Tobu 30000 series

The Tobu 30000 series (東武30000系, Tōbu 30000-kei) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1997.^[3] Initially formed as six-car and four-car sets, sets are mostly formed as permanently coupled ten-car formations since 2011.

Tobu 30000 series
30000 series set 31604 in October 2021
Manufacturer	Alna Kōki, Tokyu Car Corporation, Fuji Heavy Industries
Constructed	1996–2003
Entered service	1997
Number built	150 vehicles (30 sets)
Number in service	150 vehicles (16 sets; as of 24 January 2020[update])
Formation	10/6/4 cars per trainset
Operators	Tobu Railway
Depots	Kasukabe Minami-Kurihashi Shinrinkōen
Lines served	TJ Tobu Tojo Line TS Tobu Skytree Line TI Tobu Isesaki Line TN Tobu Nikko Line TN Tobu Utsunomiya Line Z Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line DT Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Stainless steel
Car length	20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Doors	4 pairs per side
Maximum speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Traction system	Variable frequency (IGBT)
Traction motors	TM-95 three-phase induction motor
Power output	190 kW (250 hp) per motor
Acceleration	3.3 km/(h⋅s) (2.1 mph/s)[lower-alpha 1]
Deceleration	3.5 km/(h⋅s) (2.2 mph/s) (service) 4.5 km/(h⋅s) (2.8 mph/s) (emergency)
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC overhead line
Current collector(s)	Single-arm pantograph
Bogies	SS138 (motored) SS038 (trailer)
Braking system(s)	Electronically controlled pneumatic brakes with regenerative braking
Multiple working	10000 series
Headlight type	High-intensity discharge
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Notes/references
Specification sources:[1][2]

Formations

As of 24 January 2020^[update],^[4] the fleet consists of one six-car and one four-car set based at Minami-Kurihashi and Kasukabe depots for Tobu Skytree Line and Tobu Nikko Line services, and 14 permanently coupled 6+4-car sets based at Shinrinkoen Depot for Tobu Tojo Line services.^[5]

10-car Tobu Tojo Line sets

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Designation	Tc2	M2A	M1A	T	T	M3	T1	M2	M1	Tc1
Numbering	34400	33400	32400	31400	36600	35600	34600	33600	32600	31600

• The M1 and M1A cars are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M3 cars are fitted with one.^[5]
• Cars 2, 3, 6, and 9 have wheelchair spaces.^[5]

6-car sets

Six-car set 31613 on a Nikko Line service in May 2012

Designation	Tc1	M1	M2	T1	M3	Tc2
Numbering	31600	32600	33600	34600	35600	36600

The M1 cars are fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M3 cars are fitted with one.^[5]

4-car sets

Four-car set 31407 on a Nikko Line service in November 2013

Designation	Tc1	M1A	M2A	Tc2
Numbering	31400	32400	33400	34400

The M1A cars are fitted with two single-arm pantographs.^[5]

Bogies

• 
  SS038 trailer bogie
• 
  SS138 motored bogie

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal seating throughout.^[1]: 43

The first three sets delivered, sets 31601, 31401, and 31402, had flat panels on the seat ends and no centre stanchions. Set 31403 was fitted with contoured seats, and these were fitted on all subsequent sets delivered. Sets 31607 and 31407 onward had higher light blue panels on the seat ends.^[3]

• 
  Interior view showing seating style in early sets (car 33405)
• 
  Interior view showing seating style in later sets (car 32612), November 2015
• 
  Priority seating in car 32612, November 2015
• 
  A wheelchair space in car 32612, November 2015

History

A six-car set being delivered in July 2001

The first set, 31601, was delivered in November 1996, with the first trains entering service on 25 March 1997.^[3] Initially used primarily on Tobu Isesaki Line services, they were introduced on through-running services to and from the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line via the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line from March 2003,^[3] operating in 6+4-car formations.^[6] However, as the driving cabs between the two sets led to reduced capacity, which hampered the fleet's ability to cope with the congestion rates of the Hanzomon and Den-en-toshi lines, the 30000 series' usage on these services was reduced in late 2005.^[6] They were largely superseded by new 50050 series fixed 10-car sets from 18 March 2006.^{[7]: 70–71} Sets withdrawn from Hanzomon Line through services were reallocated to services on the Isesaki, Nikko, and Utsunomiya lines.^[6]

Transfer to Tojo Line

From January 2011, pairs of four- and six-car sets were transferred to the Tobu Tojo Line, commencing with sets 31601 and 31401.^[8] These sets entered revenue service from 13 June 2011 following modifications at Shinrinkōen Depot to form a permanently coupled 10-car set with control equipment and skirts removed from the two intermediate driving cabs.^[9] In addition, the electrical couplers from the end cars were removed.^[7]: 71

• 
  Permanently coupled sets 31401 and 31601 undergoing driver training on the Tojo Line, April 2011
• 
  Permanently coupled intermediate driving cabs of cars 36610 and 31410, November 2021

Fixed 10-car set conversion dates

Set No.	Official modification date
31601+31401	23 March 2011[10]
31602+31402	14 January 2015[5]
31603+31403	3 December 2012[11]
31604+31404	22 March 2013[11]
31605+31405	5 July 2012[11]
31606+31406	23 January 2020[4]
31607+31407	23 October 2014[5]
31608+31408	26 June 2013[12]
31609+31409
31610+31410	3 October 2012[11]
31611+31411	18 November 2011[10]
31612+31412	8 July 2014[5]
31613+31413	27 January 2014[12]
31614+31414	2 September 2014[5]
31615+31415	8 October 2013[12]

Notes

1. When operated in multiple with a 10000 series set, acceleration was limited to 2.5 km/(h⋅s) (1.6 mph/s).^[1]

References

1. 東京私鉄通勤電車図鑑 [Illustrated book of commuter trains in Tokyo]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 39, no. 454. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. February 1999. pp. 8–49.
2. 新車ガイド 東武鉄道30000系 [New Rolling Stock Guide: Tobu 30000 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 37, no. 430. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. February 1997.
3. ２００６東武鉄道通勤車両カタログ [2006 Tobu Railway Commuter Rolling Stock Catalogue]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 35, no. 263. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. March 2006. pp. 13–15.
4. 東武30000系31606編成と31406編成が東上線へ [Tobu 30000 series sets 31606 and 31406 transferred to the Tojo Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 24 January 2020. Archived from the original on 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
5. 私鉄車両編成表 2015 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 23 July 2015. pp. 40–42, 204. ISBN 978-4-330-58415-7.
6. Keiju, Osano (19 September 2021). "東上線でも大活躍､｢転勤族｣東武30000系の半生" [The double-life of the Tobu 30000 series]. Toyo Keizai Online (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
7. Hogan, Kishida (March 2012). "The Tobu Railway World". Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 52, no. 611. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 70–75.
8. 東武30000系31601編成+31401編成が森林公園検修区へ [Tobu 30000 series sets 31601 and 31401 move to Shinrinkōen Depot]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original on 29 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
9. 東武鉄道30000系 東上線で運用開始 [Tobu 30000 series enters service on Tojo Line]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 40, no. 329. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. September 2011. p. 73.
10. 私鉄車両編成表 2012 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. July 2012. p. 199. ISBN 978-4-330-29911-2.
11. 私鉄車両編成表 2013 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 July 2013. p. 205. ISBN 978-4-330-39313-1.
12. 私鉄車両編成表 2014 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2014]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 24 July 2014. p. 199. ISBN 978-4-330-48414-3.

Further reading

• 東武鉄道30000系 [Tobu 30000 series]. Railway Journal (364). March 1997.

External links

• Tobu 30000 series (in Japanese)