Wednesday 22 April 2020

EMU 5000 Series: New Model on the Odakyu Line

EMU Odakyu 5000 series (westbound train) passes through Chitose-Funabashi station

On March 26th, Odakyu Electric Railway Company launched a new commuter train for the first time in 12 years.

The new model named EMU 5000 series is a 10-car train consisting of 5 motorcars and 5 trailers. It's an Odakyu line exclusive train. In other words, the 5000 series can't be directly operated onto the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line due to its specification. Currently, only one set is operated, but Odakyu plans to introduce 5 more sets by the end of March 2021. The first set was built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

The most distinctive feature of this commuter train is its wide bodies. It's about 10 centimeters wider than that of existing models such as the 3000 and the 4000 series. It's only 10 centimeters, but still considered important for passengers like me, who use packed trains at a peak hour everyday. The other feature is that LEDs are used for all lights including front, rear and interior ones. The electric control system is a state-of-the-art full SiC-VVVF (full silicon carbide-variable frequency drive) inverter. Thanks to the SiC power semiconductor, electric consumption of the 5000 series has been reduced by up to 40% compared with the past models. It's because SiC doesn't get as hot as those of the previous semiconductors.

The 5000 series will replace the old models gradually. I predict that the early EMU 8000 series with an armature chopper electric control system will be retired soon. Patna rhei (All things are in a state of flux).

EMU Odakyu 5000 series (eastbound train) passes through Chitose-Funabashi station

Official promotion movie about the EMU Odakyu 5000 series (in Japanese):
Official promotion movie about Odakyu's new timetable (in Japanese):