Today, I would like to share a topic that may appeal to old-school trainspotters. I think this post will give you an insight not only into the state of a railway company's rolling stock fleet, but also into Japan's social circumstances.
・Reduction in the Number of 60000 Series EMUs
You may remember my previous post about an event organized by the Japan Railfan Club at Nanakodai Railyard on the Tobu Urban Park Line (Noda Line). Tobu Railway kindly provided club members with an 80000 series EMU to photograph. At the same time, however, the company had prepared one more trainset for us.
Please take a look at the photo above.
You can see the 60000 series, set 61501, standing on a siding. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary trainset, but in fact, it consists of five cars, one fewer than a standard 60000 series trainset. Why?
According to Tobu Railway, the 60000 series trainsets were being shortened from six cars to five in response to passenger demand. This was due to declining ridership on the Urban Park Line. As you know, the number of people working remotely in Japan has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic. More importantly, Japan's population has entered a period of decline. Railway companies cannot simply sit back and do nothing in this situation.
The cars removed from the 60000 series trainsets were refurbished and incorporated into newly built 80000 series EMUs. Smart recycling, isn't it?
・Refurbishment of the 60000 Series EMUs
The 60000 series fleet was being reduced, but there is an upside.
Please look at the photo below. The middle car (Car 4, MoHa 62501) looks different from the cars on either side. It features a livery decorated with colorful circles. You may have seen a similar train before. Yes, that's a "Tanoseat" car!
The Tanoseat car features a dedicated space for families with children. It has a unique seating area with space to park a baby stroller, called "Tanoseat" (see my previous post). The name is a blend of tanoshii (meaning "fun" in Japanese) and "seat" in English. When families travel in this car, it makes their journey more enjoyable.
I was delighted to see the Tanoseat-equipped 60000 series EMU on the Tobu Urban Park Line!
