The Tobu 100 series (Japanese: 東武100系, romanizedTōbu 100-kei), branded Spacia (スペーシア), is a limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1990. The trains are used on Kegon, Spacia Nikko, Kinu, and Spacia Kinugawa services to Nikkō and Kinugawa-Onsen.[2]

Tobu 100 series
Spacia
Set 104 in July 2021
In service1990–present
ManufacturerAlna Kōki, Tokyu Car Corporation
Replaced1720 series
Constructed1989–1991
Entered service1 June 1990
Refurbished2011–2012
Number built54 vehicles (9 sets)
Number in service54 vehicles (9 sets)
SuccessorTobu N100 series
Formation6 cars per trainset
Fleet numbers101–109
OperatorsTobu Railway
DepotsKasukabe
Lines servedTobu Skytree Line, Tobu Nikko Line, Tobu Kinugawa Line, Tohoku Main Line
Specifications
Car body constructionAluminium[1]
Car length20 m (65 ft 7 in)
DoorsSliding plug door, one per side
Traction systemGTO-VVVF
Electric system(s)1,500 V DC
Current collector(s)Overhead line
Safety system(s)Tobu ATS, ATS-P (three sets)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Notes/references
This train won the 34th Blue Ribbon Award in 1991.

Formation

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As of 1 April 2012, the fleet consists of nine sets, based at Kasukabe Depot, and formed as follows.[1]

Car No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Designation Mc2 M4 M3 M2 M1 Mc1
Numbering 100-6 100-5 100-4 100-3 100-2 100-1

Interior

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Seat pitch is 1,100 mm (43 in). Car 6 contains six 4-seat compartments. These are marked as "Green cars" when operating on JR lines.[3]

History

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The 100 series trains entered service on 1 June 1990 on Kegon and Kinu services from Asakusa in Tokyo to Nikkō and Kinugawa-Onsen, replacing the ageing 1720 series trains operating since 1960. Two sets were delivered in fiscal 1989, two more were delivered in fiscal 1990, and five were delivered in fiscal 1991, bringing the fleet to nine sets.[3]

All cars were made no-smoking from 18 March 1995.[1]

On 11 November 2021, Tobu announced that the 100 series fleet would be replaced with new N100 series trains[4] which entered service on 15 July 2023.[5]

JR inter-running

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Through-running Spacia Nikkō and Spacia Kinugawa services from Shinjuku in Tokyo to Tōbu Nikkō and Kinugawa-Onsen via the JR Tōhoku Main Line commenced on 18 March 2006, and three sets (106 to 108) were modified with JR ATS-P for use on JR East lines.[3]

Refurbishment

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The fleet underwent a programme of refurbishment from December 2011, ahead of the opening of the Tokyo Skytree in May 2012. Three trains each were repainted into three different colour schemes, with "miyabi" purple, "iki" light blue, and "sunny coral orange", matching the Tokyo Skytree theme colours, and new "Spacia" logos. Internally, the seats feature new moquette, with blue in the open saloons and brown in the compartments.[6] The first refurbished set re-entered service from 29 December 2011.[7]

Set No. Colour scheme Date refurbished Notes
101   "Deluxe Romance Car" maroon/beige 29 June 2012[8] Reliveried from "iki" blue in December 2021
102   "miyabi" purple 28 March 2012[9]
103   "Nikko Moude Spacia" gold/black 2 March 2012[9] Reliveried from "sunny coral" orange in April 2015
104   "sunny coral" orange 28 September 2012[10]
105   "miyabi" purple 28 December 2011[9]
106   "Nikko Moude Spacia" gold/black 25 July 2012[10] Reliveried from "sunny coral" orange in July 2015
107   "miyabi" purple 31 May 2012[8]
108   "iki" blue 27 April 2012[8]
109    Original orange/red 3 February 2012[9] Reliveried from "iki" blue in June 2021

Special liveries

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Nikko Moude Spacia

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Set 106 in "Nikko Moude Spacia" gold and black livery, April 2021

Set 103 was repainted in a special gold and black livery and branded "Nikko Moude Spacia" (日光詣スペーシア) from April 2015.[11] This was followed in July 2015 by set 106, which was similarly reliveried.[12]

Deluxe Romance Car

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Set 101 in "Deluxe Romance Car" maroon and beige livery, February 2023

In December 2021, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the 100 series, set 101 was repainted in a maroon and beige livery inspired by that of the 1720 series sets they replaced.[13]

Classic

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Set 109 in original red and orange livery, August 2021

Set 109 was repainted in the original 100 series livery from June 2021.[14]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 私鉄車両編成表 2012 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2012]. Japan: JRR. July 2012. p. 45. ISBN 978-4-330-29911-2.
  2. ^ 日本と世界の鉄道カタログ [Japan and World Railway Catalogue]. Japan: Seibido Publishing. July 1992. ISBN 978-4-415-03262-7.
  3. ^ a b c 2006東武鉄道優等車両カタログ [2006 Tobu Railway Express Rolling Stock Catalogue]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 35, no. 264. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. April 2006. pp. 18–21.
  4. ^ "東武が新型特急「N100系」導入、ラウンジやカフェカウンターを設置 - 鉄道コム" [Tobu announces new limited express N100 series fleet, installs lounges and cafe counters]. 鉄道コム (in Japanese). 11 November 2021. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  5. ^ Omori, Taketo (15 July 2023). 【新時代の幕開け!】東武特急「スペーシアX」運行開始! [(The beginning of a new era!) Tobu limited express "Spacia X" starts operation!]. RM News. Japan: Neko Publishing. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  6. ^ 東武鉄道100系"スペーシア"リニュアル車 [Refurbished Tobu 100 series "Spacia" sets]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 335. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. March 2012. p. 70.
  7. ^ 特急スペーシアをリニューアルします!! [Spacia limited express to be refurbished] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 15 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 December 2011. Retrieved 16 December 2011.
  8. ^ a b c 私鉄車両のうごき [Private Rail Rolling Stock Changes]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 342. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. October 2012. p. 124.
  9. ^ a b c d 私鉄車両のうごき [Private Rail Rolling Stock Changes]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 41, no. 339. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. July 2012. p. 125.
  10. ^ a b 私鉄車両のうごき [Private Rail Rolling Stock Changes]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine. Vol. 42, no. 345. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. January 2013. p. 125.
  11. ^ 東武鉄道100系「日光詣スペーシア」 [Tobu 100 series "Nikko Moude Spacia"]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55, no. 651. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2015. p. 109.
  12. ^ 東武鉄道100系106編成も「日光詣スペーシア」となって出場試運転 [Tobu 100 series set 106 test-run after becoming "Nikko Moude Spacia"]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 17 July 2015. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  13. ^ 東武鉄道 特急リバイバルカラー車両第3弾 100系「デラックスロマンスカーカラー」‼ [Tobu Railway unveils third phase of limited express scheme revival plan: 100 series in "Deluxe Romance Car" livery!!]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 3 December 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
  14. ^ 東武100系がデビュー当時のカラーリングに [Tobu 100 series in original livery]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 4 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
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