Toei 7000 series

The Toei 7000 series (東京都交通局7000形) is a tramcar type formerly operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei) on the Toden Arakawa Line in Tokyo, Japan. The tramcars date from the 1950s, but were rebuilt in 1977 with new bodies.[1] The last remaining 7000 series tramcars were withdrawn following the final day of operations on 10 June 2017.

Toei 7000 series
7000 series car 7023 in June 2009
In service	1955 – 10 June 2017
Manufacturer	Hitachi, Nippon Sharyo, Alna Sharyo
Constructed	1955–1956
Refurbished	1977; 2016 (8 vehicles)
Scrapped	1991–
Number built	31 vehicles
Number in service	None
Number preserved	2 vehicles
Formation	Single car
Fleet numbers	7001–7031
Operator(s)	Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
Depot(s)	Arakawa
Line(s) served	Toden Arakawa Line
Specifications
Car body construction	Steel
Doors	2 sliding doors per side
Electric system(s)	600 V DC
Current collection method	Overhead wire
Track gauge	1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in)

Operations

The interior of a 7000 series car in March 2012

The fleet was based at Arakawa Depot, operating on the sole remaining tram line in Tokyo, the Toden Arakawa Line.[2]

History

Original car 7024 preserved in Shizuoka Prefecture in 2002

Car 7001 repainted in original yellow livery with red stripe (for two-man operation cars) in December 2013

Car 7022 repainted in later yellow livery with blue stripe (for one-man operation cars) in June 2009

The original cars were built between 1955 and 1956 by Hitachi and Nippon Sharyo. In 1977, the fleet was modernized with new bodies built by Alna Sharyo, re-using the original bogies and electrical equipment.[3] The cars were renumbered at the same time.[3]

In 1978, the new 7000 series design was awarded the Laurel Prize, presented annually in Japan since by the Japan Railfan Club.[4]

The last remaining car in service, 7022, was withdrawn on 10 June 2017.[5]

Rebuilding

Eight 7000 series cars were rebuilt as 7700 series cars during fiscal 2016, with refurbished bodies, new electrical equipment including VVVF control, and new bogies.[6]

Fleet build details

Car 7018 stored at Arakawa Depot in April 2016, prior to rebuilding as 7700 series car 7705

Toyohashi Railroad car 3503 (former Toei 7017)

As of 1 January 2017, three vehicles were still in service.[6] The individual car build histories are as follows.[6][7]

Car No.	Original number	Original manufacturer	Original build date	Date rebuilt	Date withdrawn	Notes
7001	7055	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	February 1978	10 June 2017
7002	7056	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	January 1978	10 June 2017
7003	7057	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	February 1978	13 December 2016
7004	7058	Nippon Sharyo	1955	December 1977	31 March 2011
7005	7059	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	March 1978	→	Rebuilt as 7707
7006	7060	Nippon Sharyo	1955	January 1978	31 March 1991
7007	7061	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	November 1977	→	Rebuilt as 7701
7008	7062	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	December 1977	31 December 2012	Preserved in Ota, Tokyo
7009	7063	Nippon Sharyo	1955	January 1978	6 June 1992	Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3501)
7010	7064	Nippon Sharyo	December 1955	February 1978	→	Rebuilt as 7708
7011	7065	Hitachi	1955	January 1978	31 January 1991	Preserved in Ichikawa, Chiba
7012	7066	Hitachi	1955	December 1977	20 May 1993
7013	7067	Hitachi	December 1955	March 1978	26 October 2015
7014	7068	Hitachi	1955	February 1978	20 May 1993
7015	7069	Hitachi	December 1955	December 1977	→	Rebuilt as 7704
7016	7070	Hitachi	December 1955	December 1977	28 September 2016
7017	7071	Hitachi	1955	December 1977	28 April 1999	Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3503)
7018	7072	Hitachi	January 1956	January 1978	→	Rebuilt as 7705
7019	7073	Hitachi	January 1956	November 1977	14 December 2015
7020	7074	Nippon Sharyo	1956	February 1978	31 March 2008
7021	7075	Nippon Sharyo	1956	December 1977	28 April 1999	Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3504)
7022	7076	Nippon Sharyo	September 1956	January 1978	10 June 2017
7023	7077	Nippon Sharyo	September 1956	November 1977	15 December 2015
7024	7078	Nippon Sharyo	September 1956	February 1978	→	Rebuilt as 7706
7025	7081	Nippon Sharyo	September 1956	March 1978	27 October 2015
7026	7082	Nippon Sharyo	September 1956	March 1978	→	Rebuilt as 7702
7027	7083	Nippon Sharyo	1956	December 1977	19 September 2011
7028	7084	Nippon Sharyo	1956	November 1977	6 June 1992	Sold to Toyohashi Railroad (Mo 3502)
7029	7086	Nippon Sharyo	September 1956	November 1977	14 December 2016
7030	7087	Hitachi	September 1956	November 1977	29 September 2016
7031	7089	Hitachi	September 1956	February 1978	→	Rebuilt as 7703

Preserved examples

• 7008, withdrawn in 2012, was moved to Haginaka Park in Ota, Tokyo in 2013.[8]
• 7011 is preserved in Ichikawa, Chiba.[6]

References

1. Takai, Kunpei (30 June 2014). Morokawa, Hisashi; Hattori, Akihiro (eds.). 全国私鉄超決定版　電車・機関車・気動車1700 [Nationwide Private Railway Ultimate Edition: 1700 EMUs, Locomotives, and DMUs] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Sekaibunka-sha. p. 65. ISBN 978-4-418-14219-4.
2. 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 34, 197. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
3. 路面電車年鑑2015 [Tramcar Annual 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Ikaros Publishing. 20 January 2015. p. 40–41. ISBN 978-4863209527.
4. ブルーリボン賞・ローレル賞　選定車両一覧 [Blue Ribbon Award & Laurel Prize Winner List] (in Japanese). Japan: Japan Railfan Club. 21 May 2015. Archived from the original on 26 October 2010. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
5. さようなら都電荒川線7000形　60年余の運行の歴史に幕 [farewell to Toden Arakawa Line 7000 series - closing the curtain on 60 years of service]. Nifty News (in Japanese). Japan: Nifty Corporation. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
6. Horikiri, Kunio (April 2017). 都電7000形 64年の軌跡 [Toei 7000 series - a 64-year journey]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 57 no. 672. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. p. 102–107.
7. 路面電車年鑑2013 [Tramcar Annual 2013] (in Japanese). Japan: Ikaros Publishing. 1 January 2013. p. 40–41. ISBN 978-4863206694.
8. 都電7008号車が大田区の公園へ [Toden 7008 moved to park in Ota Ward]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 23 February 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2016.

External links

• Toden rolling stock (in Japanese)