Fukuoka Subway 4000 series

Fukuoka Subway 4000 series
The first 4000 series set in October 2024
In service29 November 2024 – present
ManufacturerKawasaki Railcar Mfg.
Replaced1000N series
Number under construction96 vehicles (16 sets)
Number built12 vehicles (2 sets)
Formation6 cars per trainset
OperatorsFukuoka City Transportation Bureau
Lines served
Specifications
Traction systemSynTRACS
Traction motorsSynchronous reluctance motor

The Fukuoka Subway 4000 series (福岡市交通局4000系) is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau for use on the Hakozaki Line and Kūkō Line in Fukuoka, Japan, since 2024. Eighteen 6-car sets are to be built.

Design

The 4000 series trains are the first in the world to implement synchronous reluctance motors on a full scale; they are expected to offer 20% energy savings over older, induction motor-driven trains.[1] The trains use bogies with steerable axles to reduce noise on curves.[2]

Internally, the trains use longitudinal seating throughout. With a per-person seat width of 480 millimetres (19 in), the 4000 series features the widest seats of any commuter train in Japan.[1]

Operations

The trains operate on the Kūkō Line and Hakozaki Line, as well as JR Kyushu Chikuhi Line through services.[3]

History

The first 4000 series set on delivery in 2024

In June 2021, the Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau announced that it was seeking out manufacturers to build a fleet of 108 new vehicles to replace its fleet of 1000N series trains.[4] It was announced on 7 February 2022 by Kawasaki Heavy Industries that its rolling stock division, Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing, would produce the new trains at a cost of approximately ¥10 billion (2022) (US$76.05 million).[5]

Details of the trains were first announced by the Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau on 30 November 2023.[6][1]

The first set, 25, was delivered from the Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing plant in Hyogo from 23 April 2024.[7][8] By October 2024, two sets had been delivered.[3]

The type entered revenue service on 29 November 2024.[9]

See also

  • Tokyo Metro 1000 series – introduced steerable bogies and synchronous motors on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line in 2012

References

  1. ^ a b c Kinoshita, Kenji (30 November 2023). 福岡市地下鉄空港線・箱崎線の新型車両4000系、2024年秋頃デビュー [New 4000 series trains on the Fukuoka City Subway line to debut around fall 2024]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. ^ 福岡市地下鉄空港線・箱崎線へ新型車両「4000系」導入 24年秋ごろ運用開始 [New "4000 series" trains to be introduced on Fukuoka City Subway Kuko Line and Hakozaki Line, set to begin operation in autumn 2024]. tetsudo-ch (in Japanese). Japan: EXPRESS. 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 23 July 2024. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  3. ^ a b 福岡市地下鉄空港線・箱崎線の新型車両4000系を報道公開、写真93枚 [Fukuoka City Subway Kuko Line and Hakozaki Line's new 4000 series trains unveiled to the press, 93 photos]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 23 October 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  4. ^ 福岡市地下鉄の新造車両を計画、1000N系を更新へ - 市場調査を実施 [Plans for new Fukuoka City subway rolling stock, plans to update 1000N series - Market research conducted]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 5 June 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  5. ^ 川崎車両、福岡市地下鉄の車両108両を受注 - 2024年度から順次納入 [Kawasaki Heavy Industries receives 108-car order from Fukuoka City Subway – delivery to begin in fiscal 2024]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 7 February 2022. Archived from the original on 18 July 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  6. ^ 福岡市地下鉄，空港線・箱崎線に4000系を導入へ [Fukuoka City Subway to introduce 4000 series trains on Kūkō Line and Hakozaki Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 30 November 2023. Archived from the original on 13 May 2024. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  7. ^ 福岡市交4000系が甲種輸送される [Fukuoka City Subway 4000 series delivered]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha. 25 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  8. ^ Ishida, Tetsuhiko (26 April 2024). 【新型車登場】福岡市営地下鉄4000系が甲種輸送を施行 [(New train model introduced) Fukuoka Municipal Subway 4000 series to carry out special-class transport]. RM News. Japan: Neko Publishing. Archived from the original on 28 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  9. ^ 福岡市地下鉄で新型車両「4000系」出発 「青い食パン」と話題に [New "4000 series" train departs on Fukuoka City Subway, becoming a hot topic with "blue bread"]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 December 2024.

Further reading

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