The 45th Anniversary of the EMU 6000 Series

EMU Tokyo Metro 6000 series passes through Chitose-Funabashi Station on the Odakyu Line

 

While I changed my commuter route from the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line to the JR East Chuo Line last year, I still sometimes take the Chiyoda Line to visit downtown Tokyo, such as the Akasaka and the Omotesando area. The main fleet on the Chiyoda Line is the green-colored EMU, 6000 series.

The Tokyo Metro 6000 series debuted in 1968, when I was a child. The futuristic asymmetric frontal design and shinning aluminum body with green colored stripe were very impressive. The specification of the 6000 series was also rather futuristic, as it was equipped with an armature chopper control device together with a regeneration brake system. A total of 36 sets, 353 units have been manufactured for 22 years. It was elected as a winner of the Laurel Prize by the Japan Rail Fan Club in 1972.

Currently, the electric system of most 6000 series trains has been renovated from the armature chopper to the VVVF control (variable-frequency drive) with induction motors. I am always astonished that technological innovation in the railway industry is very fast. The scrapping of the old sets has started since 2010, since the brand new EMU 16000 series was launched to replace the 6000 series.

The time has changed; however, I would stress that the design of the 6000 series still looks "futuristic", even 45 years later after its debut. Congratulations on the 45th anniversary of the EMU 6000 series on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line.



EMU Tokyo Metro 6000 series leaves Kashiwa Station on the Joban Line

2013 Sunflower Festival on the Chuo Line

EMU JR East 115 series "Yokosuka color" stands on a siding in Ootsuki Rail Yard 

 

It is late summer in Japan. The maximum daytime temperature is still over 30 degrees Celsius, but, it is getting cool especially in the evening. I visited the sunflower festival in Hokuto City of Yamanashi Prefecture again this year. In the festival ground, nearly 600,000 sunflowers were blooming on six hectares. It was very vivid and gorgeous.

To visit this vast sunflower field, take a local train on the Chuo Line. The joy of the railway travel on the Chuo Line is that passengers can enjoy looking at splendid clear streams and beautiful mountain ranges.

Additionally, rail fans can enjoy riding on the EMU 115 series, "Yokosuka color" train on the Chuo Line. The 115 series is a standard local train, launched in 1963. Nearly 2,000 units have been manufactured for 20 years. But most of them have already been scrapped. Currently, many rail fans visit the Chuo Line to ride on and take pictures of these survivors.

For your information, the "Yokosuka color" is a traditional two-toned (dark blue and beige) color developed by ex-Japanese National Railways. I tried to ride on the Yokosuka color 115. But, unfortunately, my vehicle was the other model on that day. Instead, I could take pictures of the Yokosuka color 115 at Ootsuki Station, since it was standing on the siding in the rail yard. The Yokosuka color 115 was beautifully maintained as the elder of the Chuo Line.

 

Sunflower field near Nirasaki Station on the Chuo Line

Carp Streamer on the Suigun Line

Diesel rail car, JR East type E130 stands at Hitachi-Daigo Station on the Suigun Line

 

It is a bit of an unseasonal topic, but I am going to show you a traditional event in Japan. The 5th of May is called "Children's Day" in Japan. Parents celebrate their children's birth and pray for their healthy growth by putting up carp-shaped banners, namely "Koinobori," in their gardens.

What is a Koinobori? It is a carp streamer. When a carp flows upstream, he (or she) uses all his (or her) physical power to jump over obstacles, even waterfalls. So, Koinobori is a symbol of power for children to grow up. I saw a school of Koinobori in the Fukuroda area of Daigo Town in Ibaraki Prefecture (see the following photo). It was in May this year.

To visit this carp streaming area, take the JR East Suigun Line and get off at Fukuroda Station. Connecting Mito, a major city in Ibaraki Prefecture and Asaka-Nagamori in Fukushima Prefecture, the total operating length is 147km. The whole route is unelectrified and is a single track.

The DMU, KiHa E130 series is operated on the line. It is usually operated as a two-car train, which consists of the bluish green-colored type KiHa E131 and the type E132. But one more car, the vermilion-colored type KiHa 130 (see the top photo) is also coupled in the section nearby a major city.

The vividly colored carp streamers and the colorful train... both fit the blue sky in the countryside on the Suigun Line.
 

Carp streamers near Fukuroda Station on the Suigun Line

View of the Japanese Southern Alps on the Minobu Line

EMU JR Central 373 series, limited express "Fujikawa" runs on the Minobu Line

The Japanese Southern Alps, also known as the Akaishi Mountains, is a mountain range in the central part of Honshu Island, bordering Nagano, Yamanashi and Shizuoka prefectures. It has nine peaks, which are higher than 3000 meters above sea level. Of those, the highest one is Mt. Kita (3193 meters) in the northern part of the range.

To visit this elegant mountain range, take the JR Central Minobu Line. Connecting Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture and Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture, the total operating length is 88.4km. The whole route is electrified. The section between Fuji and Fujinomiya is a double track; meanwhile, the other interval is a single track. The track gauge is 1067mm, and the electric system is 1500V DC overhead.

The limited express "Fujikawa" is a representative train on the Minobu Line. Using a stylish EMU 373 series, Fujikawa is operated every two hours on average. Most trains are directly operated into the Tokaido Main Line to Shizuoka. For your information, Fujikawa is the name of the river along the Minobu Line. Fujikawa (Fuji River) takes its water from Mt. Nokogiri in the Japanese Southern Alps.

The 373 series was launched in 1995 to replace an old express train, the EMU 165 series. A total of 14 sets, 42 units have been manufactured so far by Nippon Sharyo and Hitachi. Normally, the 373 series is operated as a 3-car train.

The stylish EMU 373 series suits the elegant Japanese Southern Alps.

 

View of the Japanese Southen Alps from Nekko near Ichinose Station (March, 2013)

300 Meter-long Commuter Train on the Joban Line

EMU JR East E231 series arrives at Kashiwa Station on the Joban Line

 

Tokyo has been expanding since the 17th century as a main city of Japan. Currently, the population of the Tokyo metropolitan area is about 30 million, 10 million of whom use railways to go to their offices or schools everyday. 10 million is an astronomical number, isn't it?

Railway companies can't keep their arms crossed. Most of the major companies have been reinforcing their transportation capacities over the decades. For example, construction of double-double track is an effective solution; however, it is quite expensive. More frequent train operation is another means to increase transportation capacity. But, there is a technical limit, even if the railway signal system is improved.

The realistic method is to make longer trains. Currently, the longest passenger train in Japan is the super-express train on the Tokaido and Sanyo Shinakansens. It consists of 16 units of 25 meter-long cars, so that it attains a total length up to 400 meters. Apart from the Shinkansen bullet train, the other long one is the 300 meter-long JR East train operated on several commuter lines.

Look at the photo. It is an example of a 300 meter-long train, the EMU E231 series, on the Joban Line. It is composed of 15 units of 20 meter-long cars. In the rush hour, this snaky long train is operated every 3 minutes on average, but it is still packed.

The Joban Line... what a busy line it is!
 

EMU JR East E231 series stands at Kashiwa Station on the Joban Line

 

More information about the EMU JR East E231 series (in Japanese):
http://www.jreast.co.jp/train/local/e231.html