On February 19, Seibu Railway announced that it will introduce a new paid reserved-seat train called “Tokiiro” on its Shinjuku Line in Japan. The new train will serve as the successor to the current Series 10000 “New Red Arrow” limited express train, and is scheduled to begin operation in spring 2027.
The train will be manufactured by Kawasaki Railcar Manufacturing. It will be formed of 8 cars, featuring reclining seats in a basic 2-2 configuration, and will also be equipped with toilets. The train’s design, nickname, and logo were developed jointly with Tanseisha, a Japanese company specializing in spatial design.
The nickname “Tokiiro” (literally “color of time”) is inspired by the colors of the sky in the morning, daytime, and evening, and is written in Japanese katakana characters to make it feel familiar. The logo incorporates the shape of the letter “S,” the initial of the Shinjuku Line, and uses smooth curves to express the comfortable ride.
The design theme is an undulating line called the “Energy Wave,” which visually represents the way cityscapes and people are connected through the spaces between them. A gradient color scheme has been adopted, incorporating a dot pattern that looks different when viewed up close and from a distance. The front of the train features a double-face design inspired by both sunrise and sunset. This is Seibu Railway’s first attempt to use different color schemes for all 8 cars of a single train set. The deep purple in the center represents the night sky, and the transition from night to sunrise, and from sunset to night, is expressed through a dotted gradation.
Inside the cars, the seats are shaped so that passengers are less bothered by the gaze of others, with particular attention paid to seating comfort. Each seat is equipped with a power outlet, drink cup holder, and hook, and free Wi-Fi service will be provided. Matching the exterior design, the seat moquette uses red and orange tones. Warm-colored lighting is used as the base, while the floor and walls are kept in calm tones to create a relaxing atmosphere.
From an environmental standpoint, the use of a lightweight aluminum body and VVVF inverter control equipment results in each car being approximately 17 percent lighter than the current Series 10000. Energy-saving measures will also reduce power consumption per train set by about 70 percent.
Specific details such as the exact start date of operation, service sections, and stopping stations will be announced at a later date.
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