Tokyu 5000 series

Data (as of 31 Mar 2024)

*Including two carriages converted from 6000 series.

History

The 5000 series is the most successful type of Tokyu, and widely used across the network. Yokohama Minatomirai Railway has Y500 series that is almost identical the 5000 series, which is described in a different article. The history of the series is so complicated that this article only refers to major events about it.

To put it simply, Tokyu mass-produced the 5000 series to replace old 8000 series (in service: 1969-2008) and 8500 series, and to prepare for through-services from Toyoko Line towards Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line as well as those from Meguro Line towards Tokyo Metro Namboku Line and Toei Mita Line. To reduce the manufacturing cost, Tokyu relied on existing commuter trains, namely JR East E231 series.

There are four variants of the series, as described below. They were generally classified in accordance with lines they serve, but there are exceptions (some units of variant 5000 were reallocated from Den-en-toshi to Toyoko Line). There is also variant 4000 of 5050 series (sounds strange), which is formed of ten coaches.

Many 5000 series units on Den-en-toshi Line had carriages with six pairs of doors, to reduce congestion. Three out of ten coaches per carriage were "six-door carrige", but they were replaced with ordinary four-door carriages by 2017 as they were incompatible with platform edge doors. All six-door coaches have been scrapped.

The 5080 series was initially formed of six coaches, but two intermediate carriages were inserted as through-services between Meguro Line and Sotetsu were launched. Two of them were converted from 6000 series.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The 5000 series are used on lines as the table above shows. Those on Den-en-toshi Line are also used for through-services to Tokyo Metro Hanzomon and Tobu lines, and those allocated to Toyoko Line are also for through-services to Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin, Seibu Ikebukuro and Tobu Tojo Lines. Those on Meguro Line are used for through-services to Tokyo Metro Namboku and Toei Mita Lines. Furthermore, those on Toyoko and Meguro Lines run Shin-Yokohama Line, and by extension, through-services to Sotetsu lines.

Some of those on Toyoko Line have "Q Seat" coaches with convertible seating (longitudinal to transverse and vice versa).

Photos

A 5050 series (variant 4000) unit is promoting Tokyu's skyscraper and retail complex Shibuya Hikarie.

Another 5050 series unit on Toyoko Line has been painted green, just like its predecessor that was withdrawn from the Line in 1980.

Den-en-toshi Line's 5000 series with six-door carriages (see the third, sixth and seventh coaches).

The 5080 series on Meguro Line before became an eight-car train.