Sanrio Puroland is a famous indoor theme park located near Keio Tama-center station on the Keio-Sagamihara line. In accordance with the promotion of tourism to Sanrio Puroland, Keio Electric Railway and Sanrio Entertainment Company jointly launched a new poster train on November 1st, 2018.
It is 9731F of the EMU Keio 9030 series. The 9731F was originally launched in 2006 as the 9th set of the 9030 series. Keio recently fully wrapped this 10-car train with lovely Sanrio mascots such as Hello Kitty and My Melody. After its debut, the poster train became very popular among girls and kids, and even their mothers. Many female employees in my office, who live on the Keio line, are also very fond of this poster train.
As a matter of fact, 9731F is the 2nd Sanrio poster train on the Keio line. The first one was 9749F debuted in 2016. It was also popular among children, but it was reverted to an ordinary design later. I think that the design of 9731F is more sophisticated than that of 9749F.
Incidentally, the 9030 series was commissioned in 2005. A total of 20 sets, 200 units, were built by Nippon Sharyo. The 9030 series is a part of the 9000 series group, but the 9030 series only can be directly operated onto the subway, Toei-Shinjuku Line, via Shinjuku station. One set of the 9030 series is composed of 5 motorcars and 5 trailers (5M5T). It has the IGBT-VVVF (variable frequency drive) inverter electric control system made by Hitachi.
It is 9731F of the EMU Keio 9030 series. The 9731F was originally launched in 2006 as the 9th set of the 9030 series. Keio recently fully wrapped this 10-car train with lovely Sanrio mascots such as Hello Kitty and My Melody. After its debut, the poster train became very popular among girls and kids, and even their mothers. Many female employees in my office, who live on the Keio line, are also very fond of this poster train.
As a matter of fact, 9731F is the 2nd Sanrio poster train on the Keio line. The first one was 9749F debuted in 2016. It was also popular among children, but it was reverted to an ordinary design later. I think that the design of 9731F is more sophisticated than that of 9749F.
Incidentally, the 9030 series was commissioned in 2005. A total of 20 sets, 200 units, were built by Nippon Sharyo. The 9030 series is a part of the 9000 series group, but the 9030 series only can be directly operated onto the subway, Toei-Shinjuku Line, via Shinjuku station. One set of the 9030 series is composed of 5 motorcars and 5 trailers (5M5T). It has the IGBT-VVVF (variable frequency drive) inverter electric control system made by Hitachi.
Official information about the Sanrio poster train (in Japanese):