New Class 18000 For Tokyo Metro

On 2 June 2021 in Tokyo was unveiled new train for Hanzōmon line of Tokyo metro. 19 Class 18000 Hitachi-built ten-car trains are on order. The 1,067 mm gauge formation consist of four powered cars, each equipped with four 205 kW synchronous traction motors fed from SiC inverter, and six trailers. The train is powered from 1,500 V DC overhead wire using four pantographs.

Maximum service speed is 110 km/h. The bodyshells are made of aluminium, the floor height is 60 mm lower than of the previous trains to make boarding easier for passengers on wheelchair. Each car is 20,000 mm long, except end cars which are 20,470 mm long, 2,780 mm wide and 3,635 mm high above rail top. Its weight is from 26.7 to 32.8 t. The capacity of two end cars is 45 seats and 97 standees, the capacity of intermediate cars is 51 seats and 102 standees.

The fist train presented, which consist of end cars 18101 and 18001, was built at Hitachi Kasado Works in Kudamatsu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It replaces Class 08 EMUs built between 2002 and 2003 by Nippon Sharyo. The first commercial service is scheduled to start in August 2021.

Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line is 16.8 km long and serves Shibuya, Minato, Chiyoda, Chūō, Kōtō, and Sumida. Even it is a shorter one in huge Tokyo metro network, the length of services operating on the line is much longer thanks to through services to two private railways Den-en-toshi Line of Tōkyū Corporation and Skytree Line of Tōbu Rialway. The longest service passing through Hanzōmon Line is about 105 km long.