Tobu 9000 series

Tobu 9000/9050 series
Tobu 9000/9050 series
	Refurbished set 9106, October 2021
Manufacturer	Tokyu Car Corporation, Fuji Heavy Industries, Alna Koki
Constructed	1981–1994
Entered service	1981
Refurbished	2007–2008
Number built	100 vehicles (10 sets)
Number in service	90 vehicles (9 sets)
Formation	10 cars per trainset
Operators	Tobu Railway
Depots	Shinrinkōen
Lines served	TJ Tobu Tojo Line; Y Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line; F Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line; TY Tokyu Toyoko Line; Minatomirai Line;
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Maximum speed	110 km/h (68 mph)
Traction system	Thyristor chopper (9101–9108); GTO–VVVF (9151 & 9152);
Power output	150 kW (201 hp) per motor
Transmission	Cardan shaft 87:16 (5.43) gear ratio (9000 series); 87:14 (6.21) gear ratio (9050 series)[citation needed];
Acceleration	3.3 km/(h⋅s) (2.1 mph/s)
Deceleration	3.7 km/(h⋅s) (2.3 mph/s) (service); 4.5 km/(h⋅s) (2.8 mph/s) (emergency)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Current collector(s)	Overhead lines
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

The Tobu 9000 series (東武9000系, Tōbu 9000-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1981.

Operations

First entering service in 1981 on the Tobu Tojo Line, this was the first stainless steel EMU type to be introduced by Tobu. A total of ten 10-car sets were ultimately built for use on through-running services over the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line and Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, as well as Tojo Line services between Ikebukuro and Ogawamachi.

Variants

Prototype set 9101
Production sets 9102-9108
9050 series VVVF sets 9151-9152

Prototype set 9101

Built in October 1981, this was the first stainless steel EMU type to be introduced by Tobu, and featured a bodyline stripe using the same "Royal maroon" colour as previously used on Tobu 1720 series "DRC" trains.^[1] Set 9101 was built jointly by three manufacturers, with four cars (9101–9401) built by Tokyu Car Corporation, two cars (9501–9601) by Fuji Heavy Industries, and four cars (9701–9001) by Alna Koki (now Alna Sharyo).^[2]

The seats on this set were originally brown, but this was later changed to the standard light green colour.^[1]

It was withdrawn from service in July 2021, and was transported from Shinrin-koen to Kitatatebayashi on 16 and 17 October 2023, where it is expected to be scrapped.^[3]

Formation

Designation	Tc1	M1	M2	T1	M1	M3	T2	M1	M4	Tc2
Numbering	9100	9200	9300	9400	9500	9600	9700	9800	9900	9000

The M1 cars are each fitted with one scissors type pantograph.^[4]

Production sets 9102-9108

Sets 9102 to 9107 were built in 1987, incorporating a number of minor improvements over the prototype set. Seat width was increased from 425 mm to 450 mm.

An additional set, 9108, was built in 1991, based on the 10030 series lightweight body style.

Formation

Designation	Tc1	M1	M2	T1	M1	M3	T2	M1	M4	Tc2
Numbering	9100	9200	9300	9400	9500	9600	9700	9800	9900	9000

The M1 cars are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.^[4]

First refurbished set, 9102, June 2021

9050 series VVVF sets

Two 9050 series sets were introduced in December 1994, coinciding with the opening of the "Yurakucho New Line" (now part of the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line) between Kotakemukaihara and Ikebukuro.^[5] These incorporated further design improvements and changes similar to the 20050 series trains, notably VVVF control, bolsterless bogies, 3-colour LED destination indicators, LED interior passenger information displays, and brown seat moquette. The LCD passenger information displays were removed in 1999.

Formation

Designation	Tc3	M5	M6	T3	M7	M8	T4	M7	M9	Tc4
Numbering	9150	9250	9350	9450	9550	9650	9750	9850	9950	9050

The M5 and M7 cars are each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.^[4]

Set 9151 before refurbishment, March 1998
Refurbished set 9152, October 2021

Refurbishment

From April 2007 to 2008, all of the 9000 and 9050 series sets except prototype set 9101 underwent refurbishment ahead of introduction on Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line inter-running services from June 2008. Refurbishment included totally new interiors and cabs based on the 50070 series design. Externally, single-arm pantographs were fitted, and the destination indicator blinds replaced with full-colour LED displays. Prototype set 9101 was not refurbished due to the different door spacing of this set, making it incompatible with the platform doors on the Fukutoshin Line.^[6] This set is restricted to Tōbu Tōjō Line overground duties.

Interior

Interior view of a refurbished 9050 series set, September 2012

References

^ ^a ^b "２００６東武鉄道通勤車両カタログ" [2006 Tōbu Railway Commuter Rolling Stock Catalogue]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 35, no. 263. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. March 2006. pp. 27–30.
^ Iijima, Iwao (July 2002). 私鉄の車両２４東武鉄道 [Private Railway Trains 24: Tobu Railway]. Tokyo, Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. pp. 32–33, 184. ISBN 978-4-87366-307-4.
^ Kamata, Akihiro (19 October 2023). 東武9000系9101編成が北館林へ [Tobu 9000 series 9101 formation moves to Kitatatebayashi]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 19 October 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c 私鉄車両編成表 2010 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2010]. Japan: JRR. August 2010. p. 40. ISBN 978-4-330-15310-0.
^ "副都心線に乗り入れる車両大集合" [Roundup of rolling stock for Fukutoshin Line inter-running]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 37, no. 291. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. July 2008. pp. 40–42.
^ "東武鉄道 50070系／9000系（地下鉄副都心線乗入れ対応車）" [Tobu Railway 50070 and 9000 series sets for Fukutoshin Line subway inter-running]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 36, no. 278. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. June 2007. p. 75.