Sotetsu 8000 series

Sotetsu 8000 series
Set 8708 in revised livery in April 2014
In service	1990–Present
Manufacturer	Hitachi
Entered service	1990–
Number built	130 vehicles (13 sets)
Number in service	120 vehicles (12 sets)
Number scrapped	10 vehicles (set 8707, accident damage)
Formation	10 cars per set
Fleet numbers	8701 - 8713
Operator(s)	Sotetsu
Depot(s)	Kashiwadai Depot
Specifications
Car body construction	Aluminium
Car length	20,000 mm (65 ft 7 in)
Width	2,930 mm (9 ft 7 in)
Doors	4 pairs per side
Maximum speed	110 km/h (70 mph)
Transmission	49:10
Acceleration	3.0 km/h/s
Electric system(s)	1,500 V DC
Bogies	Hitachi KH series
Braking system(s)	Brake by wire
Safety system(s)	Sotetsu ATS Dead man's switch
Track gauge	1,067 mm

The Sotetsu 8000 series (相鉄8000系) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Sagami Railway (Sotetsu) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, since 1990.^[1]

Body

They use a lightweight aluminium body.

Interior design

Some cars have transverse seating.

• 

  Longitudinal seating in car 8701 in April 2012

• 

  A transverse seating bay

Electrical equipment

The motor system is based on the New 7000 series.

This series adopted variable-frequency drive motors named "Hitachi HSV-03"; the motor power is 150 kW and installed as 4 motors per car. Power cars are two cars as one pair. The 8100 car establishes the VFD-controller, and the 8200 car establishes a compressor, etc.

The brake system was finished with Hitachi HSC and adopted brake by wire with regenerative brake.

Bogies are based on the New 7000 series, too. The name is "KH132B" (for power cars) and "KH135B" (for others).

Safety system

The safety system uses a dead man's switch and automatic train stop.

Formation

As of 1 April 2015, the fleet consists of 12 ten-car sets, formed as follows.^[2]

8701 - 8707

	←Yokohama StationEbina Station/Shonandai Station→
Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Numbering	8700 (Tc2)	8100 (M1)	8200 (M2)	8600 (T2)	8100 (Ms1) ★	8200 (M2)	8600 (T1)	8100 (Ms1) ★	8200 (M2)	8500 (Tc1)
Equipment		CONT, PT	MG, CP, PT		CONT, PT	MG, CP, PT		CONT, PT	MG, CP, PT

8708 - 8713

	←YokohamaEbina/Shonandai→
Car No.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
Numbering	8700 (Tc2)	8100 (M1)	8200 (M2)	8600 (T2)	8100 (Ms1) ★	8200 (M2)	8600 (T1)	8100 (Ms1) ★	8200 (M2)	8500 (Tc1)
Equipment		CONT, PT	CP, PT	SIV	CONT, PT	CP, PT	SIV	CONT, PT	CP, PT

Key:

• CONT：VFD controller (1 Controller operates 2 cars, 8 Motors. 1C8M)
• MG：Motor-generator
• SIV：Inverter (electrical)
• CP：Reciprocating compressor
• PT：pantograph
• ★ Transverse seating

History

Set 8706 in original livery in October 2008

A total of 130 cars were built between 1990 and 2000 by Hitachi in Yamaguchi Prefecture. They replaced many of the aging 6000 series and new 6000 series sets.

Set 8707 was involved in a collision with a track maintenance vehicle in March 2004, at Shonandai Station, and was scrapped in 2006. The set was replaced by a newer Sotetsu 10000 series set.

Refurbishment

Body

• The air conditioners were changed to new freon-based type.
• Some diamond-shaped pantographs were changed to single-arm.
• From 2008, the livery was changed to a new livery based on that used on the Sotetsu 10000 series.

Interior design

• Some early formations do not have wheelchair space, so it was added in the 8700 and 8500 cars.
• The bench seats were replaced with sculpted longitudinal seats and the sat covers were changed from orange to purple.
• Both ends of the seat were attached to white partition board and a curved pole.

Safety system

• ATS was changed from original type to the same type as the East Japan Railway Company.
• A new safety system was established. If no control in one minute, then the emergency brake engages and the train stops. This system is named by Japan "EB".

References

1. 私鉄車両年鑑2013 [Japan Private Railways Annual 2013] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 March 2013. p. 210. ISBN 978-4-86320-693-9.
2. 私鉄車両編成表 2015 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2015] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 23 July 2015. p. 80. ISBN 978-4-330-58415-7.