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Fujikyu 8500 series
Fujikyu 8500 series
	The 8500 series train in January 2018
In service	April 2016 – present
Replaced	2000 series
Entered service	23 April 2016
Number in service	3 cars (1 set)
Formation	3 cars per set
Operators	Fujikyu
Lines served	Fujikyuko Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	21,000 mm (68 ft 11 in) (end cars); 19,500 mm (64 ft 0 in) (intermediate car)
Width	2,890 mm (9 ft 6 in)
Height	3,940 mm (12 ft 11 in)
Floor height	1,180 mm (3 ft 10 in)
Doors	1 per side
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC overhead wire
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Fujikyu 8500 series (富士急行8500系, Fuji Kyūkō 8000-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train operated by the private railway operator Fuji Kyuko (Fujikyu) on Fujisan View Express (富士山ビュー特急, Fujisan Byū Tokkyū) limited-stop services on the Fujikyuko Line in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, since 23 April 2016.^[1]

Design

The three-car train was converted from the former 371 series seven-car EMU operated by JR Central from 1991 until November 2014.^[1]^[2] The design of the rebuilt train was overseen by industrial designer Eiji Mitooka.^[1]

Operations

The 8500 series train operates on Fujisan View Express limited-stop services on the 26.6 km (16.5 mi) Fujikyuko Line in Yamanashi Prefecture, which runs between Ōtsuki and Kawaguchiko.

Formation

The sole three-car set is formed as shown below, with two motored cars and one non-powered trailer car, and car 1 at the Fujisan end.^[1]

Car No.	1	2	3
Designation	Tsc1	Ms	Msc
Numbering	KuRo 8551	MoHa 8601	KuMoHa 8501
Weight (t)	36.8	39.5	41.0
Capacity (total/seated)	26/26	92/57	88/60

KuRo 8551 was converted from former KuMoHa 371-1, MoHa 8601 was converted from former MoHa 370-101, and KuMoHa 8501 was converted from former KuMoHa 371-101.^[1]
Cars 1 and 3 are each fitted with an FPS33E single-arm pantograph.^[1]

Interior

Car 1 has an observation lounge area with 2+1 abreast seating bays and some loose seating.^[1] Cars 2 and 3 have rotating unidirectional reclining seating arranged 2+2 abreast with a seat pitch of 1,000 mm (39 in).^[1] Car 2 has a wheelchair-accessible seating area and a universal access toilet.^[1]

Inside the cab in November 2021
The interior of car 1 in June 2016
The lounge area in car 1
The interior of car 2 in November 2021
The interior of car 3 in November 2021
Interior near the deck and toilet in November 2021

History

Fuji Kyuko announced in December 2014 that it planned to purchase the 371 series trainset from JR Central, and reform it as a three-car set for use during fiscal 2015.^[2] The withdrawn 371 series train was moved from Shizuoka to JR East's Nagano Works for rebuilding work in March 2015.^[3]

The train entered service on Fujisan View Express limited-stop services from 23 April 2016.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ 富士急行8500系 [Fuji Kyuko 8500 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 662. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2016. pp. 104–105.
^ ^a ^b 富士急行，JR東海371系を購入 [Fuji Kyuko to purchase JR Central 371 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 December 2014. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
^ 371系7輌長野へ輸送される [371 series 7 cars moved to Nagano]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 30 March 2015. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
^ まるで走るホテル、車窓には絶景・富士山富士急が新型特急の運行開始、特製プリンも堪能して [Just like a hotel - Fujikyu starts operating new limited express]. Sankei News (in Japanese). Japan: The Sankei Shimbun & Sankei Digital. 23 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.