The Kobe City Subway 3000 series is a Japanese city commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Kobe Municipal Transport Bureau from March 1993 to July 2021 on the Kobe City Subway Seishin-Yamate Line.
History[]
The 3000 series sets were designed as a modern train with better comfort and safety compared to older trains. A total of six sets were built by Kawasaki Heavy Industries in Hyōgo from 1992 to 1994, with the first set entering service on 20 March 1993; unlike the previous trains the 3000 series sets consisted of six cars from the start. The sets often complemented the older 1000 and 2000 series sets in operation.
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 of this series began in 2019, with 3123, 3124 and 3127 all retired by November 2019 and sent for scrapping. By February 2021, only 3128 remained in service; 3128 was retired on 24 July 2021 with a number of small ceremonies, making the 3000 series the first series of trains on the Kobe Municipal Subway to be fully retired.
Design[]
The 3000 series cars use a conventional design with two front-mounted headlights. The headlights however are mounted horizontally, unlike all other rolling stock on the Kobe City Subway's Seishin-Yamate Line. A curvier front profile was incorporated on this series as well as lighter paint tones for a more vibrant appearance. Some sets received different liveries for different occasions.
Early design drawings had the 3000 series cars closely resemble the Toei 6300 series which were also introduced around the same time (both were also manufactured by Kawasaki Heavy Industries); a design proposal also showed the middle two cars of the sets being double deck cars.
Specifications[]
Construction of the cars is of an aluminum alloy. The sets used later-specification Hitachi gate turn-off thyristor variable frequency drives which produced a wailing sound; these were the first trains on the Kobe City Subway to use a VVVF drive system.
Preservation[]
The following 3000 series cars have been preserved:
| Number | Manufacturer | Date manufactured | Date retired | Previous sets | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3123 | Kawasaki Heavy Industries | January 1993 | August 2019 | 3123 | 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||