
The is an
electric multiple unit
An electric multiple unit or EMU is a multiple-unit train consisting of self-propelled carriages using electricity as the motive power. An EMU requires no separate locomotive, as electric traction motors are incorporated within one or a number o ...
(EMU) train type operated by the
private railway operator
Tokyu Corporation since 2002 on many of its commuter lines in the Tokyo area of Japan.
Design
First introduced in 2002, the design is based on the
JR East
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...
E231 series commuter train, also manufactured by Tokyu Car Corporation (now
J-TREC) in Yokohama, from which all cars in this series would be produced.
All trains are equipped with interior LCD screens, displaying the station names, and automatic announcements in both Japanese and English. The 5000 series uses blue seat
moquette
Moquette is a type of woven pile (fabric), pile fabric in which cut or uncut threads form a short dense cut or loop pile. The pile's upright fibres form a flexible, durable, non-rigid surface with a distinctive velvet-like feel. Traditional moqu ...
fabric, while the 5050 and 5080 series have red seat moquette.
The design of the 5000 series was the basis for the later
6000 series and
7000 series train types.
Driver's cab
All sets use the same driver's cab, with a gray color, and a single T-shaped brake and throttle controller. There are four throttle steps, and seven brake steps. The speedometers are equipped with ATC. To the right of the speedometer is an information screen, showing the run type (local, express, etc.), and information of the individual cars. This touch screen computer can also control interior temperature and lights.
File:Tokyu-5000-cab.jpg, Driver's cab of the Tokyu 5000 series
Variants
* 5000 series: 10-car sets used on the
Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line since May 2002
* 5000 series: 8-car sets used on the
Tokyu Toyoko Line
* 5050 series: 8-car sets used on the Tokyu Toyoko Line
* 5050-4000 series: 10-car sets used on Tokyu Toyoko Line inter-running services since September 2012
* 5080 series: 8-car (previously 6-car) sets used on the
Tokyu Meguro Line since March 2003
* Y500 series: 8-car sets used on
Minatomirai Line
The Minatomirai 21 Line (みなとみらい21線 ''Minato-mirai-21-sen''), commonly known as the Minatomirai Line (みなとみらい線 ''Minatomirai-sen''), is a subway line in Yokohama, Japan that runs from Yokohama Station to Motomachi-Ch� ...
/Tokyu Toyoko Line inter-running services since February 2004
5000 series

These are ten-car sets first introduced on the
Den-en-toshi Line
The is a major commuter line operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation and connecting south-western suburbs of Tokyo and neighbouring Kanagawa Prefecture, with its western terminus of , to a major railway junction of western dow ...
from May 2002. These sets are distinguished by a green stripe above the doors. The 5000 series is fitted with
CS-ATC and Tobu ATS (TSP) in order to run through the
Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, and onward over the
Tobu Skytree Line to Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen,
Tobu Isesaki Line
The is a Japanese railway line operated by the private railway company Tobu Railway, extending from Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen Station in Saitama to Isesaki Station in Gunma Prefecture. The Isesaki Line can refer to the entire section between Asak ...
to Kuki, and
Tobu Nikko Line to Minami-Kurihashi. These sets are based at Tokyu's Nagatsuta depot, and are powered by
Hitachi
() is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational Conglomerate (company), conglomerate founded in 1910 and headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company is active in various industries, including digital systems, power and renewable ener ...
motors with VVVF inverters.
Initially six sets (5101–5106) were built between 2002 and 2003. Set 5101 was the prototype set and has slightly different dimensions (it is narrower than the other sets and has a slightly non-standard door spacing). Between 2005 and 2008, fourteen additional sets (5107–5117 and 5120–5122) were built with two six-door cars each (cars 5 and 8); sets 5117 and 5120–5122 were fully new built, while car 4 of sets 5107–5116 were surplus cars from sets 5102–5106, as two of their cars (5 and 8) were replaced with new six-door cars as well. Set 5122 never entered service on the Den-en-toshi Line. In early 2009, two additional sets (5118 and 5119) were built as 9-car sets (car 4 was missing, and cars 5 and 8 were six-door cars) but these also never entered into service.
Between 2009 and 2010, a third six-door car (car 4) was added to sets 5104–5117 and 5120 (total 15 sets): three cars were new built and 12 were taken from other sets (two cars each from sets 5102, 5103, 5118, 5119, 5121, and 5122). Of the 15 surplus four-door cars created, four were used to return sets 5102 and 5103 to fully four-door sets, six were inserted into sets 5118, 5119, 5121, and 5122, and the remaining five cars were used in
5050 series sets 5170–5172. Meanwhile, sets 5118, 5119, 5121, and 5122 were reformed as eight car sets and transferred to the
Tōyoko Line. As mentioned earlier, nine-car sets 5118 and 5119 each had of their two six-door cars removed and replaced with two four-door surplus cars, and ten-car sets 5121 and 5122 each had two six-door cars replaced with a single four-door surplus car. In addition, a motored four-door car from each set was removed, and used in 5050 series sets 5169 and 5172–5174.
A total of 45 new four-door cars were built from December 2015
to replace the three six-door cars in sets 5104–5117 and 5120 to ensure uniform door-spacing ahead of the introduction of
platform edge doors at Den-en-toshi Line stations from 2016. All six-door cars were replaced by the end of 2017. The new cars added incorporate a number of interior design improvements, including higher seat backs and headrests on some seats.
Operations
Formations
The sets are formed as follows.
Den-en-toshi Line set 5101
The M1 cars (5 and 9) are each fitted with two single-arm
pantographs, and the M car (2) is fitted with one pantograph.
Den-en-toshi Line sets 5102 onward
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M car (9) is fitted with one pantograph.
Toyoko Line 8-car sets
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs.
Interior
File:Tokyu-5000-interior.jpg, 5000 series interior
File:Inside-Tokyu5000-6door1.jpg, 5000 series 6-door car interior
File:Tokyu5000-LCD10.jpg, Passenger information screen
Refurbishment
On 8 May 2025, Tokyu Corporation announced its plans to refurbish its Den-en-toshi Line 5000 series fleet. Refurbished sets will carry a new livery and a redesigned interior based on that of the
2020 series, with new walls, seats, and flooring as well as additional wheelchair spaces. The first refurbished 5000 series set is scheduled to return to service in 2026.
Livery variations
Green frog

Toyoko Line eight-car set 5122 received an all-over green vinyl wrapping livery in September 2017 to mark the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Toyoko Line and recreating the appearance of the
original 5000 series EMUs nicknamed "green frog" which formerly operated on the line.
It was originally scheduled to carry this livery until the end of August 2018,
but this was later extended to August 2019 before Tokyu announced in September 2019 that the livery would be carried indefinitely.
5050 series
These are eight-car sets introduced on the
Toyoko Line from April 2004. These sets are distinguished by a pink stripe above the doors. They are similar to the 5000 series, the only difference being that they have eight cars, and that they have the pink stripe instead of green. They are based at Motosumiyoshi Depot, and are capable of running through the
Minatomirai Line
The Minatomirai 21 Line (みなとみらい21線 ''Minato-mirai-21-sen''), commonly known as the Minatomirai Line (みなとみらい線 ''Minatomirai-sen''), is a subway line in Yokohama, Japan that runs from Yokohama Station to Motomachi-Ch� ...
. The 5050 series is notable as being the first type of train in the world to feature full-color
LED
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (corresp ...
destination indicators.
Sets 5169–5174 each originally included one or two surplus 5000 series cars (5170–5172 had two surplus cars each, and the other sets had one); one car from sets 5169 and 5172–5174 were surplus motored cars with their pantographs and motored bogies temporarily removed, and were eventually replaced with new trailer cars while the motored cars were renumbered in the 4000 series.
Set 5155 was withdrawn in July 2017 following accident damage sustained in 2014,
while set 5156 was transferred to
Yokohama Minatomirai Railway in 2018 and renumbered Y517 to replace set Y516 damaged in the same accident. New build sets 5177 and 5178 were delivered from
J-TREC in 2016 and 2019 respectively as replacement trains.
In 2020, set 5173 was reformed as a 10-car set and renumbered as set 4111. Furthermore, in 2022, set 5166 was reformed as a 10-car set and features two "Q Seat" cars (numbered cars 4 and 5 within the set) in preparation for "Q Seat" services on the Toyoko Line. The set was renumbered to 4112. Following the completion of newly formed 4112, it was announced that three more sets (sets 5167–5169) will be reformed into 10-car trainsets for service on the Sotetsu-Tokyu Link. Once reformed, they will be numbered 4113–4115 respectively. The first "Q Seat" cars entered service on the Toyoko Line on 24 October 2022;
however "Q Seat" services only began on 10 August 2023.
Operations
Formation
Toyoko Line eight-car sets are formed as follows.
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs.
Interior
File:Tokyu-5050-interior.jpg, 5050 series interior
Sustina prototype car
J-TREC is testing a prototype car based on the ''sustina'' design, as part of a Toyoko Line 5050 series set.
The car, numbered 5576, is part of set 5176.
File:Tokyu 5050 kei 5576 sustina vehicles toyoko line.JPG, ''Sustina'' car 5576 in September 2013
File:Tokyu 5050 kei 5576 sustina vehicles interior.JPG, Interior of the ''sustina'' car
File:Tokyu 5050 kei 5576 sustina vehicles.JPG, Manufacturer's plate
Refurbishment
On 8 May 2025, Tokyu Corporation announced its plans to refurbish twenty-three 5050 series sets. Refurbished sets will carry a new livery and a redesigned interior based on that of the 2020 series, with new walls, seats, and flooring as well as additional wheelchair spaces. The first refurbished 5050 series set is scheduled to return to service in the final quarter of 2025.
Livery variations
100th anniversary
From 10 April 2022, set 5151 received a special livery to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Tokyu Corporation's founding.
5050-4000 series
New 5050-4000 series 10-car sets based on the 5050 series design were delivered from
Tokyu Car from April 2011, entering service from September 2012 ahead of the start of
Tokyu Toyoko Line and
Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
The , formally the , is a subway line operated by Tokyo Metro in west-central Tokyo and Wako, Saitama, Japan. The newest line in the Tokyo subway network, it opened in stages between 1994 and 2008. On average, the Fukutoshin Line carried 362,654 ...
inter-running services in March 2013.
Operations
Formations
The ten-car sets are formed as follows.
* The M1 and M1' cars each have two single-arm pantographs, and the M car is fitted with one.
* Cars 4601 to 4604 (included in sets 4101 to 4104 respectively) were renumbered from former 5050 series cars 5469, 5473, 5474, and 5472 (from sets 5169, 5173, 5174, and 5172 respectively), which were in turn from former Den-en-toshi Line 5000 series cars 5918, 5919, 5922, and 5921 (from sets 5118, 5119, 5122, and 5121 respectively); they are narrower and retain their original blue moquette seating.
Interior
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4008 interior 20130725.JPG, Interior view of car 4008 in July 2013
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4008 seat 20130725.JPG, 7-person bench seating in July 2013
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4008 priority seat 20130725.JPG, Priority seating in car 4008 in July 2013
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4908 wheelchair space 20130725.JPG, Wheelchair space in car 4908
File:Tokyu 4601 interior Kawagoeshi 20150611.JPG, The interior of car 4601 (formerly 5000 series car 5918) with original blue seating moquette
File:Tokyu 5050kei4000bandai LCD.jpg, LCD passenger information screens above the doorways in December 2011
''Shibuya Hikarie''

Set number 4110 was delivered in April 2013 in a special ''Shibuya Hikarie'' body graphics and with modified interior to mark the first anniversary of Tokyu's "Shibuya Hikarie" development located above the newly expanded underground Shibuya Station. This trainset entered revenue service on 26 April 2013.
It is the first 5050 series train to feature LED interior lighting, and has higher backed seating than regular trains, with grey seat backs in cars 1, 3, 8, and 10, brown seat backs in cars 2, 4, 6, and 9, and blue seat backs in cars 5 and 7.
The train is equipped experimentally with free WiFi.
One stanchion in the train features an embossed heart design as a whimsical way to brighten up commuters' journeys.
File:Tokyu 4110 Shibuya Hikarie interior 20130502.JPG, Interior of car 4110 (car 1)
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4410 inside.jpg, Interior of car 4410 (car 4)
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4510 inside.jpg, Interior of car 4510 (car 5)
File:Tokyu 4110 Shibuya Hikarie seating 20130502.JPG, Seating in car 4110 with grey seat backs
File:Tokyu 4110 Shibuya Hikarie priority seating 20130502.JPG, Priority seating in car 4110
File:Tokyu 5050-4000 4110 Hikarie heart 20150129.JPG, The embossed heart design on one of the trains stanchions
History
Nine cars of the first set were delivered from
Tokyu Car's Yokohama factory to Tokyu's Nagatsuta Depot in
Kanagawa Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Kanagawa Prefecture is the List of Japanese prefectures by population, second-most populous prefecture of Japan at 9,221,129 (1 April 2022) and third-dens ...
between 29 and 31 March 2011.
These cars were formed into a 10-car set with the inclusion of intermediate motor car 4601, renumbered from former 5050 series trailer car 5469, which was itself previously renumbered from motor car 5918.
The second 10-car set was delivered from Tokyu Car in June 2011.
Set 4101 entered revenue service on the Tokyu Toyoko Line from 9 September 2011, reduced to an 8-car formation.
From 10 September 2012, 10-car 5050-4000 series sets entered revenue service on the
Seibu Ikebukuro Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway operator Seibu Railway. It originates at Ikebukuro Station, a large railway junction in north-western Tokyo, extending to northwest suburbs as far as Tokorozawa, Saitama, and nominally term ...
(and
Seibu Yurakucho Line) and
Tobu Tojo Line, with inter-running through to the
Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
The , formally the , is a subway line operated by Tokyo Metro in west-central Tokyo and Wako, Saitama, Japan. The newest line in the Tokyo subway network, it opened in stages between 1994 and 2008. On average, the Fukutoshin Line carried 362,654 ...
and
Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line.
In July 2020, a former 8-car set built in 2010 (set 5173) was joined with two new cars (built in 2019) and reformed as 10-car set 4111.
In July 2022, another former 8-car set 5166 was reformed into 10-car set 4112 with two new “Q Seat” cars in preparation for reserved seating services on the Toyoko Line in 2023. As of 1 August 2022, the new Q Seat cars feature a livery very similar to those used on the Oimachi Line, however they are painted in red in contrast to orange. Two months later, three more sets (5167, 5168, and 5169) were announced to be lengthened into 10-car trainsets in preparation for through-running service on the Sotetsu line. Once completed, they will be renumbered to sets 4113, 4114, and 4115 respectively. The first "Q Seat" cars entered service on the Toyoko Line on 24 October 2022;
however "Q Seat" services only began on 10 August 2023.
File:Tokyu_Series5050_4412-4512_Q-SEAT.jpg, "Q Seat" cars on the Toyoko Line in April 2023
Livery variations
Tōkaidō–San'yō Shinkansen livery

On 8 May 2024, Tokyu announced that as part of the "enjoy! West" promotion with the cooperation of JR Central, one 5050-4000 series set would receive a special wrapping livery based on the livery used by
N700A series trains operated on the
Tōkaidō and
San'yō Shinkansen lines with the exterior painted white and two blue stripes added beneath the windows. On 14 May 2024, set 4105 returned to service with this livery.
5080 series
Ten six-car sets were introduced on the
Meguro Line from March 2003. These sets are distinguished from the others by a dark blue stripe above the doors. Unlike the other variants, they are powered by
Toshiba
is a Japanese multinational electronics company headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. Its diversified products and services include power, industrial and social infrastructure systems, elevators and escalators, electronic components, semiconductors ...
equipment, rather than Hitachi. The 5080 series is fitted with CS-ATC, ATO and TASC for use on the
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. The line runs between Meguro in Shinagawa and Akabane-Iwabuchi in Kita. The Namboku Line was referred to as Line 7 during the planning stages, thus the seldom-used off ...
,
Saitama Rapid Railway Line, and
Toei Mita Line. These sets are based at Motosumiyoshi Depot.
Two additional cars are expected to be inserted into each set
for the introduction of through services to the
Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line. The first ten of these new cars, of which two are former
6000 series cars, were delivered in October 2021.
all sets have been lengthened to eight cars.
Operations
Formation
Meguro Line eight-car sets feature “8 Cars” stickers on cars 1 and 8 to distinguish them from the original six car trainsets. They are formed as follows, with four motored (M) cars and four trailer (T) cars. Car 1 is at the Meguro end.
The M1 cars (7) are fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M cars (2) and (4) are fitted with one.
Original 6-car set formation
Meguro Line six-car sets were originally formed as follows, with three motored (M) cars and three trailer (T) cars. Car 1 was at the Meguro end.
The M1 cars (5) was fitted with two single-arm pantographs, and the M cars (2) were fitted with one.
Interior
File:Inside-Tokyu5181.jpg, 5080 series interior
File:Tokyu5185-Courtesy seat.jpg, Priority seating
File:Inside-Tokyu5181-LED.jpg, LED passenger information display in car 5181
File:Inside-Tokyu5185-LCD.jpg, LCD passenger information display in car 5185
Y500 series
These eight-car sets are owned by the
Yokohama Minatomirai Railway and are used for interrunning services over the Tokyu Toyoko Line and
Minatomirai Line
The Minatomirai 21 Line (みなとみらい21線 ''Minato-mirai-21-sen''), commonly known as the Minatomirai Line (みなとみらい線 ''Minatomirai-sen''), is a subway line in Yokohama, Japan that runs from Yokohama Station to Motomachi-Ch� ...
. The fleet of six eight-car sets entered service in February 2004.
Set Y516 was withdrawn in 2017 following accident damaged sustained in 2014,
and a replacement set (Y517, former Tokyu 5050 series set 5156) was transferred to Yokohama Minatomirai Railway. Set Y517 entered service with the operator on 24 March 2018.
Operations
Formation
Yokohama Minatomirai Railway Y500 series sets are formed as follows.
The M1 cars (3 and 7) are each fitted with two single-arm pantographs.
Interior
File:Yokohama-Minatomirai-Y500-interior.jpg, Y500 series interior
References
External links
Tokyu EMU details
(Japan Railfan Magazine Online)
(Japan Railfan Magazine Online)
(Japan Railfan Magazine Online)
(Japan Railfan Magazine Online)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tokyu 5000 Series
Electric multiple units of Japan
5000 series
Train-related introductions in 2002
Tokyu Car multiple units
J-TREC multiple units
1500 V DC multiple units of Japan