Japan: The operator has published renderings of the exterior and interior of the 90000 series EMUs. The first ten-car trainsets are supposed to be launched on the 75 km 1,067 mm gauge Tobu Tojo commuter line as early as next year.
The initial order includes the supply of seven such trains, powered by catenary. The EMUs are to replace the 9000 series vehicles, produced by the local Tokyu Car, currently J-TREC, between 1981 and 1994. Tobu Railway says that the new trains will consume more than 40% less electricity compared to their predecessors. This improvement will be achieved through the use of SiC-based traction inverters, asynchronous motors, and LED lightning.
Tobu Railway doesn’t disclose who will produce the new trains. Previously, the operator has launched news vehicles by Kinki Sharyo and Hitachi Rail.
