Odakyu 7000 series LSE

The Odakyu 7000 series LSE (小田急7000形, Odakyū 7000-gata) (Luxury Super Express) was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated from December 1980 to July 2018 by Odakyu Electric Railway on "Romancecar" limited express services in Japan.

Odakyu 7000 series LSE
Odakyu 7000 series LSE in original livery, September 1981
In service	December 1980 –13 October 2018
Family name	Romancecar
Constructed	1980–1983
Entered service	27 December 1980
Refurbished	1995–1997
Number built	44 vehicles (4 sets)
Number in service	None
Number scrapped	22 vehicles (2 sets)
Formation	11 cars per set
Fleet numbers	7001–7004
Operator(s)	Odakyu Electric Railway
Depot(s)	Kitami
Specifications
Maximum speed	110 km/h (70 mph)
Traction system	Resistor control
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Current collection method	Overhead lines
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Design

The 7000 series LSE trains were the first new "Romancecars" introduced since the Odakyu 3100 series NSE 17 years previously. The overall styling represented an evolution of the 3100 series design, with 11 articulated carriages mounted on shared bogies.[1] The external livery of orange vermilion, grey, and white was also identical to that carried by the 3100 series. The passenger doors continued the folding style, but were automatically operated instead of the manually-operated doors of the 3100 series.[1]

• 
  3100 series NSE side view
• 
  7000 series LSE side view

Operations

The 7000 series LSE sets are normally used on Hakone and Super Hakone services between Shinjuku and Hakone-Yumoto, and on Sagami services.[1]

Formations

7000 series LSE in new livery, December 2007

The four 11-car articulated sets are formed as follows, with car 1 at the Odawara and Hakone end.[2][3]

Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11
Designation	M9c	M8	T2	M7	M6	M5	M4	M3	T1	M2	M1c
Numbering	7800	7700	7150	7600	7500	7400	7300	7200	7050	7100	7000

Cars 2, 5, 7, and 10 each have one single-arm pantograph.[2]

Interior

Passenger accommodation

Passenger accommodation consists of rotating/reclining pairs of seats arranged 2+2 abreast.[3] All cars are no-smoking.[2]

• 
  Observation car seating, July 2007
• 
  Seating with blue moquette, September 2006
• 
  Seating with red moquette, October 2006
• 
  Former refreshment counter, October 2007

Facilities

Cars 4 and 8 have toilet and washing facilities.[2] Cars 3 and 9 had refreshment counters, although since the 1990s, these are used as a base for trolley service sales.[1]

History

The first set, 7001, was delivered in December 1980, and entered service on 27 December of the same year.[3] One set was delivered each subsequent year, with the final set, 7004, delivered in December 1983.[3]

In 1981, the 7000 series LSE was awarded the Blue Ribbon Award, presented annually in Japan by the Japan Railfan Club for railway vehicles voted as being the most outstanding design of the year.[1]

The fleet was refurbished between 1995 and 1997 to improve accessibility, and new seat moquette was added. At the same time, the sets were repainted into a new livery of wine red and white based on that applied to the Odakyu 10000 series HiSE sets.[1]

From 2005, the original scissors-type pantographs were replaced with single-arm pantographs.[1]

In 2007, set 7004 was repainted back into its original livery to mark the 80th anniversary of Odakyu.[1]

In 2012, one of the two sets still in new livery was repainted back into the original livery, and the other set was withdrawn as of 19 February 2012, leaving two sets in service, both in the original livery.[4]

The last set was withdrawn from regular service on 10 July 2018 after it was used on the Home Way No. 83 service.[5] The sets have been completely retired from service on 13 October 2018.[6]

Train simulator version

The 7000 LSE is a player-driveable train in the 2001 Microsoft Train Simulator railroad simulator.

References

1. 私鉄車両年鑑 2012: 大手15社営業用車両完全網羅 私鉄車両年鑑2012 [Japan Private Railways Annual 2012]. Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. February 2012. p. 170. ISBN 978-4-86320-549-9.
2. 私鉄車両編成表 私鉄車両編成表 2011 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2011]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. July 2011. p. 56. ISBN 978-4-330-22711-5.
3. "2007 小田急ロマンスカーオールガイド" [2007 Odakyu RomanceCar Comprehensive Guide]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 36 no. 277. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. May 2007. pp. 23–25.
4. ロマンスカー･ＬＳＥ（７０００形）は、デビュー当時の塗装に統一します。 [7000 series LSE Romancecar fleet to be standardized in original livery] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Odakyu Electric Railway. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
5. 7月10日（火）、特急ロマンスカー・LSEが定期運行終了 [7000 series LSE Romancecar to be withdrawn from regular service on Tuesday, 10 July] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Odakyu Electric Railway. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
6. 小田急ロマンスカーLSE(7000形)10/13ラストラン! 引退前に臨時列車 [Last run of Odakyu 7000 series LSE Romancecar to be retired on 13 October! Special service before retirement] (pdf). Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2018.

External links

• Odakyu Romancecar Lineup (in Japanese)