The Tokyu-Toyoko Line is one of the main transportation arteries in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Connecting Shibuya and Yokohama, the operating length is 24.2 km. It carries an average of 1.2 million passengers per day. Shibuya is one of the sub-centers in the Tokyo Metropolis; meanwhile, Yokohama is the main city of Kanagawa Prefecture.
On August 28th this year, Tokyu Corporation celebrated the 90th anniversary of the Toyoko Line. It was opened between Shibuya and Maruko-Tamagawa (present Tamagawa) stations on August 28th, 1927. The gauge size is 1,067 mm and the electric system is 1,500 V DC overhead. Currently, 22 percent of the entire route is a double-double track. The trains on the Toyoko Line are directly operated onto the Tokyo Metro-Fukutoshin Line via Shibuya Station, and the Yokohama Minatomirai Railway via Yokohama Station.
In commemoration of the 90th anniversary, Tokyu launched a special revival colored poster train, "Aogaeru", on September 4th on the Toyoko Line. What is Aogaeru? It was a nickname of the green colored trains, the EMU 5000 series, which were operated on the Toyoko Line from 1954 to 1980. Because of its "face line" with lower parts of the face full-fleshed, they were called Aogaeru (green frog) among rail-fans.
The revival Aogaeru is also named the EMU 5000 series, but it is the 2nd generation one with a modern design. An 8-car train, set number 5122 is used as Aogaeru. The revival Aogaeru will be operated for a year until August, 2018.
