As a trainspotter, it’s always fun for me to come across rare trains on the tracks. No matter what troubles I face, spotting a rare train instantly lifts my spirits. Trainspotters are carefree people, aren’t we? Today, I’d like to introduce a surefire topic for old-school trainspotters like me.
The subway Tokyo Metro Namboku Line penetrates Tokyo Metropolis from south to north. Connecting Meguro and Akabane-Iwabuchi, the total operating length is 21.3 kilometers. Many trains run through onto the Tokyu Meguro Line, the Saitama Railway Line, and other lines. In addition, the section between Meguro and Shirokane-Takanawa is shared with the Toei Mita line.
To keep the Namboku Line service on schedule, Tokyo Metro operates a total of 23 trainsets. They all appear to be 6-car trains, but there is one exception if you look closely. That’s Set 9109 of the EMU 9000 series, which is composed of 8 cars. You can confirm it simply by counting the air-conditioning units on the train’s roof (see the photo below). Set 9109 was originally built in 1995 as a 6-car train. Two new cars were added later, making it an 8-car train in 2023.
According to Tokyo Metro, 14 more trainsets are planned to be lengthened from 6 to 8 cars to increase transport capacity; however, I haven’t heard any updates recently. As a result, Set 9109 remains an extra rare 8-car trainset for now. It’s really enjoyable for me to notice such subtle differences among these trains.
