Toden 8500 series

Toden 8500 series
8501 in June 2025
Technical specifications
Manufacturer(s)	Alna Kōki
Type of locomotive	Light rail vehicle
Constructed	1990 – 1993
Number built	5 cars
Dimensions	13,000 mm × 2,000 mm × 3,750 mm
Gauge	4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)
Power supply	600 V DC
Electric system(s)	Pantograph
Traction system	Variable frequency (GTO, IGBT)
Traction system model	Mitsubishi MAP-052-60VD25 Tōyō Denki RG699-A1-M
Service information
In service	1 May 1990 – Present
Formation	Single car
Number in service	5 cars
Fleet numbers	8501 – 8505
Refurbished	2010 – 2017

The Toden 8500 series is a Japanese streetcar type operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei) on the Tokyo Toden network since May 1990.

History

The 8500 series is a series of streetcars manufactured for the Tokyo Toden network; the cars were introduced in May 1990 as a means of revitalizing and improving the Toden Arakawa Line. This was the first new rolling stock type on the Tokyo Toden network since the 7500 series cars in 1962.

Manufacture of the cars was done by Alna Kōki; all future rolling stock on the Tokyo Toden network would be done by Alna Kōki's successor Alna Sharyo following Alna Kōki's insolvency. It was initially planned that 8500 series cars would replace all of Toden's existing rolling stock, including 6000 series car 6152 which was used exclusively for event use, although financial difficulties with the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation led to only five cars being manufactured. Refurbishment of the sets was done from 2010 to 2017, including replacement of the pantographs, conversion of front destination displays to LEDs and the update of their traction systems. One car is expected to be refurbished using a new design penned by Eiji Mitooka with the concept of "fun Toden", intended to enter service in spring 2026.

Design

The 8500 series cars are painted in Toei's corporate livery of creamy white with green accents; this livery is intended to give off a "bright and smart" image.

All cars from 8502 onwards have a number of design differences in comparison to 8501 such as larger headlight clusters and shorter front pilots.

Specifications

Construction of the cars is of lightweight steel. The cars were the first type of rolling stock on the Tokyo Toden network to use a variable frequency traction system; originally fitted with Mitsubishi GTO traction systems, between 2013 and 2017 they were replaced with Tōyō Denki IGBT traction systems.

The 8500 series cars are equipped with a music box-like warning device or musical horn, officially named as a "melody horn that is gentle on the ears"; it is not clear if the cars were fitted with the warning device from new or if it was fitted later.