Tobu 500 series


The Tobu 500 series, branded Revaty, is an electric multiple unit train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway on limited express services in Japan since 21 April 2017. Eight three-car sets were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries.

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 traction motors.

Naming

The trains are branded Revaty, a name derived from the English words "Variety" and "Liberty".

Operations

, the trains are used on the following services.
Service nameBetweenLine used
Revaty Kegon - Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line
Revaty Kinu - Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line - Tobu Kinugawa Line
Revaty Aizu - Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Nikko Line - Tobu Kinugawa Line - Yagan Railway Aizu Kinugawa Line - Aizu Railway Aizu Line
Revaty Ryomo - Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Isesaki Line
Skytree Liner - Tobu Skytree Line
Urban Park Liner - /Tobu Skytree Line - Tobu Urban Park Line
Urban Park Liner - Tobu Urban Park Line

Exterior

The exterior livery consists of "champagne beige" with "forest green" and "future blue" highlights around the windows.

Formation

The fleet of three-car sets are formed as follows, with two driving motor cars and a non-powered trailer intermediate car.
DesignationMc1TMc2
NumberingMoHa 50x-1SaHa 50x-2MoHa 50x-3
Capacity 56/11287/13656/112
Weight 40.535.140.4

The two motored cars each have one single-arm pantograph.

Interior

Each three-car set has a seating capacity of 161 passengers. Seat pitch is. Interior lighting is LED lighting. Wi-Fi and at-seat AC power sockets are provided.
The automated on-board passenger announcements use the voice of TV presenter.

Toilet facilities

Each trainset includes a universal access toilet, western-style toilet, and urinal, located in the centre car.

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 in Tokyo and 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.
The 500 series "Revaty" trains were a recipient of the 2018 Laurel Prize from the Japan Railfan Club.