Hanshin 5500 series

Japanese train type

5001 series
7861 series
Rolling stock damaged by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake

Constructed1995–2000Entered service1 November 1995Refurbished2017–Number built36 vehicles (9 sets)Number in service36 vehicles (11 sets)Formation2/4 cars per trainsetFleet numbers5501–5517Capacity132 per carOperatorsHanshin Electric RailwayLines servedHanshin Main Line
Hanshin Mukogawa LineSpecificationsCar body constructionSteelCar length18,980 mm (62 ft 3 in)Width2,800 mm (9 ft 2 in)Height4,060 mm (13 ft 4 in)Doors3 pairs per sideMaximum speed90 km/h (55.9 mph)^[1]Traction systemVariable frequency (GTO)Power output110 kW per motorAcceleration4.0 km/h/s (2.5 mph/h)Deceleration4.5 km/h/s (2.8 mph/h) (service)
5.0 km/h/s (3.1 mph/h) (emergency)Electric system(s)1,500 V DCCurrent collector(s)Overhead catenaryBraking system(s)Regenerative brake, electronically controlled pneumatic brakesSafety system(s)Hanshin ATSCoupling systemShibata-typeTrack gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

The Hanshin 5500 series (阪神電鉄5500系, Hanshin Dentetsu 5500-kei) is a commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Hanshin Electric Railway in Japan since 1995.^[1]

Design

Manufactured to replace any previous train cars damaged by the January 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake, the design of the 5500 series is based on the earlier 8000 series trains.^[1] The 5500 series was the first variable-frequency drive-equipped train type to be introduced by the Hanshin Electric Railway.^[1]

Operations

Together with the sole 5550 series set, the 5500 series sets are used primarily on Hanshin Main Line services.^[1]

Formation

Mainline sets

As of 1 April 2016^[update], nine four-car sets are in service, formed as shown below. All cars are powered.^[2]

Designation	Mc1	M1	M2	Mc2
Numbering	55xx (odd)	56xx (odd)	56xx (even)	55xx (even)
Capacity (total/seated)	132/48	132/50		132/48

The two intermediate (M1 and M2) cars are each fitted with one lozenge-type pantograph.^[2]

Mukogawa Line sets

Designation	Mc1	Mc1	Mc2	Mc2
Numbering	551x (odd)	591x (odd)	591x (even)	551x (even)
Capacity (total/seated)^{[citation needed]}	127/39	125/40	125/40	127/39

The 591x cars are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs.^[3]

Interior

Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout, with sculpted seats finished in blue moquette.^[1]

History

The first trains entered service in 1995.^[1] Nine four-car sets were built by 2000.^[1]

Refurbishment

The fleet underwent a programme of refurbishment from 2017, with the first set, 5501, treated in April 2017.^[4] Refurbishment includes the addition of external passenger door control buttons, full-colour LED destination display panels, and a new blue livery.^[4]

Refurbished set 5505 in January 2021
Interior view of a refurbished set

Transfer to the Mukogawa Line

Hanshin unveiled the first 5500 series set modified for use on the Mukogawa Line in March 2020. The set was modified from set 5513, which was split into two 2-car sets: 5513+5913 and 5514+5914. The 591x cars were fitted with driver's cabs based on those of the 9000 series and two single-arm pantographs. Hanshin confirmed that they would also modify set 5511 as such.^[3]

The converted 5500 series sets entered service on the Mukogawa Line on 6 June 2020, replacing the 7861 series sets that were previously used on the line.^[5]

Test run 5511F-5912F
Toraco 5511-5911F
To-lucky 5512F-5912F
Koshien 5514-5914F

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h 私鉄車両年鑑 2013: 大手15社営業用車両完全網羅 私鉄車両年鑑2013 [Japan Private Railways Annual 2013] (in Japanese). Tokyo, Japan: Ikaros Publications Ltd. 20 March 2013. p. 88. ISBN 978-4-86320-693-9.
^ ^a ^b 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 147. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
^ ^a ^b "阪神，武庫川線向け5500系を公開" [5500 series for Mukogawa Line unveiled]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b 阪神5500系にリニューアル車が登場 [Refurbished Hanshin 5500 series trainset appears]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
^ "阪神武庫川線で5500系が営業運転を開始" [5500 series begins commercial operation on the Mukogawa Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2022.