Kintetsu 8000 series

Data (as of 12 Jan 2024)

History

This article is about the following types of trains: 8000, 8400, 8600 and 8800 series. The 8000 series group was developed for Nara Line when track and facility improvement work that allows larger trains than before completed in 1964. Each carriage is approximately 20 metres (65 ft) long, which is the standard size of trains in Japan today, but Kintetsu had been using trains of 18 metres or even 15 metres long at that time. 355 carriages were introduced in total, once being the most numerous rolling stock on the entire Kintetsu network.

The 8000 series was introduced from 1964, and each unit was formed of two coaches at first. However, intermediate carriages were ordered to make them formed of three or four coaches, and thus 208 carriages were delivered in total by 1980. In 1974, air-conditioning was installed on an 8000 series unit, which was Kintetsu's first commuter train to have air-conditioner. Some units were also converted with a little more environmentally-friendly traction and braking systems like 8800 series (which is described further below) in the 1980s. More than 85% of all carriages have already been disposed of, and only a few four-carriage units are operational today.

In 1968, a four-car unit of 8000 series entered service. This one was also named 8000 series but it looked quite different from "genuine" 8000 series trains, as the unit was a prototyope made of aluminium bodies. It was lighter than other trains, and results of experiments later lead to other newer trains including 8810 series. This unit was demolished in 2005.

The 8400 series was introduced in 1969-72 with 55 carriages in total (one of which was converted from the "genuine" 8000 series). Though looks unchanged, the 8400 series was designed to form three or four coaches so that there are subtle differences that passengers are surely unaware of.

The 8600 series is almost identical to the 8400 series but has had air-conditioning since the introduction. Today, all units are formed of either four or six coaches. This is the most numerous subseries in the 8000 series group.

The 8800 series is also based on the 8600 series but has slightly enviromentally-friendly traction and braking systems. Since this series was regarded as a de facto prototype, only four two-carriage units were built in 1980.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

Trains of 8000 series group are used for various commuter trains on Ikoma, Kashihara, Kyoto, Namba, Nara, Osaka, Tawaramoto and Tenri Lines.

Kintetsu is going to introduce brand new trains from Autumn 2024 to replace "old trains introduced in the 1960s" so that some 8000 series units are likely to be replaced with that.