Tobu 500 series

The Tobu 500 series (東武500系, Tōbu 500-kei), branded Revaty (リバティ), is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway on limited express services in Japan since 21 April 2017. Eight three-car sets (24 vehicles in total) were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.[1]

Tobu 500 series
A 500 series EMU in February 2018
ManufacturerKawasaki Heavy Industries
Built atKobe, Hyogo
Replaced300 series
Constructed2016-2017
Entered service21 April 2017
Number built24 vehicles (8 sets)
Number in service24 vehicles (8 sets)
Formation3 cars per trainset
Capacity161
Operator(s)Tobu Railway
Line(s) servedTobu Skytree Line, Tobu Urban Park Line, Tobu Isesaki Line, Tobu Nikko Line, Tobu Utsunomiya Line, Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line, Aizu Railway Aizu Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium
Car length20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width2,870 mm (9 ft 5 in)
Height4,035 mm (13 ft 2.9 in)
Doors1 sliding door per side
Maximum speed
  • 120 km/h (75 mph) (service)
  • 130 km/h (80 mph) (design)
Traction systemTM-16 (190 kW) x 8 per set
Acceleration2.3 km/h/s
Deceleration
  • 3.7 km/h/s (service)
  • 5.3 km/h/s (emergency)
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC
Current collection methodOverhead line
Safety system(s)TST-ATS
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)

Design

The trains were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with exterior and interior styling overseen by Japanese industrial designer Ken Okuyama.[1] The driving cabs at each end of the three-car trainsets includes an automatically extending gangway connection to allow trains to be coupled or split en route.[1]

  • The gangway connection between two coupled units
  • Two units being coupled en route in May 2017
  • Interior of the driving cab
  • Interior of the right-hand side cab

The trains have active suspension, a first for trains operated by Tobu, and use permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) traction motors.[1]

Naming

The trains are branded Revaty (リバティ), a name derived from the English words "Variety" and "Liberty".[2]

Operations
A three-car set on the Aizu Railway Aizu Line on a Revaty Aizu service in May 2017

As of 21 April 2017, the trains are used on the following services.[3]

Service nameBetweenLine(s) used
Revaty KegonAsakusa - Tobu NikkoTobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line
Revaty KinuAsakusa - Shin-FujiwaraTobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line - Tobu Kinugawa Line
Revaty AizuAsakusa - Aizu-TajimaTobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line - Tobu Kinugawa Line - Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line - Aizu Railway Aizu Line
Revaty RyomoAsakusa - TatebayashiTobu Skytree Line - Tobu Isesaki Line
Skytree LinerAsakusa - KasukabeTobu Skytree Line
Urban Park LinerAsakusa - Omiya/NodashiTobu Skytree Line - Tobu Urban Park Line
Urban Park LinerOmiya - UngaTobu Urban Park Line

Exterior

The exterior livery consists of "champagne beige" with "forest green" and "future blue" (Tobu's corporate colour) highlights around the windows.[1]

Formation

The fleet of three-car sets are formed as follows, with two driving motor ("M") cars and a non-powered trailer ("T") intermediate car.[4]

Designation Mc1TMc2
Numbering MoHa 50x-1SaHa 50x-2MoHa 50x-3
Capacity (seated/total) 56/11287/13656/112
Weight (t) 40.535.140.4

The two motored cars each have one single-arm pantograph.[4]

Interior

Each three-car set has a seating capacity of 161 passengers. Seat pitch is 1,000 mm (39 in). Interior lighting is LED lighting.[1] Wi-Fi and at-seat AC power sockets are provided.[1]

The automated on-board passenger announcements use the voice of TV presenter Tomomi Kuno.[5]

  • Passenger saloon interior
  • Wheelchair space
  • The connecting gangway between units

Toilet facilities

Each trainset includes a universal access toilet, western-style toilet, and urinal, located in the centre car.[4]

  • The universal-access toilet
  • Interior of the universal-access toilet
  • The standard western-style toilet
  • The men's urinal

History
Sets 505 and 504 on delivery in January 2017

Tobu Railway officially announced initial details of the new trains on 22 April 2015.[1] In April 2016, Tobu announced that the trains would be used on through services between Asakusa in Tokyo and Aizu-Tajima in Fukushima Prefecture via the Yagan Railway and Aizu Railway Aizu Line from spring 2017.[6]

The first three sets, 501 to 503, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in December 2016.[7]

The 500 series "Revaty" trains were a recipient of the 2018 Laurel Prize from the Japan Railfan Club.

References
  1. Kusamachi, Yoshimasa (22 April 2015). 東武鉄道、新型特急「500系」2017年春導入へ…分割・併合運転に対応 [Tobu Railway to introduce new 500 series limited express trains in spring 2017 - To allow coupling/splitting en route]. Response (in Japanese). Japan: IID Inc. Archived from the original on 24 April 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  2. 東武 新型特急車輌500系の愛称名「Revaty」に決定 [Brand name "Revaty" chosen for new Tobu 500 series limited express trains]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  3. ２０１７年４月２１日（金）ダイヤ改正を実施！ [Revised timetable to be introduced on Friday 21 April 2017] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 18 January 2017. Archived from the original (pdf) on 19 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  4. 東武鉄道500系 [Tobu Railway 500 series]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57 no. 674. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. June 2017. p. 80–84.
  5. 東武鉄道　新型特急用車両500系の愛称は”Revaty”に決定 [Tobu Railway: New limited express trains to be named "Revaty"]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45 no. 392. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. December 2016. p. 72.
  6. 東武鉄道の新型特急車両「５００系」が２０１７年春より野岩鉄道・会津鉄道へ乗り入れます！ [New Tobu 500 series trains to inter-run on Yagan Railway and Aizu Railway from spring 2017] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  7. 東武鉄道500系が甲種輸送される [Tobu 500 series delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 December 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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