Seibu 4000 series

The Seibu 4000 series (西武4000系) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Seibu Railway mainly on Seibu Chichibu Line services in Saitama Prefecture, Japan since 1988.[1]

Seibu 4000 series
A 4000 series set on the Seibu Chichibu Line in August 2009
In service	1988 - Present
Manufacturer	Tokyu Car Corporation
Constructed	1988-1992
Refurbished	2002
Number built	48 vehicles (12 sets)
Number in service	48 vehicles (12 sets)
Formation	4 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers	4001-4023
Operator(s)	Seibu Railway
Depot(s)	Musashigaoka
Line(s) served	Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Seibu Chichibu Line, Chichibu Main Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Car length	20 m (65 ft 7 in)
Doors	2 pairs per side
Maximum speed	105 km/h (65 mph)
Power output	150 kW
Acceleration	2.3 km/h/s
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Current collection method	overhead catenary
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Design

The 4000 series trains were built between 1988 and 1992 by combining electrical equipment from former 101 series EMUs with new steel bodies.[1] The trains are finished in a livery of ivory white with blue, red, and green stripes along the waist line, the team colours of the Saitama Seibu Lions baseball team.[1] The driving cabs have a similar configuration to the earlier 101 series and 2000 series EMUs, with a left-hand master controller and right-hand brake control.[1]

• 
  The driving cab console

Operations

A 4000 series set on the Chichibu Main Line, December 2010

The fleet of four-car trains is primarily used on all-stations driver only operation "Local" services on the Seibu Chichibu Line between Hannō and Seibu Chichibu, but the trains are also used as eight-car formations on through "Rapid Express" train services from Ikebukuro on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line to Mitsumineguchi and Nagatoro on the Chichibu Main Line.[1] These trains divide and couple at Yokoze, with separate portions for Mitsumineguchi and Nagatoro.[1]

Fleet

As of 1 April 2016, the fleet consists of twelve four-car sets, numbered 4001 to 4023, based at Musashigaoka depot.[2]

Formations

Sets are formed as shown below with two motored ("M") cars and two non-powered driving trailer ("Tc") cars, and the Tc1 car at the southern (Ikebukuro) end.[2]

Designation	Tc1	M1	M2	Tc2
Numbering	40xx	41xx	41xx	40xx

The M1 car is fitted with two single-arm pantographs (originally lozenge-type pantographs).[1][2]

• 
  Car 4002 of set 4001 in May 2006
• 
  Car 4001 of set 4001 in May 2006

Interior

Seating mainly consists of fixed 4-person facing seating bays, with longitudinal bench seating next to the doorways.[1] The Tc1 car has a toilet.[2]

• 
  Train interior view
• 
  4-person seating bay
• 
  Toilet and priority seating
• 
  Wheelchair space

History

The first train entered service in 1988, with twelve four-car sets built by 1992.[1] The fleet was refurbished in 2002 for use on wanman driver only operation services on the Seibu Chichibu Line. Modifications included the addition of automatic passenger announcements.[1]

Fifty-two Seats of Happiness

The Fifty-two Seats of Happiness set in August 2016

One four-car set was modified from set 4009[3] into a tourist train called the Fifty-two Seats of Happiness (52席の至福, Gojūni seki no shifuku) for use on services operating between Seibu Shinjuku and Ikebukuro in Tokyo and Seibu Chichibu and Hon-Kawagoe in Saitama Prefecture, entering service from 17 April 2016.[4] The interior and exterior design of the train was overseen by architect Kengo Kuma.[5]

The automated on-board passenger announcements in Japanese use the voice of TV presenter Tomomi Kuno, and the melody chimes accompanying the announcements were created by musician Minoru Mukaiya, who was formerly the keyboard player in the group Casiopea.[3]

The train is formed as shown below, with car 1 at the Tokyo (southern) end.[2][6]

Car No.	1	2	3	4
Numbering	4009	4109	4110	4010
Seating capacity	-	26	-	26
Facilities	Multipurpose space, toilets	Dining seating	Open kitchen	Dining seating

• 
  Car 4009 (car 1) with spring motif
• 
  Car 4109 (car 2) with summer motif
• 
  Car 4110 (car 3) with autumn motif
• 
  Car 4010 (car 4) with winter motif

Special liveries

From 16 January 2016, set 4015 received a special Hello Kitty livery as part of a campaign to promote tourism to the Chichibu area. It is scheduled to operate in this livery until 27 March 2016.[7]

References

1. 私鉄車両年鑑 2013: 大手15社営業用車両完全網羅 私鉄車両年鑑2013 [Japan Private Railways Annual 2013]. Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 March 2013. p. 201. ISBN 978-4-86320-693-9.
2. 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 48. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
3. Ueshin, Daisuke (18 March 2016). 西武鉄道4000系を改造、観光電車「52席の至福」車両番号も"52"!? [Seibu Railway "52 Seats of Happiness" sightseeing train converted from 4000 series - Even the cars are numbered "52"!?]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. Archived from the original on 13 May 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
4. “西武 旅するレストラン「52席の至福」”が営業運転を開始 [Seibu "52 Seats of Happiness" travelling restaurant enters service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 18 April 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
5. Osumi, Magdalena (28 December 2015). "Seibu to debut dinner trains featuring local fare on its scenic Chichibu Line from spring". The Japan Times. Japan: The Japan Times Ltd. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
6. 西武鉄道 2016年春「秩父」をモチーフとした観光電車デビュー [Seibu Railway to launch Chichibu-themed tourist train in spring 2016]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 16 June 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2015.
7. 西武鉄道で「秩父 ハローキティ トレイン」運転 [Seibu Railway operates "Chichibu Hello Kitty Train"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 17 January 2016. Retrieved 17 January 2016.

External links

• Seibu 4000 series train information (in Japanese)
• Fifty-two Seats of Happiness train information (in Japanese)