Odakyu’s Veteran 8000 Series Transferred to Seibu Railway, Begins Operations on Kokubunji Line in Late May

Seibu Railway conducted a handover ceremony for the ‘Sustainability Vehicle’ acquired from Odakyu Electric Railway at Seibu Shinjuku Station on May 24. The train will begin regular operations on the Kokubunji Line from May 31.

The ‘Sustainability Vehicle’ is Seibu Railway’s unique term for trains acquired from other companies that employ the energy-efficient ‘VVVF inverter control system.’ The company is committed to making its fleet more energy-efficient, introducing new trains on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, Seibu Ikebukuro Line, and Yamaguchi Line, while adding sustainability vehicles to other subsidiary lines. It plans to convert all vehicles to environmentally friendly VVVF models by the fiscal year 2030.

Odakyu Electric Railway’s 8000 series and Tokyu Corporation’s 9000 series have been acquired, with a combined total of about 100 sustainability vehicles to be introduced by the fiscal year 2029. The 8000 series will operate on the Kokubunji Line, while the 9000 series will serve the Tamagawa Line, Tamako Line, Seibu Chichibu Line, and Sayama Line.

▲Odakyu Electric Railway’s 8000 series (not the vehicle for transfer)

The 8000 series was first introduced by Odakyu Electric Railway in 1982. Initially, it used the field chopper control system but was upgraded to the VVVF control system during renovations starting in 2003. The first train handed over was the 8000 series 8261 unit, manufactured in 1985. Seibu Railway refers to it as the 8000 series 8103 unit.

▲Seibu Railway’s ‘Sustainability Vehicle’ 8000 series 8261 unit

Seibu Railway and Odakyu Engineering collaborated on the train modifications, including installing safety systems required for operation on Seibu Lines.

During the handover ceremony, an Odakyu Electric Railway driver passed a key motif used for railway vehicles to a Seibu Railway driver. Yoshiyuki Iwasaki, President of Odakyu Engineering, stated, “The 8000 series has long been a leading train for safety and comfort on the Odakyu Line. With thorough maintenance, we have delivered it to Seibu Railway. I am confident it will also meet the expectations of Seibu line customers,” he said as he sent off the veteran train that had been in service for 40 years to a new home.

Additionally, on the 24th and 25th, a trial ride event was held where the train could be seen running on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, which it will not typically do in regular service.