# Tokyu 8500 series

The Tokyu 8500 series (東急8500系, Tōkyū 8500-kei) is a commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and Tokyu Oimachi Line in the Tokyo area of Japan from 1975 until 2023, and the Jabodetabek area of Indonesia since 2006.

## Design

Based on the design of the earlier 8000 series, the 8500 series was introduced as the sixth batch of the 8000 series fleet, featuring some differences over the preceding batches. Among these include a raised driver's cab position, automatic train control (ATC), and air conditioning.

## Operations

The 10-car trainsets were primarily used on inter-running services on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line, Tobu Skytree Line, Tobu Isesaki Line as far as Kuki, and the Tobu Nikko Line as far as Minami-Kurihashi. Five-car sets were used on Tokyu Oimachi Line services until April 2019.

## History

The Tokyu 8500 series first entered service in 1975, operating on Tokyu Toyoko Line services, as well as Tokyu Shin-Tamagawa Line (between Shibuya and Futako-Tamagawaen stations) and Den-en-toshi Line services. The 8500 series was a recipient of the 1976 Laurel Prize. Early examples of the 8500 series were initially delivered as four-car sets; however, they were ultimately lengthened to ten-car sets. A total of 400 vehicles were built by 1991.
When the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA) Hanzomon Line opened in 1978, Tokyu leased three 6-car 8500 series trains to the agency for approximately a decade, as they did not yet possess their own trains for the line.
Following the introduction of newer Tokyu 5000 series trainsets in 2002, the 8500 series fleet was gradually withdrawn from Den-en-toshi Line services. Coinciding with the opening of the Hanzomon Line extension from Suitengumae Station to Oshiage Station on 19 March 2003, some sets saw use on Tobu Line inter-running services via the Hanzomon Line, operating as far as Kuki on the Tobu Isesaki Line and as far as Minami-Kurihashi on the Tobu Nikko Line.
To allow for an increase in rolling stock for then-upcoming Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line inter-running services, Tokyu suspended 8500 series withdrawals in 2009. However, withdrawals resumed following the introduction of newer 2020 series trainsets in 2018. On 5 April 2022, Tokyu announced that the 8500 series would end regular service in January 2023. The two remaining sets at the time of the announcement, sets 8631 and 8637, were withdrawn on 25 May 2022 and 25 January 2023, respectively.

### Preservation

In August 2024, Tokyu announced that it would shorten 8500 series set 8637 to a four-car formation and preserve it to working order. The set will be used as an excursion train on the Oimachi Line, the Den-en-toshi Line (between Futako-Tamagawa and Nagatsuta), and the Kodomonokuni Line. It is scheduled to enter service in the final quarter of 2024.

## Formations
### Den-en-toshi Line 10-car sets

Den-en-toshi Line 10-car sets, based at Nagatsuta Depot, were formed as shown below with eight motored ("M") cars and two non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Shibuya end.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Designation | M2c | M1 | T | M2 | M1 | M2 | M1 | T | M2 | M1c |
| Numbering | DeHa 8600 | DeHa 8700 | SaHa 8900 | DeHa 8800 | DeHa 8700 | DeHa 8800 | DeHa 8700 | SaHa 8900 | DeHa 8800 | DeHa 8500 |
* Cars 2, 5, 7, and 10 were each fitted with one lozenge-type pantograph.
* Cars 3 and 9 had a wheelchair space.
* Car 2 was designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.
Den-en-toshi Line sets 8601 to 8614 were marked with "K" stickers on the center front window of the driving cab ends, and they were restricted to operating on Den-en-toshi Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line only, due to lack of Tobu ATS on these sets. After the opening of the Hanzōmon Line extension from Suitengūmae Station to Oshiage Station, sets 8601, 8602, 8613, and 8614 were fitted with Tobu ATS, allowing them to operate on Tobu Skytree Line, Tobu Isesaki Line and Tobu Nikko Line (and had their "K" stickers removed), while sets 8603 to 8612 were retained without Tobu ATS until their retirement from duties on the Den-en-toshi Line.
All trains with "K" stickers have had their ATS system installed or withdrawn from service. The last train with the K sticker, set 8606, was retired in May 2020.

### Oimachi Line 5-car sets

Oimachi Line five-car sets, based at Nagatsuta Depot, were formed as shown below with four motored ("M") cars and one non-powered trailer ("T") car, and car 1 at the Oimachi end. These sets were withdrawn from service by April 2019.
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Designation | M2c | M1 | T | M2 | M1c |
| Numbering | DeHa 8600 | DeHa 8700 | SaHa 8900 | DeHa 8800 | DeHa 8500 |
* Cars 2 and 5 were each fitted with one single-arm pantograph.
* Car 2 was designated as a mildly air-conditioned car.

## Interior

* Early style interior of a Den-en-toshi Line set, February 2007
* Refurbished interior of a Den-en-toshi Line set, February 2007
* Late style interior of a Den-en-toshi Line set
* LED passenger information display

## Livery variations

* Blue stripe livery, June 2007
* Blue stripe "Bunkamura" livery, October 2021
* Izu no Natsu Izu Kyuko style livery, August 2012
* "TOQ-BOX" livery, June 2007

## Resale

A number of 8500 series trains have been resold to other operators in Japan and overseas following their withdrawal from Tokyu services.

### Nagano Electric Railway

Six 3-car sets were sold to the Nagano Electric Railway between 2005 and 2009. These retain the "8500 series" classification.

#### Formation

* DeHa 8500 (M1c)
* SaHa 8550 (T)
* DeHa 8510 (M2c)

### Izukyu Corporation

One 8500 series car (DeHa 8723) was sold to Izukyu Corporation in 2006, becoming KuMoHa 8152, and combined with former Tokyu 8000 series cars. It includes transverse seating acquired from Seibu 10000 series trains during refurbishment.

### Chichibu Railway

Two 3-car 7000 series sets were formed from cars of set 8609, entering service on the Chichibu Railway in 2009.

### Indonesia

Eight 8-car sets (8604, 8607*, 8608*, 8610*, 8611*, 8612*, 8613*, and 8618) were sold to KRL Jabodetabek in Indonesia between 2006 and 2009 for use on commuter services in the Jakarta area. The sets initially received different color schemes, but were later standardized with the same KA Commuter Jabodetabek red and yellow livery. Set 8618 is the first to be repainted in KAI Commuter paint scheme in February 2021. Set 8612 was retired due to an accident in 2019.
* Former Tokyu 8500 series EMU set 8610 on an afternoon commuter service in Indonesia, June 2023
* Former Tokyu 8500 series EMU set 8613 on a KRL Jabotabek commuter service in Jakarta, November 2011
* Former Tokyu 8500 series EMU set 8618 with the new KAI Commuter livery, May 2022
* Tokyu 8500 set 8618F departed from Depok station, Indonesia