Along with Tobu Railway, Keisei Electric Railway has also introduced a new commuter train: the EMU 3200 series.
Let me start by reviewing Keisei Electric Railway. It is one of the major private railway companies in the Tokyo metropolitan area. This year, Keisei absorbed Shin-Keisei Electric Railway, and now operates a 178.8-kilometer railway network in eastern Tokyo and northern Chiba Prefecture. Its airport access express, the "Skyliner", is well known as Keisei’s flagship train.
Now, let’s move on to the main topic. The first set of the EMU 3200 series debuted on February 22. Keisei plans to introduce a total of 90 units. The main concept of the 3200 series is to improve operational flexibility. A standard trainset consists of eight cars, but it can also be operated as a six- or four-car train. As you know, Keisei experienced a drastic decrease in passengers bound for Narita Airport during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the number of inbound tourists traveling on the Keisei Line between Narita Airport and downtown Tokyo has increased significantly since 2023. Operational flexibility, depending on demand, is therefore essential for Keisei. For that reason, the 3200 series features couplings between the driver’s cab of the leading car and a middle car (see the photo below). Such irregular train formations have rarely been seen in Tokyo in recent years. Discovering this kind of rarity is one of the greatest pleasures for trainspotters like me.
