EMU 12000 Series: New Model on the Sotetsu Line

EMU Sotetsu 12000 series arrives at Wadamachi station

Following the EMU 20000 series, Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) launched another new train named the EMU 12000 series in April 2019. The 12000 series is planned to directly operate onto the JR East line from November 30th this year; meanwhile, the 20000 series will be directly operated onto the Tokyu line from 2022.

There are 8 major private railway companies including Sotetsu in the metropolitan area, but Sotetsu is the only company, which doesn't run into downtown Tokyo. Sotetsu's fatal weakness for business is their railway network. Under the environment of future depopulation in the metropolitan area, what is Sotetsu's strategy? They plan to operate direct access trains to downtown Tokyo and enhance convenience for passengers. How? Sotetsu is constructing connecting lines from Nishiya station to the existing JR East line and the Tokyu lines respectively.

The 12000 series and the 20000 series are similar in appearance, but there are big differences in the specifications between the two. For instance, the 12000 series doesn't have a gangway; while the 20000 has a gangway on the front. The 12000 series has stainless-steel bodies; while the 20000 series has aluminum ones. The electric control system of the 12000 series is IGBT-VVVF inverter (variable frequency drive with Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor); while the 20000 series has an advanced VVVF inverter system with hybrid SiC modules. These differences are due to the conditions of direct operation lines.

Sotetsu plans to introduce a total of 6 sets, 60 units of the 12000 series by the end of March 2020.

EMU Sotetsu 12000 series leaves Wadamachi station

Official promotion movie, the test run of direct operation

between Sotetsu and JR East lines using the EMU Sotetsu 12000 series:

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

Official information, the trains on the Sotetsu line (in Japanese):

https://www.sotetsu.co.jp/fan/gallery/train/

Road Train in Bihoku Hillside Park

Road Train Type SH-017 is operated in Bihoku Hillside Park, Hiroshima Prefecture

Before going back to Tokyo, we visited a popular public park in Hiroshima Prefecture under a clear autumn sky.

Bihoku Hillside Park is a vast public park in the northern part of the prefecture. It was opened in 1995 by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. It is a national government park same as Showa Kinen Park in Tokyo Metropolis and Hitachinaka Kaihin Park in Ibaraki Prefecture. We were really hoping to see a cosmos field in the park. When we visited there, a large hill was filled with a carpet of cosmos flowers. They were shaking with the wind in the sunshine. It was so beautiful. We saw that many people were visiting to enjoy this autumn event.

For the transportation of visitors inside the vast park, Road Train is operated. It is convenient for kids and elderly persons. Road Train is composed of a tractor and 3 passenger coaches. The tractor, named Type SH-017, is made to resemble the old steam locomotive. Its body length is 4.2 meters and has a 1.8-liter petrol engine. The coach is 4.32 meters-long each. A total of 51 passengers are transported at one time. Towing the 3 passenger coaches, the SH-017 tractor is able to climb up a road up to 25% slope. I like that the piston cylinders on the SH-017 can actually move as if it is a real steam locomotive.

We enjoyed the beautiful cosmos field and the joyful Road Train in Hiroshima Prefecture.

Cosmos field in Bihoku Hillside Park near Nanatsuka station on the Geibi Line

Natural Stone Bridge in Hiroshima Prefecture

Diesel Rail-car JR West 120 series travels on the Geibi line

After stopping by Hiroshima City, we visited the northern part of Hiroshima Prefecture. Our destination was Taishaku-kyo Valley in Shobara City.

Taishaku-kyo is an 18 kilometer-long valley along Taishaku River. Our favorite spot is Onbashi, which is a natural limestone bridge over the river. It is 90 meter-long, 40 meter-high and 19 meter-wide, the largest natural bridge in Japan. It is said that Onbashi used to be a limestone cave under the river, but the cave was uplifted later, and changed to a natural bridge since several hundred thousand years before. It is really a big natural bridge.

To visit this natural work of art, the nearest railway station is Tojo on the JR West Geibi line. The Geibi line is a typical local route constructed within a mountainous area. Connecting Hiroshima and Bicchu-Kohjiro, its total length is 159.1 kilometers. The track is single and non-electrified. The gauge size is 1,067 millimeters.

The main fleet on the Geibi line is a diesel rail-car, JR West KiHa 120 series. The 120 series was launched in 1991 to replace the old models, the KiHa 20, 35, and 45 series. It is a 16.8 meter-long small sized rail-car, and often operated alone. Its maximum operating length is 95 kilometers per hour. A total of 89 units were built by Niigata Tekkosho and JR West Goto Factory. 8 units have steel bodies; meanwhile, remaining 81 units have stainless-steel bodies. There are many color variations. They are called Hiroshima, Hamada and Mine colors respectively.

Onbashi natural stone bridge over Taishaku River near Tojo station on the Geibi line

2019 Sakura Season in Saitama : Part 2

EMU TWR 70-000 series arrives at Musashi-Urawa station on the JR East Saikyo line

It is already mid-October, but I found that several photos taken in spring have yet to be introduced.

In the sakura (cherry) blossom season this year, I visited many viewing spots as a sakura freak. My favorite spot was Cherry Promenade in Saitama City, as it was so beautiful. It is a 20 kilometer-long road with numerous sakura trees. Specifically, I like a footpath along Minumadai Irrigation Canal. When I visited there, it was fine weather and all the cherry trees were in full bloom.

On the way back home, I enjoyed taking train photos for a while at Musashi-Urawa station on the JR East Musashino line. My target was the EMU 70-000 series, which was directly operated from the Rinkai line of Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (TWR). The 70-000 series is a commuter train launched in 1996. Its technical specification is the same as that of the JR East 209 series. A total of 86 units were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries. 8 sets, 80 units are still operated on the line; meanwhile, the remaining 6 units were transferred to the JR East Hachiko line in 2005 under the name of EMU 209-3100 series.

On May 11th, TWR announced their medium-term management plan, in which a new train model will be launched in the Fiscal Year 2022. At this moment, no other information was provided by TWR, but please hurry up and take their photos before it is too late! I think that the 70-000 series has not long to live.

Cherry Promenade in Saitama City

Official information,Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (TWR):

https://www.twr.co.jp/en/tabid/233/Default.aspx 

Official promotion movie, Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (TWR):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1donVmWpak

Hiroshima Electric Railway: Update

Set 1015, Green Mover LEX, of the Hiroshima Electric Railway 1000 series

I recently visited Hiroshima City for the first time in six years. What was new with the railways in this regional core city?

I found that the modernization of rolling stock is continued by a local company, Hiroshima Electric Railway (Hiroden). For instance, Hiroden keeps increasing the number of 1000 series trains. The 1000 series was launched in 2013 as an articulated three-car tram with two bogies. The total body length is 18.6 meters. The gauge size is 1,435 millimeters and the electric system is 600 V DC. Bogies of the 1000 series are equipped in cars number 1 and 3. In other words, car number 2 doesn't have a bogie... just being floated and being supported by cars number 1 and 3. The other feature of the 1000 series is its low floor. The height of the cabin floor is only 0.36 meters from the track. Needless to say, this structurally-engineered car is enthusiastically welcomed, especially by elderly people. Its current nickname is Green Mover LEX.

When I visited Hiroshima six years ago, only two sets of the 1000 series were seen on the limited routes. This time, a total of 16 sets are operated on all the routes. Compared with six years ago, these seem to belong to another age. I like this modern model, but I am also fond of Hiroden's traditional trams, such as the 750 and 1900 series. I wish all Hiroden's rolling stock well for their lives for a long time.

Set 1015 of the Hiroshima Electric Railway 1000 series leaves Chuden-mae stop

Official information about Hiroshima Electric Railway:

https://www.hiroden.co.jp/en/

Official information about the rolling stock of Hiroshima Electric Railway (in Japanese):

https://www.hiroden.co.jp/train/train-list/index.html