Seibu 3000 series

Data (as of 16 Oct 2021)

History

The 3000 series was the last commuter train of Seibu with three sets of door per carriage. In the early-1980s, Seibu Shinjuku Line had been gradually modernised by 2000 series, but Ikebukuro Line still had various old trains. However, passengers of Ikebukuro Line tended to be on a train longer than those of Shinjuku Line, and it was apparent that Ikebukuro Line users do not want four-door trains with fewer seats. Hence, Seibu developed the 3000 series.

The 3000 series consisted of same motors, traction and braking systems as those of the 2000 series, and 101 series-like bodies. Body design of the 3000 series was slightly different from the 101 series, particularly windows between doors and the windshield.

Nine eight-carriage units were introduced to Ikebukuro Line, but it became clear that three-door commuter trains could not deal with severe congestion. Some units were reallocated to Seibu Shinjuku Line in the early-1990s. In 2010, two of them became six-car units and temporarily used on Kokubunji Line. Since the three-door trains were incompatible with platform edge doors, all units were withdrawn by 2014.

Very few carriages have been transferred to Ohmi Railway, a subsidiary of Seibu in Shiga Prefecture.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

Ohmi Railway uses two two-car units called 300 series along with other ex-Seibu trains.

Photos

101 series (left) and 3000 series (right).

A unit was decorated with characters of Galaxy Express 999, a famous manga comics.

L-train, a unit advertising Seibu's own professional baseball team.