The Kobe City Subway 2000 series is a Japanese city commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Kobe Municipal Transport Bureau from February 1988 to March 2022 on the Kobe City Subway Seishin-Yamate Line.
History[]
The 1000 series sets were the second rolling stock to operate on the Kobe City Subway, with 24 cars in total built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Hyōgo from 1988 to 1989; these trains are related to the older 1000 series trains. The sets first entered service on 26 February 1988 initially as five-car sets to coincide with the opening of the Hokushin Line and allow for through-running through there. In 2013, refurbishment works began and were completed in 2014.
In 2016, the Kobe Municipal Transport Bureau announced that new 6000 series sets would begin to replace the rolling stock on the line beginning 2019, with a goal to replace all existing rolling stock by 2022. Retirements began in November 2021 with set 2119, the first built; the last two sets, 2121 and 2122, were retired on 19 March 2022, well ahead of their original projected retirement date of June 2022.
Design[]
The 2000 series cars use a conventional design with vertically mounted headlights. The paintscheme of the trains are largely based on that of the now-defunct Kobe City Tram.
Specifications[]
Construction of the cars is of an aluminum alloy. The sets initially used an a chopper control system which produced a buzzing sound. During refurbishments, these were changed to Hitachi IGBT drives.
Preservation[]
The following 2000 series cars have been preserved:
| Number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Previous sets | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2119 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | February 1988 | March 2022 | 2119 | Myōdani Depot, Kobe, Japan | Cab only, first car built; viewing possible on depot open days |
| Kobe City Subway rolling stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active | Seishin-Yamate Line | 6000 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kaigan Line | 5000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hokushin Line | 6000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Withdrawn | Seishin-Yamate Line | 1000 • 2000 • 3000 • 7000 • 7000-A | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hokushin Line | 7000 • 7000-A | |||||||||||||||||||||||