TWR 70-000 series

Data (as of 2 Dec 2023)

History

The 70-000 series ("seventy-thousand series") was entered service in 1996 when Rinkai Line of Tokyo Waterfront Railway (Tokyo Rinkai Kosoku Tetsudo) was opened. It is based on JR East 209 series to reduce costs of introduction and maintenance. Each unit was initially formed of four coaches, but became six or ten coaches by 2002 when Rinkai Line was extended to Osaki. Due to increase in demand, the company rearranged remaining six-carriage units to be formed of ten. Six redundant carriages were resold to JR East and reallocated to Hachiko Line.

The series has been also used for through-services towards JR Saikyo and Kawagoe Lines.

Current Operations & Future Prospects

The 70-000 series is used for Rinkai Line ↔ JR Saikyo Line ↔ JR Kawagoe Line route. Since it is not used for through-service to Sotetsu lines, the 70-000 series do not run Saikyo Line between Osaki and Hazawa Yokohama-Kokudai.

Tokyo Waterfront Railway plans to introduce 71-000 series brand new trains from financial year 2024, replacing all 70-000 series by 2027.

Photo

JR East used two 70-000 series for Hachiko Line until 2022.