I’m happy to introduce a new train that appeared in the Tokyo area this autumn — the EMU 71-000 series on the Rinkai Line. It’s been about three months since I last shared a new train here.
First of all, please take a look at the photo above. This is the Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (TWR) 71-000 series, which made its debut on October 1st. This new DC commuter train was developed to replace the older 70-000 series. Technically, it’s almost the same as JR East’s E233-7000 series, which also runs on the Rinkai Line.
Its front design is said to express a gentle smile, and the blue stripe along the body represents the Tokyo Bay waterfront. I think it looks very nice and friendly.
At the moment, two trainsets are in service, and TWR plans to add six more by the middle of fiscal year 2027. The 70-000 series, which has been in service for many years, will be retired by the end of that same year.
By the way, TWR is a semi-public company established in 1991. The Rinkai Line has been in operation since 1996, running through the central part of the Tokyo Bay area. The 12.2-kilometer route is mostly underground, passing beneath reclaimed islands and connecting them with several undersea tunnels. Trains on the Rinkai Line also run through onto JR East’s Saikyo Line and other lines.
If you have a moment, please check the link below for the official video and information (in Japanese) about this new EMU 71-000 series.
