Railways in Sendai City: 2022 Update

EMU JR East E5 series travels on the Tohoku Shinkansen

I recently visited Sendai City for the first time in six years. What was new with the railways in this large city?

To start, let me quickly review Sendai City. It's situated about 350 kilometers north of Tokyo, and is the political and economic center of the Tohoku (northeast) District. As of May, 2022, it has a population of 1,096,925. Although Sendai is a densely populated city, it's known throughout Japan as a modern city in harmony with nature. The city possesses beautiful scenery, such as the Hirose River that runs through central Sendai, and the lush zelkova trees that line its streets. Greenery is especially abundant in the center of the city, which has tree-lined streets and parks. As a result, Sendai is called the "City of Trees". I lived in Sendai when I was a student, so, it's my home away from home.

I stayed at a hotel in the southern part of the city. I was very lucky as my room had a gorgeous "train view". It's located outside of the gently curved tracks of the Tohoku Shinkansen, so, I could enjoy the Shinkansen trains, which came one after another. They were high speed trains such as the EMU JR East E5 and E6 series with a maximum speed of 320 kilometers per hour. It was a nice room where I could sit on the sofa, drink a cup of coffee and watch the beautiful trains. I was very happy from day one.

To be continued...

EMU JR East E6+E5 series travels on the Tohoku Shinkansen

The Yurikamome Line: Who Closes Passenger Doors?

Set 47 of the EMU 7300 series arrives at Ariake-tennis-no-mori station 

I recently received a good question from my friend, who is a non-railfan. He said "I know the Yurikamome trains are operated without drivers and conductors. Question is who closes passenger doors on the trains at each station?"

To start, let me quickly review the Yurikamome (Black-headed Gull) line. It's a rubber-tyred AGT line connecting Shimbashi and Toyosu stations. AGT is an abbreviation for Automated Guide way Transit. It's a small sized train with rubber-tires instead of steel bogies. There are 16 stations over the total operating length of 14.7 kilometers. The power supply is 600V and 50Hz three-phase alternate current. It uses the ATO (Automatic Train Operation) system, so there's no driver or conductor on the train. It means passengers, specifically railfans, can freely sit on the front seats to enjoy scenic views through the window.

Thanks for waiting. Let's head to the main topic. The answer to the question is "The door operation of the Yurikamome trains is also automated". There are human sensors (motion sensors) on the automatic platform gates at each station. The passenger doors on the trains are synchronized with the automatic platform gates, so, they are automatically closed after passengers' getting on and off finish. In other words, automatic platform gates are essential for the automatic door operation on the Yurikamome trains. Needless to say, station platforms are under remote monitoring by railway employees from the control room through surveillance cameras. That's a fail-safe system.

He said "Thanks, I feel relieved now." It was an eureka moment.

An automatic platform gate at Shiodome station, the Yurikamome line

Ultimate Summer Retreat on the Ome Line

EMU JR East E233 series (4-car train) travels on the Ome line

It was very hot this summer. I visited a cool mountain in Yamanashi Prefecture last month to evacuate from the urban heat island. Other than that, I stayed in Tokyo, and sometimes visited indoor air-conditioned places such as railway museums. Oh, that reminds me. I once visited an ultimate summer retreat. It wasn't far from the city center, not air-conditioned, and not high altitude. Where was that? The answer is a natural cave, named Nippara-shonyudo (Nippara limestone cave) in Ome City, Tokyo Metropolis.

Nippara-shonyudo was formed by the chemical erosion of limestones, which were originally deposited on the sea bed from 300 to 200 million years ago. The total length of the cave is 1,270 meters. We can see precious natural features such as stalactites. Nippara-shonyudo is designated as a natural monument by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. In the cave, it's always kept 11 degrees Celsius... very cool in summer; while warm in winter. That's a paradise for visitors.

To get to this summer retreat, the nearest station is Okutama on the JR East Ome line. It's convenient for visitors who live in a western suburb, because some of the trains operate directly from the Chuo line onto the Ome line. The train is an orange-colored EMU E233 series, which is same as the Chuo line commuter train, but the train is made up of only four (or six) cars from Ome station. That's exactly a local line passing through a mountainous region. I had a great weekend.

Nippara limestone cave

Final Chapter of the Old Tokyu Train

8637F of the EMU Tokyu 8500 series travels on the Den-en-toshi line

On April 5th, 2022, Tokyu Electric Railway made a press release announcing that their old EMU 8500 series will be retired from the track in January, 2023... only four months left.

To start, let me quickly review the 8500 series. It's Tokyu's commuter train launched in 1975, when the Tokyu Den-en-toshi line trains started to be directly operated onto the subway Hanzomon line. This model was then introduced onto the Tokyu Oimachi line as well in 1986. 400 cars in total were built by Tokyu Sharyo, but most of them had already been replaced by new models such as the 5000 and 2020 series. Only one set (8637F) is currently operated on the Den-en-toshi line (see the photo above).

The specification of the 8500 series is rather old. The electric motor is traditional direct current compound. The electric control system is old field chopper. The stainless-steel bodies with corrugated structures... but they are very stout and trouble proof. Furthermore, I'm very fond of its growling running sound, which is exactly the train in the 1970's.

My best memory with the 8500 series trains was the happy reunion with it in Indonesia in February, 2009. One of Indonesian Railways' staff kindly invited me to Depok Railyard near Jakarta, when set number 8613 (8613F) of the 8500 series train was imported from Japan. I lived in Indonesia at that time, so, it was a touching reunion with the 8500 series (see the photo below).

Thirteen years have already passed since then. Time goes so fast.

8613F (center) has just arrived at Depok Railyard near Jakarta, Indonesia

(February, 2009)

Tanuki on the Keio-Inokashira Line: Part 2

A baby tanuki appears from a drain along the Keio-Inokashira line track

According to Japanese media, a wild tanuki (Japanese raccoon dog) appeared in the concourse of Shinjuku station the other day. As you know, Shinjuku is Japan’s largest railway station. The ridership of this giant station is 3.5 million passengers per day. Many train passengers saw him (or her), and captured in videos, but that tanuki was not at all afraid of people. The question is how did the tanuki get there.

I’m convinced that the tanuki moved along railway tracks, and finally reached this giant station. As I posted before, a railway track is a very safe place for wild animals, as it’s beyond limits except for railway employees. In other words, railway tracks are the best routes for wild animals to extend their habitations. I recently visited Shindaita station on the Keio-Inokashira line again, and found that a baby tanuki appeared from a drain along the track (see the photo above). He (or she) was looking for his (or her) parent. A few minutes later, the parent came back, and entered into the drain with his (or her) baby.

Incidentally, I received a comment on tanuki from Nicolai, who lives in Denmark. He showed me that 1) there’re tanuki-like wild animals named marten-dog in Europe, 2) marten-dogs are treated as an invasive species in Europe, where they are a big problem. I’m fond of the cute baby tanuki at the moment, but he (or she) may become pest species in the near future Japan.

EMU Keio 1000 series leaves Shindaita station on the Keio-Inokashira line

A Cool Photo from Europe

EMU Rhatische Railway ABe 4/4 III series travels on the Bernina line in Switzerland

Photo: Nicolai Okkels

It's already mid-September, but still hot and humid in Tokyo. Cool mountains are beckoning me, but I have a lot of things to do in this urban heat island at this moment. What else can I do?

I just remembered that one of my blog readers kindly sent to me a photo of a beautiful train in Europe. That train is operated on a mountainous route across Switzerland and Italy. I feel cooler just by looking at it. As you know, the Bernina line is a mountain climbing railway opened in 1908 by Bernina Railway Company. It's currently a part of Rhatische Railway, which has a 384 kilometers line network. Connecting St. Moritz and Tirano, the operating length is 61 kilometers. The route is single and electrified. The gauge size is 1,000 millimeters and the electric system is 1,000 V DC overhead catenary. That's quite easy to remember, right? The Bernina line crosses the Bernina Pass at 2,253 meters above sea level. The maximum inclination of the route is 70 per mil.

In the meantime, Rhatische Railway ties up with Hakone-tozan Railway in Japan, as two railways have things in common. They're mountain climbing railways with very steep tracks. Many tourists are using these lines. As a token of friendship, Hakone-tozan Railway operates Bernina-colored trains, named Bernina I and Bernina II, on the line. I'm specifically fond of Bernina I train (see the photo below), as its red-colored bodies with yellow and silver-colored stripes are very sophisticated and definitely my cup of tea.

Set 1001, "Bernina I", of the EMU Hakone-tozan 1000 series in Japan

Official website, Hakone-tozan Railway:

https://www.hakonenavi.jp/international/en/transportation/hakone-tozan

The Toyo Rapid Line: Update

EMU Toyo Rapid 2000 series travels on the Tokyo Metro-Tozai line

I recently visited the Toyo rapid line for the first time in nine years. What's new with this commuter route in a new residential area?

To start, let me quickly review the Toyo rapid line. It was opened in 1996 as a new commuter line in the western part of Chiba Prefecture. The railway operator, namely Toyo Rapid Railway, is a so-called third sector corporation financed by Chiba Prefecture, Funabashi City, Tokyo Metro, Mizuho Bank and so on. Connecting Nishi-Funabashi and Toyo-Katsutadai, the operating length is 16.2 kilometers. The entire route is a double track. Most of the trains are directly operated onto the subway, Tokyo Metro-Tozai line. The EMU 2000 series is Toyo Rapid Railway's sole model on the line. It was launched in 2004 to replace the old model, named 1000 series. 11 sets, 110 cars in total, were built by Hitachi from 2004 to 2006. The 2000 series has almost the same technical specifications as those of the Tokyo Metro 05 series.

Let's head to the main topic. I found that rapid service trains had been abolished on the line. In other words, all trains are now local trains (all-stations trains). It's because passengers, who get on and off trains at rapid service trains-don't-stop stations, have drastically increased in recent years due to housing land development. As a result, local trains had become very crowded. Mass transportation is more important than the speed of trains. Ironically, Toyo Rapid Railway has "rapid" in its name but not in reality.

EMU Toyo Rapid 2000 series leaves Yachiyo-chuo station on the Toyo rapid line

The Subway Museum: Revisit

Car 301 is exhibited in the Subway Museum (Tokyo Metro Museum)

It's already September, but the maximum daytime temperature is still over 30 degrees Celsius. My shelters to evacuate from this heat wave are air-conditioned indoor railway museums. Following the Keikyu Museum, I recently visited the Subway Museum (Tokyo Metro Museum) for the first time in five years.

Let's quickly review the Subway Museum to start. It was opened by Metro Cultural Foundation (an affiliate of Tokyo Metro) in 1986 to focus exclusively on subways. The museum is located next to Kasai station on the Tokyo Metro-Tozai line. Exhibitions are replete including actual vehicles and related equipment such as driving simulators.

I was lucky to enter car 301 of the electric car 300 series. The 300 series had been operated on the Marunouchi line, which is Japan's second oldest subway route. Car 301 was launched in 1954, when the Marunouchi line was inaugurated. The reddish body with a wavy patterned white stripe seemed to have a strong impact at that time. The technical specifications were modeled after subway vehicles in New York City. 30 cars in total were built by Kisha Kaisha, Nippon Sharyo, Kinki Sharyo and Kawasaki Sharyo after paying patent fees for motors and brakes to New York City. Car 301 was retired from the track in 2002 after operating for 48 years. The interior of the 300 series is rose-colored. It's very nostalgic, as I often used this train to go to work. I got immersed in memories of my old days, when I started working. Where has the time gone?

Interior of car 301

Official website, the Subway Museum (Tokyo Metro Museum):

https://www.chikahaku.jp/en/

The Sobu Rapid Line: Update

EMU JR East E217 series travels on the Sobu rapid line

It's already September, but the lingering summer heat is still intense. I'm somewhat fed up of going out when it's this hot, but trains are calling me. I recently visited the Sobu rapid line to see how that goes.

To start, let's quickly review the Sobu rapid line. It's JR East's commuter line in the metropolitan area. Connecting Tokyo and Chiba stations, its route length is 39.2 kilometers. The Sobu rapid line is actually just a common name. The formal name is the Sobu main line. Why don't people use this formal name? It's because the Sobu main line is a double-double-track, and composed of two lines (double-tracks). One is the Sobu local line and the other is the Sobu rapid line. As its name suggests, local trains (all-stations trains) are operated on the Sobu local line; meanwhile, rapid service trains are operated on the Sobu rapid line. The airport access trains, namely "Narita Express (N'EX)", are also operated on the Sobu rapid line. That's slightly complicated.

Let's finally head to the main topic. I found that a new model, namely E235-1000 series, grew into the large fleet on the line. 35 sets, 273 cars in total, are currently operated on the Sobu rapid line. On the contrary, an old model, namely E217 series has been decreasing in number. According to several rail-fans, all the E217 series will be retired from the track by March 2024. JR East is undergoing a generational change of trains on the Sobu rapid line.

EMU JR East E235-1000 series travels on the Sobu rapid line

Tanuki on the Keio-Inokashira Line

Tanuki walks around the Keio-Inokashira line track near Shin-Daita station 

In Japan, wild animals are increasing in number in urban areas year by year. For instance, I recently found a wild Japanese raccoon dog on a railway track near my home. While I was taking pictures of trains on the Keio-Inokashira line, he (or she) appeared from a drain along the track, and enjoyed walking around. As I posted before, Japanese raccoon dog, also known as tanuki, is a canid animal inhabiting only in the Far East. Japanese people have a strong affinity for this animal, as we often see them in folk tales, in which they often shape-change as a messenger of God. A railway track might be a very safe place for wild animals, as it's beyond limits except for railway employees. In other words, railway tracks will be the best routes for wild animals to extend their habitations. Railways are not only for trains but also for wild animals!

Incidentally, the Keio-Inokashira line is a short urban commuter route penetrating residential areas in the western part of Tokyo Metropolis. There are 17 stations over a total operating length of 12.7 kilometers. The EMU 1000 series is a sole model being operated on the line. 29 sets, 145 cars in total, were introduced from 1996 to 2010. One of the features of this EMU is that each train set shows a different color on the front mask and the side lines. Those are orange-beige (see the photo below), ivory white, salmon-pink, light-green, lilac, light-blue and blue-green ... the seven rainbow colors.

Set 1713 (orange-beige) of the EMU Keio 1000 series arrives at Shin-Daita station