EMU 2020 Series: New Model on the Den-en-toshi Line

EMU Tokyu 2020 series arrives at Tama-plaza station on the Denentoshi line

On March 28th 2018, Tokyu launched a new commuter train, named the 2020 series, on their Den-en-toshi line. Introduction of the new EMU (electrical multiple-unit) was for the first time in 16 years, since they launched the EMU 5000 series in 2002.

The EMU Tokyu 2020 series is a 10-car train including five motor cars. Each motor car has its own electric control unit. The name "2020" came from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The 2020 series is characterized by its unique "face". It is white and round. The crescent-shaped accent, which is similar to that of the EMU Sendai Municipal Subway 2000 series, strikes my eyes. The large cowcatcher integrated with the face also stands out conspicuously. The only thing is that the face doesn't fit the naked stainless-steel bodies. Ideally, the side body should be painted with a white color.

The interior of the 2020 series is good enough as a commuter train. For instance, it has triple liquid crystal displays above the passenger doors. They are very convenient for passengers to get information such as the route map, next station, TV news and so on. The special deodorant and antibacterial air cleaners are also welcome to passengers. 

Tokyu has ordered J-TREC with 6 sets of the 2020 series in the fiscal year 2018. With this introduction, the old EMU 8500 series will be retired in the not too distant future. Please ride and take photographs of the 8500 series before it is too late.

Side view of the EMU Tokyu 2020 series

Official movie about the EMU Tokyu 2020 series:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVePxwziG9Y

Preserved SL and Unique Flowers in Atami City

Steam locomotive ex-Atami Railway No.7 is preserved in front of Atami station

You may remember that I visited Atami City in May. A lot of time has passed since then, but I am going to continue some more topics there.

When I got off at Atami station, I found a lovely steam locomotive (SL) in front of the station building. It was a preserved SL No. 7 operated on the ex-Atami Railway. Atami Railway was opened under the name of Zuso Hand-car Railway in 1895. This tramway later had a name change to Atami Railway; the hand-car railway was reconstructed into a light railway using steam power in 1908. Connecting Odawara and Atami, its total operating length was 25.3 kilometers. The gauge size was 762 millimeters.

The SL No.7 was built by Amemiya Seisakujo in 1907. It is 3.36 meters long and 3.6 tons weight. The SL No.7 has a slender figure, but it could transport up to 50 passengers per train. Its operating speed was 9.7 kilometers per hour. It took 160 minutes from Odawara to Atami; meanwhile, it takes only 8 minutes by the Shinkansen train today. Unfortunately, Atami Railway was abolished in 1923 due to the Great Kanto earthquake.

After observing the precious preserved SL, I enjoyed walking in the downtown area of Atami City. I came across unique flowers on the esplanade. It was Scarlet bottlebrush native to Australia. As its name suggests, this flower looks like a bottlebrush and its color was scarlet. I was fascinated by these tropical flowers shuddering in the spring breeze.

Atami has endless discoveries.

Full blown Scarlet bottlebrush is seen on the esplanade of Atami city

Iroha: New Train on the JR East Nikko Line

Set Y3 of the EMU JR East 205-600 series, "Iroha", stands at Utsunomiya station

If you visit Nikko, a World Heritage Site, how do you get there? My answer is by taking the Tobu Railway. You can take it from Asakusa terminal in downtown Tokyo. The Tobu train will take you to Tobu-Nikko, a gateway station to the World Heritage Site. If you specifically choose the limited express train, "Spacia", I guarantee you a pleasant journey, as it has gorgeous interior facilities.

Is there any other route to Nikko? Yes, you can take the JR East Nikko line as the second option. The Nikko line train leaves from Utsunomiya, an interchange station with the Tohoku shinkansen and the Tohoku main line. The Nikko line train will take you to JR-Nikko, another gateway station to the World Heritage Site. According to media, this second option has recently become popular among inbound sightseers, as most of them hold a Japan Rail Pass, which can be used without limits on the JR lines all over the country.

JR East might have been flattered by this increase in passengers. On April 1st, 2018, they launched a new sightseeing train, "Iroha," on the Nikko line. Iroha was modified from set Y3 of the EMU 205-600 series. It is a retro train of a brown color. Passengers can relax with high-grade seats. Free Wi-Fi is provided on the train. The interior displays correspond to major foreign languages. To their joy, no additional fee is applied for taking the Iroha train.

Iroha is named after the famous winding road, Iroha-zaka slope, in Nikko City. 

Side view of the EMU JR East 205-600 series, "Iroha"

Official information about the EMU JR East 205-600 series, "Iroha" (in Japanese):

http://mag.eki-net.biz/knowledge/iroha_debut.html

The JR East Joetsu Shinkansen: Update

EMU JR East E4 series leaves Niigata station on the Joetsu Shinkansen

I recently took the JR East Joetsu Shinkansen for the first time in four years. What was new with this trunk line crossing the main island of Japan?

I found that the stripe of the EMU E4 series train was changed from yellow to a pink color called "toki-iro (the color of the Japanese crested ibis)". Toki is a bird, which has light-pink colored wings. They used to be seen in many places in Japan; however, they are currently very precious. We can only see them in Niigata Prefecture, which is part of the the Joetsu Shinkansen route. The Japanese government places Tokis under careful protection, as they are on the verge of extinction.

Incidentally, The Joetsu Shinkansen is the main transportation artery between the Tokyo Metropolis and Niigata Prefecture. Its operating length is 334 kilometers. The EMU E4 series is the main fleet on the Joetsu Shinkansen. It is a duplex train launched in 1997. A total of 26 sets, 208 cars, were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries and Hitachi Kasado Factory. The E4 series is only operated as a limited express train, Max-Toki and Max-Tanigawa. They consist of 8 cars, which can accommodate 817 seats in one set. A total of 1634 seats are available, when two sets of trains are connected. The maximum speed is 240 kilometers per hour.

According to JR East, the E4 series will be replaced by the E2 and the E7 series by March, 2021. The E4 series has only three years to live.

Side view of the E4 series

Old Diesel Rail-cars in the Niigata Area

Diesel rail-cars Class KiHa 40 and 47 arrive at new elevated Niigata station (June, 2018)

Niigata is located about 340 kilometers north of Tokyo, and is the main city of Niigata Prefecture. The current population is about 810,000. Niigata has grown as the largest city on the Sea of Japan side of the archipelago since the 16th century. It was a lagoonal area before the development.

The name of the central railway station in Niigata City is exactly Niigata. It was opened in 1904 and recently renovated as a modern terminal. The platforms of the conventional lines were remodeled on the newly completed elevated tracks. They are situated on the same level as the shinkansen tracks. The commuter trains arriving at and leaving Niigata station have also replaced by a new model, namely the EMU E129 series.

Everything looks new in Niigata station, but some old things still exist. For instance, the diesel rail-cars, which sometimes appear at the station, are rather old. It is the KiHa 40 series debuted in 1977. The KiHa 40 is the standard diesel rail-cars for local lines. It consists of three groups, namely the Class KiHa 40, 47 and 48. What is the major difference between these three groups? Firstly, the Class KiHa 40 has double cabins; meanwhile, the Class KiHa 47 and 48 have single cabins. Secondly, the Class KiHa 47 has double (center-opened) doors; meanwhile, the Class KiHa 40 and 48 have single (side-opened) doors.

The KiHa 40 series is becoming an industrial heritage. How much longer will it be in the Niigata area?

Diesel rail-cars Class KiHa 40 and 47 stand at old surface Niigata station (June, 2014)