Seibu Railway will operate the “Red Arrow Classic,” a 10000 series “New Red Arrow” train painted in the colors of the first-generation 5000 series “Red Arrow” limited express, for a limited period beginning October 4.
The operation is part of the Seibu Group Showa 100th Anniversary SPECIAL PROJECT. Trainset 10108, consisting of seven cars, will operate on the routes served by the Limited Express Red Arrow. It may not operate on certain days due to rolling stock scheduling. Service is scheduled to run from October 4 through spring 2027.
The 5000 series “Red Arrow” was Seibu Railway’s first paid limited express service, beginning operations on October 14, 1969, coinciding with the opening of the Seibu Chichibu Line. It connected Ikebukuro Station and Seibu-Chichibu Station in 83 minutes, the fastest travel time at the time. Its ivory-white body with a red stripe was highly regarded, and it received the Japan Railfan Club’s Blue Ribbon Award in 1970. The train served for approximately a quarter of a century and laid the foundation for Seibu’s limited express brand, followed by the 10000 series “New Red Arrow,” introduced in 1993, and the current 001 series “Laview.”
To coincide with the start of operations, related merchandise will be available in advance on October 3 and 4. Four types of “Connectable Acrylic Stands” will be priced at 770 yen each (tax included); the “New Red Arrow × Red Arrow Classic Double-Pocket Clear File” will cost 880 yen (tax included); and the “Secret Shakeable Station Name Sign Keyholder: Limited Express Series” will cost 700 yen each (tax included). Advance sales will take place at the Seibu Railway Goods sales booth at the Seibu Line Area Family Festa. Purchases of the acrylic stands and clear files will be limited to one of each per person per transaction.
In addition, original Plarail toy train models of the “Seibu Railway 10000 Series (New Red Arrow)” and “Seibu Railway 10000 Series (Red Arrow Classic)” are scheduled to go on sale this winter.
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