Tokyu 9000 series
Seibu 7000 series

Data (as of 23 May 2026)

*Excluding those temporarily taken out of service and awaiting reallocation to Seibu.

History

The 9000 series was an epoch-making train on Tokyu at the time of introduction. Until the mid-1980s, Tokyu had been introducing 8000 series (in service 1969-2008) or similar types like 8090 series and 8500 series, but the design of 9000 series was apparently different from any other trains then. Tokyu adopted inverter-contorlled traction to make trains more efficient, more comfortable and less costly when maintaining.

14 eight-carriages were introduced to the Toyoko Line, and a five-car unit was introduced to the Oimachi Line. Those on Toyoko Line were withdrawn by 2013, a day before the company launched through-services to the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin, Seibu Ikebukuro and Tobu Tojo Lines. In fact, Tokyu initially planned to use them for through-services to the Tokyo Metro Namboku and Toei Mita Lines, but later found that it would be too costly to convert and refurbish them. Due to the same reason, they were never used on Fukutoshin Line. They were shortened to five coaches and reallocated to the Oimachi Line.

Meanwhile, Seibu has decided to reintroduce the 9000 series trains to the Chichibu, Sayama, Tamagawa and Tamako Lines, replacing 101 series, 2000 series and 4000 series trains. A few units, which are now formed of four coaches, have already been delivered to Seibu and renamed 7000 series.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

Stopping services on the Oimachi Line are mostly served by this 9000 series, but they are due to be replaced with 6020 series by 2027.

Seibu 7000 series will enter into the Sayama Line service in June 2026, and more will follow on the other branch lines in due course.

Photo

The 9000 series on the Oimachi Line.