Tuesday 15 January 2019

New Model on the Toei-Asakusa Line

EMU Toei 5500 series arrives at Kohjiya station on the Keikyu-kuko line

When I visited "Nanatsuji (seven crossroads)" on the Keikyu-Kuko line, I came across a new model at Kohjiya station. It was the EMU Toei 5500 series directly operated from the Toei-Asakusa line.

The 5500 series was launched on June 30th, 2017 to replace the old model, EMU 5300 series. Currently, a total of 7 sets, 56 units are operated on the Toei-Asakusa, Keikyu, Keisei and Hokuso Railway. Toei (the Transportation Bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) plans to introduce a total of 27 sets, 216 units by 2021 replacing all the 5300 series trains.

The most distinctive feature of the 5500 series is its face. This unique front design was taken from a Japanese traditional performance art, Kabuki, which is a drama performance with a history of over four hundred years. Its stage makeup is very vivid. The face of the 5500 series was taken from this unique makeup. For your information, Kabuki Theater is located just above Higashi-Ginza station on the Toei-Asakusa line.

With regard to the technical specifications of the 5500 series, several advanced technologies are adopted such as a full SiC-MOSFET VVVF (variable frequency drive) inverter electric control system. The body of the 5500 series is 18 meters long, which is the same as the other Toei-Asakusa line trains.

The old Kabuki train on the Tokyu line (the EMU 7600 series) was retired from the track in 2015, but the new Kabuki train on the Toei-Asakusa line has just debuted. It is good news for rail fans.

EMU Toei 5500 series leves Kohjiya station on the Keikyu-kuko line