On November 30th, a new train debuted on the Ina Line of the New Shuttle. It is the sixth set (Set 26) of the 2020 series EMU, and has been given the cheerful nickname “Happy Rainbow Train.”
Let me start with a brief review of the New Shuttle. It’s a rubber-tyred automated guideway transit (AGT) system in Saitama Prefecture, about 30 kilometers north of Tokyo. Its formal name is the Ina Line of the Saitama New Urban Transit Company. Connecting Omiya and Uchijuku, the line is 12.7 kilometers long. The entire route opened in 1983 alongside JR East’s Shinkansen tracks. The route is mostly double-tracked, but has some single-track sections. The trains are powered by 600-volt three-phase alternating current. Instead of overhead wires, three rigid conductors are installed along the track. You can see these rigid power-supply wires and the guide rail in the top photo.
Now, let’s head to the main topic. As its name suggests, the Happy Rainbow Train (Set 26) features a colorful rainbow livery. It stands out from the existing 2020 series sets—such as Set 22, 23, and 25. Inside the train, wheelchair spaces and priority seats have been enlarged. The heating and ventilation systems were also upgraded.
When I visited the Ina Line, the Happy Rainbow Train was “sleeping” in Maruyama Depot. That was a pity… but just five minutes later, the situation changed dramatically. The front lights turned on and the train slowly rolled out of the depot. It “squirmed” its body (see the top photo) and made its way toward the main track (see the photo below). What a stroke of luck!
Happy Rainbow Train heading toward the main track on the Ina Line