Number built 24 vehicles (8 sets) Capacity 161 | Formation 3 cars per trainset | |
 | ||
Entered service 21 April 2017 (scheduled) | ||
The Tobu 500 series (東武500系, Tōbu 500-kei), branded Revaty (リバティ), is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type on order by the private railway operator Tobu Railway for use on limited express services in Japan from 21 April 2017. Eight three-car sets (24 vehicles in total) are on order to be built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
Contents
Design
The trains were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, with exterior and interior styling overseen by Japanese industrial designer Ken Okuyama. The driving cabs at each end of the three-car trainsets includes an automatically extending gangway connection to allow trains to be coupled or split en route.
The trains have active suspension, a first for trains operated by Tobu, and use permanent-magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) traction motors.
Naming
The trains are branded Revaty (リバティ), a name derived from the English words "Variety" and "Liberty".
Operations
The trains will be used on the following services from 21 April 2017.
Exterior
The exterior livery consists of "champagne beige" with "forest green" and "future blue" (Tobu's corporate colour) highlights around the windows.
Formation
The fleet of three-car sets are formed as follows, with two driving motor ("M") cars and a non-powered trailer ("T") intermediate car.
The two motored cars each have one single-arm pantograph.
Interior
Each three-car set will have a seating capacity of 161 passengers. Seat pitch will be 1,000 mm (39 in). Interior lighting will use LED lighting. Each trainset will include a universal access toilet, western-style toilet, and urinal, located in the centre car. Wi-Fi and at-seat AC power sockets will also be provided.
The automated on-board passenger announcements will use the voice of TV presenter Tomomi Kuno.
History
Tobu Railway officially announced initial details of the new trains on 22 April 2015. In April 2016, Tobu announced that the trains would be used on through services between Asakusa in Tokyo and Aizu-Tajima in Fukushima Prefecture via the Yagan Railway and Aizu Railway Aizu Line from spring 2017.
The first three sets, 501 to 503, were delivered from the Kawasaki Heavy Industries factory in Kobe in December 2016.