The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation since 2002 on many of its commuter lines in the Tokyo area of Japan.
Design First introduced in 2002, the design is based on the JR East E231 series commuter train, also manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation (now J-TREC) in Yokohama, from which all cars in this series would be produced.
All trains are equipped with interior LCD screens, displaying the station names, and automatic announcements in both Japanese and English. The 5000 series uses blue seat moquette fabric, while the 5050 and 5080 series have red seat moquette.
The design of the 5000 series was the basis for the later 6000 series and 7000 series train types.
Driver's cab All sets use the same driver's cab, with a gray color, and a single T-shaped brake and throttle controller. There are four throttle steps, and seven brake steps. The speedometers are equipped with ATC. To the right of the speedometer is an information screen, showing the run type (local, express, etc.), and information of the individual cars. This touch screen computer can also control interior temperature and lights.
Variants 5000 series: 10-car sets used on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line since May 2002 5000 series: 8-car sets used on the Tokyu Toyoko Line 5050 series: 8-car sets used on the Tokyu Toyoko Line 5050-4000 series: 10-car sets used on Tokyu Toyoko Line inter-running services since September 2012 5080 series: 8-car (previously 6-car) sets used on the Tokyu Meguro Line since March 2003 Y500 series: 8-car sets used on Minatomirai Line/Tokyu Toyoko Line inter-running services since February 2004
5000 series
These are ten-car sets first introduced on the Den-en-toshi Line from May 2002. These sets are distinguished by a green stripe above the doors. The 5000 series is fitted with CS-ATC and Tobu ATS (TSP) in order to run through the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, and onward over the Tobu Skytree Line to Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen, Tobu Isesaki Line to Kuki, and Tobu Nikko Line to Minami-Kurihashi. These sets are based at Tokyu's Nagatsuta depot, and are powered by Hitachi motors with VVVF inverters.
Initially six sets (5101–5106) were built between 2002 and 2003. Set 5101 was the prototype set and has slightly different dimensions (it is narrower than the other sets and has a slightly non-standard door spacing). Between 2005 and 2008, fourteen additional sets (5107–5117 and 5120–5122) were built with two six-door cars each (cars 5 and 8); sets 5117 and 5120–5122 were fully new built, while car 4 of sets 5107–5116 were surplus cars from sets 5102–5106, as two of their cars (5 and 8) were replaced with new six-door cars as well. Set 5122 never entered service on the Den-en-toshi Line. In early 2009, two additional sets (5118 and 5119) were built as 9-car sets (car 4 was missing, and cars 5 and 8 were six-door cars) but these also never entered into service.
Between 2009 and 2010, a third six-door car (car 4) was added to sets 5104–5117 and 5120 (total 15 sets): three cars were new built and 12 were taken from other sets (two cars each from sets 5102, 5103, 5118, 5119, 5121, and 5122). Of the 15 surplus four-door cars created, four were used to return sets 5102 and 5103 to fully four-door sets, six were inserted into sets 5118, 5119, 5121, and 5122, and the remaining five cars were used in 5050 series sets 5170–5172. Meanwhile, sets 5118, 5119, 5121, and 5122 were reformed as eight car sets and transferred to the Tōyoko Line. As mentioned earlier, nine-car sets 5118 and 5119 each had of their two six-door cars removed and replaced with two four-door surplus cars, and ten-car sets 5121 and 5122 each had two six-door cars replaced with a single four-door surplus car. In addition, a motored four-door car from each set was removed, and used in 5050 series sets 5169 and 5172–5174.
A total of 45 new four-door cars were built from December 2015 to replace the three six-door cars in sets 5104–5117 and 5120 to ensure uniform door-spacing ahead of the introduction of platform edge doors at Den-en-toshi Line stations from 2016. All six-door cars were replaced by the end of 2017. The new cars added incorporate a number of interior design improvements, including higher seat backs and headrests on some seats.
Operations
Formations The sets are formed as follows.
Den-en-toshi Line set 5101 Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Designation Tc2 M T3 M2 M1 T2 T1 M2 M1 Tc1 Numbering 5101 5201 5301 5401 5501 5601 5701 5801 5901 5001
The M1 cars (5 and 9) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M car (2) is fitted with one pantograph.
Den-en-toshi Line sets 5102 onward Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Designation Tc2 M2 M1' T3N T2N M2 M1 T1N M Tc1 Numbering 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800 5900 5000
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M car (9) is fitted with one pantograph.
Toyoko Line 8-car sets Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Designation Tc2 M2 M1 T2 T1 M2 M1 Tc1 Numbering 5100 5200 5300 5400 5500 5600 5700 5800
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs.
Interior
Refurbishment On 8 May 2025, Tokyu Corporation announced its plans to refurbish its Den-en-toshi Line 5000 series fleet. Refurbished sets will carry a new livery and a redesigned interior based on that of the 2020 series, with new walls, seats, and flooring as well as additional wheelchair spaces. The first refurbished 5000 series set is scheduled to return to service in 2026.
Livery variations
Green frog Toyoko Line eight-car set 5122 received an all-over green vinyl wrapping livery in September 2017 to mark the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Toyoko Line and recreating the appearance of the original 5000 series EMUs nicknamed "green frog" which formerly operated on the line. It was originally scheduled to carry this livery until the end of August 2018, but this was later extended to August 2019 before Tokyu announced in September 2019 that the livery would be carried indefinitely.
5050 series
These are eight-car sets introduced on the Toyoko Line from April 2004. These sets are distinguished by a pink stripe above the doors. They are similar to the 5000 series, the only difference being that they have eight cars, and that they have the pink stripe instead of green. They are based at Motosumiyoshi Depot, and are capable of running through the Minatomirai Line. The 5050 series is notable as being the first type of train in the world to feature full-color LED destination indicators.
Sets 5169–5174 each originally included one or two surplus 5000 series cars (5170–5172 had two surplus cars each, and the other sets had one); one car from sets 5169 and 5172–5174 were surplus motored cars with their pantographs and motored bogies temporarily removed, and were eventually replaced with new trailer cars while the motored cars were renumbered in the 4000 series.
Set 5155 was withdrawn in July 2017 following accident damage sustained in 2014, while set 5156 was transferred to Yokohama Minatomirai Railway in 2018 and renumbered Y517 to replace set Y516 damaged in the same accident. New build sets 5177 and 5178 were delivered from J-TREC in 2016 and 2019 respectively as replacement trains.
In 2020, set 5173 was reformed as a 10-car set and renumbered as set 4111. Furthermore, in 2022, set 5166 was reformed as a 10-car set and features two "Q Seat" cars (numbered cars 4 and 5 within the set) in preparation for "Q Seat" services on the Toyoko Line. Set 5166 was renumbered to 4112. Following the completion of newly formed 4112, it was announced that three more sets (sets 5167–5169) will be reformed into 10-car trainsets for service on the Sotetsu-Tokyu Link. Once reformed, they will be numbered 4113–4115 respectively. The first "Q Seat" cars entered service on the Toyoko Line on 24 October 2022; however "Q Seat" services only began on 10 August 2023.
Operations
Formation Toyoko Line eight-car sets are formed as follows. Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Designation Tc2 M2 M1 T2 T1 M2 M1 Tc1 Numbering 5150 5250 5350 5450 5550 5650 5750 5850
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs.
Interior
Sustina prototype car J-TREC is testing a prototype car based on the sustina design, as part of a Toyoko Line 5050 series set. The car, numbered 5576, is part of set 5176.
Refurbishment On 8 May 2025, Tokyu Corporation announced its plans to refurbish twenty-three 5050 series sets. Refurbished sets will carry a new livery and a redesigned interior based on that of the 2020 series, with new walls, seats, and flooring as well as additional wheelchair spaces. The first refurbished 5050 series set is scheduled to return to service in the final quarter of 2025.
Livery variations
100th anniversary From 10 April 2022, set 5151 received a special livery to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tokyu Corporation's founding.
5050-4000 series
New 5050-4000 series 10-car sets based on the 5050 series design were delivered from Tokyu Car from April 2011, entering service from September 2012 ahead of the start of Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line inter-running services in March 2013.
Operations
Formations The ten-car sets are formed as follows. Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Designation Tc2 M2' M1 T3 T2 M T1 M2 M1' Tc1 Numbering 4100 4200 4300 4400 4500 4600 4700 4800 4900 4000 Weight (t) 27.8 32.7 33.6 26.3 26.1 33.5 26.5 32.7 33.5 27.6 Capacity (Seated/total) 48/141 51/151 54/152 51/151 48/141
The M1 and M1' cars each have two single-arm pantographs, and the M car is fitted with one. Cars 4601 to 4604 (included in sets 4101 to 4104 respectively) were renumbered from former 5050 series cars 5469, 5473, 5474, and 5472 (from sets 5169, 5173, 5174, and 5172 respectively), which were in turn from former Den-en-toshi Line 5000 series cars 5918, 5919, 5922, and 5921 (from sets 5118, 5119, 5122, and 5121 respectively); they are narrower and retain their original blue moquette seating.
Interior
Shibuya Hikarie
Set number 4110 was delivered in April 2013 in a special Shibuya Hikarie body graphics and with modified interior to mark the first anniversary of Tokyu's "Shibuya Hikarie" development located above the newly expanded underground Shibuya Station. This trainset entered revenue service on 26 April 2013. It is the first 5050 series train to feature LED interior lighting, and has higher backed seating than regular trains, with grey seat backs in cars 1, 3, 8, and 10, brown seat backs in cars 2, 4, 6, and 9, and blue seat backs in cars 5 and 7. The train is equipped experimentally with free WiFi. One stanchion in the train features an embossed heart design as a whimsical way to brighten up commuters' journeys.
History
Nine cars of the first set were delivered from Tokyu Car's Yokohama factory to Tokyu's Nagatsuta Depot in Kanagawa Prefecture between 29 and 31 March 2011. These cars were formed into a 10-car set with the inclusion of intermediate motor car 4601, renumbered from former 5050 series trailer car 5469, which was itself previously renumbered from motor car 5918. The second 10-car set was delivered from Tokyu Car in June 2011.
Set 4101 entered revenue service on the Tokyu Toyoko Line from 9 September 2011, reduced to an 8-car formation.
From 10 September 2012, 10-car 5050-4000 series sets entered revenue service on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line (and Seibu Yurakucho Line) and Tobu Tojo Line, with inter-running through to the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line.
In July 2020, a former 8-car set built in 2010 (set 5173) was joined with two new cars (built in 2019) and reformed as 10-car set 4111.