The is a Japanese DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway on Tobu Urban Park Line services since June 2013.
Overview The first two six-car sets were introduced on the Tobu Noda Line from 15 June 2013, replacing older 8000 series sets. A further six sets (36 vehicles) were introduced during fiscal 2013.
Based on the 50000 series EMUs first introduced in 2004, the 60000 series have aluminium alloy bodies with a double-skin construction manufactured using friction stir welding (FSW). The trains feature VVVF control, and use fully enclosed motors reducing environmental noise.
Externally, the front ends and upper bodysides are finished in "future blue", the colour used for the Tobu corporate logo, and "bright green" highlights are used on either side of the doors.
Formation , the fleet consists of 18 six-car sets based at Nanakodai Depot. Trainsets consist of three motored (M) cars and three unpowered trailer (T) cars, and are formed as shown below with the Tc1 cars at the Kashiwa end.
Designation Tc1 M1 M2 T1 M3 Tc2 Numbering 61600 62600 63600 64600 65600 66600 Capacity (total/seated) 133/48 146/51 146/51 146/51 146/51 133/48 Weight (t) 27.7 33.1 33.1 28.1 31.9 27.8
The M1 and M3 cars each have one PT7112-B single-arm pantograph. Car 4 is designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
Interior Internally, the trains use LED lighting throughout, with the illumination level capable of being adjusted to 100%, 50%, or 25% brightness. LCD passenger information displays are provided above the doors, and a Wi-Fi service is provided – for the first time on Tobu Railway trains.
Seating consists of longitudinal bench seats throughout, with a seat width of per person. Wheelchair spaces are provided at one end of each of the four intermediate cars.
The glass panels on the doors separating each car are decorated with designs depicting the five different "city flowers" of the eight cities served by the Noda Line: cherry blossom (Saitama), wysteria (Kasukabe), sunflower (Kashiwa and Funabashi), rhododendron (Noda, Nagareyama, Matsudo), and Japanese bellflower (Kamagaya).
History The first two sets, 61601 and 61602, were delivered from the Hitachi factory in Kudamatsu, Yamaguchi in March 2013. Set 61601 entered revenue service on 15 June 2013, with 61602 entering service on 21 June 2013. Sets 61603 and 61604 were delivered together from Hitachi in January 2014, both entering revenue service from 27 January 2014.
Conversion to 5-car formation In April 2024, Tobu Railway announced that the 60000 series fleet will be shortened to five-car formations, with the surplus cars being used to form new 80000 series trains. The first shortened set, 61501 (originally 61601), was delivered back from the Kinki Sharyo plant in July 2025. It returned to service on 8 November, and set 61502 returned to service the following day.
Shortened 60000 series sets received several modifications including full-colour LED destination displays, external cameras, and a refreshed interior based on that of the 80000 series.
Fleet history The fleet history details are as shown below.
Set No. Manufacturer Date delivered 61601 Hitachi 21 March 2013 61602 22 March 2013 61603 14 January 2014 61604 15 January 2014 61605 17 February 2014 61606 18 February 2014 61607 19 March 2014 61608 20 March 2014 61609 8 December 2014 61610 9 December 2014 61611 13 January 2015 61612 14 January 2015 61613 16 February 2015 61614 17 February 2015 61615 16 March 2015 61616 17 March 2015 61617 4 November 2015 61618 5 November 2015
References
External links
Tobu 60000 series information