Saturday 2 February 2013

EMU Odakyu 4000 Series, Train in the Year of the Snake


EMU Odakyu 4000 series "squirms" its body at the Ayase Rail Yard, the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line

I just celebrated New Year, but I can't believe it is February already. Time really flies. Before introducing the topics of this month, I would like to keep to the subject of January a bit more.

2013 is the Year of the Snake, according to the oriental zodiac. Asian people believe that a snake is considered a divine messenger. As you may know, snakes cast off their skin. It is a symbol of regeneration.

I associate with the Year of the Snake with the EMU Odakyu 4000 series. The "face" of the train is a snake in itself. The two front lights look like eyes. The coupler is similar to a tongue in a mouth. Once the 4000 series runs on a curve or a slope track, it is very snaky (see the top photo).

The 4000 series was launched in 2007 for the direct operation between the Odakyu and the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda lines. I often use this train to go to my office. Apart from its scary snaky look, I am satisfied with its high performance and comfortable ride. For example, the 4000 series has advanced equipment such as a pure electrical brake system. It also has a backup operating system, which is robust and fault-tolerant. Even if the main system is dead, the 4000 series casts off its skin, and survives by using another system.

The EMU Odakyu 4000 series... it is a train to be worthy of the Year of the Snake.

EMU Odakyu 4000 series, "Snaky Train" passes through Chitose-Funabashi Station
 
More information about EMU Odakyu 4000 series (in Japanese):
http://www.j-trec.co.jp/rw/oer4000.html
More information about comuuter trains on the Odakyu Line (in Japanese):
http://www.odakyu.jp/company/business/railways/train/#section-2