On March 17th, 2023, Odakyu Electric Railway celebrated the 5th anniversary of the GSE operation. Time really flies.
Let me review the Odakyu GSE. EMU Odakyu 70000 series, "GSE", is the latest model of the "Romancecar" fleet. "Romancecar (one word)" is the brand name of the Odakyu limited express train in English. It's operated between Shinjuku, a sub-center of Tokyo and Hakone, a famous resort in the metropolitan area. GSE is a 7-car train with upper-deck cockpits, so, passengers can enjoy the view ahead. It's the same as the previous models such as NSE, LSE, HiSE and VSE, but GSE is more elaborate. For instance, it has larger windows to secure a clear visual field for passengers. Regarding the technical specifications, an electrohydraulic full active suspension system is notable. It's a special device to minimize the lateral swinging movement of the train. The electric control system is a state-of-the-art full SiC-various frequency drive. On the other hand, GSE are not articulated cars but a standard EMU. It's probably because the articulated cars require more maintenance cost. When disconnecting the articulated cars for an inspection, it's necessary to support the vehicle body by a crane.
In commemoration of the 5th anniversary, a special sticker is being displayed on the front of the train. Whenever I come across GSE, its rose-vermilion-colored bodies make my heart race. It's definitely my favorite color. Congratulations on the 5th anniversary of GSE! I wish GSE will be active on the track for long time.
