EMU Sotetsu 7000 series arrives at Izumi-chuo Station on the Izumino line
Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) is known as a Yokohama-based private railway company. Starting from Yokohama, the main city in Kanagawa Prefecture, Sotetsu has a 35.9 kilometer-long railway network.
Sotetsu recently has been consumed with an ambition. It is to operate direct access trains to downtown Tokyo and increase passengers. For that purpose, Sotetsu is constructing connecting lines from Nishiya station to existing JR East and Tokyu lines. The construction is delayed by several years, but it is estimated to be completed in the second half of FY2019 (Sotetsu - JR East connecting line) and the second half of FY2022 (Sotetsu - Tokyu connecting line) respectively.
Sotetsu now needs advance preparation for the direct operation onto JR East and Tokyu lines. For that purpose, Sotetsu plans to introduce plenty of new trains, namely the EMU 12000 series and the 20000 series. It is exciting news for rail fans including me, but I am also uneasy about the future of the old trains, namely the EMU 7000 series.
The 7000 series is Sotetsu's longest-serving active model, which was launched in 1975. A total of 80 units have been built, but only two sets, 16 units, are currently operated on the line. I absolutely love this train, because it has an afterglow of the 1970s. Its design is rough with angular bodies, simple rounded front lights, and bare jumper cables in the front. Everything fills me with nostalgia.
The last chapter of the 7000 series has begun on the Sotetsu line.
Sotetsu recently has been consumed with an ambition. It is to operate direct access trains to downtown Tokyo and increase passengers. For that purpose, Sotetsu is constructing connecting lines from Nishiya station to existing JR East and Tokyu lines. The construction is delayed by several years, but it is estimated to be completed in the second half of FY2019 (Sotetsu - JR East connecting line) and the second half of FY2022 (Sotetsu - Tokyu connecting line) respectively.
Sotetsu now needs advance preparation for the direct operation onto JR East and Tokyu lines. For that purpose, Sotetsu plans to introduce plenty of new trains, namely the EMU 12000 series and the 20000 series. It is exciting news for rail fans including me, but I am also uneasy about the future of the old trains, namely the EMU 7000 series.
The 7000 series is Sotetsu's longest-serving active model, which was launched in 1975. A total of 80 units have been built, but only two sets, 16 units, are currently operated on the line. I absolutely love this train, because it has an afterglow of the 1970s. Its design is rough with angular bodies, simple rounded front lights, and bare jumper cables in the front. Everything fills me with nostalgia.
The last chapter of the 7000 series has begun on the Sotetsu line.
EMU Sotetsu 7000 series leaves Izumi-chuo Station on the Izumino line
Official information aboout the trains on the Sotetsu line (in Japanese):