter route connecting Kamata and Gotanda. Its route length is 10.9 kilometers. Taking this opportunity, I'm going to show you one of the trains being operated on the Ikegami line... namely the EMU 1000-1500 series. This model originally debuted in the early 1990s on the Tokyu-Toyoko line. After operating for about 20 years, 30 units were moved to the Tamagawa and Ikegami lines after modification, under the new name of 1000-1500 series. Its coloring is basically the same as that of the 7000 series. Two single-armed pantographs equipped on the roof of car number 2 are a good accent.

Senzoku Pond in front of Senzokuike station on the Tokyu-Ikegami line

The 50th Anniversary of Keisei Skyliner

Set AE3 of the EMU Keisei AE series passes through Shin-Mikawashima station

On December 30th, 2023, Keisei Electric Railway celebrated the 50th anniversary of their Skyliner operation. In commemoration, Keisei is displaying memorial stickers on the train set AE3 of the EMU AE series.

Let me review the history of Keisei Skyliner. It's an airport access train, operated between the city center of Tokyo and Narita Airport. As you know, Narita is the second international airport in the metropolitan area. The first generation Skyliner was commissioned in 1978, when Narita Airport was opened. That was the EMU (old) AE series with gorgeous reclining cross seats. At the beginning, one set was composed of 6 cars, but, changed to 8 cars later. The two-toned cream and maroon-colored bodies were vivid for passengers. The second generation Skyliner, named the EMU AE 100 series, debuted in 1990 replacing the deteriorating (old) AE series. I liked the retractable lights on the front of the AE100 series. It was cool and inspiring. The AE 100 series was retired in 2016 while it was missed by rail-fans. The third generation Skyliner, namely the EMU (new) AE series, was commissioned in 2010. This model is currently operated as a sole model of Skyliner. I'm fond of this train's sharp streamlined body like a crow. It was designed by a famous fashion designer, Yamamoto Kansai. The maximum operating speed of the (new) AE series is 160 kilometers per hour, which is the fastest in Japan except the Shinkansen trains.

Congratulations on the 50th anniversary of Keisei Skyliner!

The first generation Skyliner (left) and the third generation Skyliner (right)

Official website, Keisei Electric Railway:

https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/index.php

Lavender Field on the Yukarigaoka Line

EMU Yamaman 1000 series travels on the Yukarigaoka line

Here we are still in the middle of the gloomy rainy season in Tokyo. We have been having hot and humid days. I'm thinking of refraining from strolling in this season, but once the sun's rays peep through the clouds, I can't help going out.

My destination this time was Sakura Lavender Land in Chiba Prefecture, about 40 kilometers east of Tokyo. It's a vast lavender field, where the purple color spreads over. Lavender has long green stalks topped with a bunch of small purple flowers. They are extremely fragrant, and help me to be relaxed. To my joy, admission to Sakura Lavender Land is free... thank you.

To get to this purple world, the nearest railway station is Joshidai (Women's University) on the Yukarigaoka line. This route is a rubber-tyred automated guideway transit system operated by a real estate company, Yamaman. It looks like an attraction in an amusement park, but it's an authentic railway under the Railway Business ACT. The route is composed of the main and the annular sections. The starting station is Yukarigaoka, which is a transfer station to the Keisei line. All the trains leave Yukarigaoka station, run counterclockwise on the annular section, and come back to Yukarigaoka terminal. The total line length is only 4.1 kilometers. The track is single and the electric system is 750 V DC. 3-car trains, named the EMU 1000 series, are operated every 20 minutes on average.

I enjoyed both the beautiful field and the lovely train.

Sakura Lavender Land near Joshidai station on the Yukarigaoka line