Tobu 50000 series

Data (as of 29 Nov 2025)

History

The 50000 series is a part of Hitachi A-train like IETs and Class 385 in Great Britain, though it does not look like them. There are several groups as described below, but all units are formed of ten coaches and mainly used in urban areas rather than on rural lines.

There are four subseries: 50000 subseries (original), 50050 subseries (for through-services to the Tokyo Metro Hanzomon and Tokyu Den-en-toshi Lines), 50070 subseries (for through-services to the Tokyo Metro Yurakucho, Fukutoshin, the Tokyu Toyoko and Minatomirai Lines) and 50090 subseries (for TJ Liner).

The 50000 subseries (nine units) have been used on the Tojo Line, and all but first unit can run the underground. Nevertheless, none of them has been to the Yurakucho or Fukutoshin Lines, and used only on the Tobu lines. Two units were reallocated to the Isesaki Line in 2019-21, and these two are treated in a same way as the 50050 subseries.

The 50050 subseries were introduced to the Isesaki and Tobu Nikko Lines, to expand the through-services to the Hanzomon and Den-en-toshi Lines, as well as to replace 30000 series. 18 units are allocated to the lines, but there are quite a few reliability issues.

The 50070 subseries are used on the Tojo Line as well as through-services to the Yurakucho, Fukutoshin, Tokyu Toyoko and Minatomirai Lines. There are seven units, and probably the least common type on the through-services in the area.

Finally, the 50090 subseries was designed for TJ Liner (Ikebukuro - Ogawamachi), all-reserved-seat services for commuters. They have convertible seating (longitudinal to transverse and vice versa), and Tobu was the first railway operator in eastern Japan to adopt this feature. Six units are in service, and they are also used on ordinary services on the Tojo Line.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

To sum up, they are allocated as follows.

Photos

The first unit of the 50000 series, which runs on the Tojo Line, has no gangway next to the cab.

The 50090 series in "heritage livery", in which limited express on the Tojo Line was painted (1949-67). It was modelled after Flying Scotsman in Britain.