Keisei 3400 series

The Keisei 3400 series is a city commuter electric multiple unit operated by the Keisei Electric Railway since March 1993.
==History==
The 3400 series sets were born out of interesting circumstances; in 1990, the first generation AE series trains used on the Skyliner airport express services were being retired in favor of the newer AE100 series trains. The AE100 series sets were well received for their comfort and better amenities than the AE series, and as such it was decided to completely retire the AE series sets in favor for their successors.
With the AE series retired, it was decided to evaluate the trains; through inspections, it was observed that the bodies had deteriorated significantly. It was also observed that the electrical equipment and traction systems did not have much wear and tear, but instead could actually be reused; it was then thought that the company could reuse the equipment for a new train instead of scrapping the equipment.
Keisei worked with Daiei Sharyo to produce a new train out of this new equipment; Keisei provided the underbody equipment while Daiei Sharyo manufactured new bodies for the trains, largely based on that of the 3700 series trains. From January 1993 to September 1995 a total of five trains were built, each eight cars in length. The first trains entered service in March 1993. These were the last known trains produced by Daiei Sharyo before their withdrawal from the industry in 2001 to focus on real estate.
Some minor refurbishment works were undertaken on the trains over their time in service, such as the addition of a front pilot for four of the sets, the exchanging of seat moquettes, the exchanging of the interior LED displays and other destination indicators among other things. Only one set is operational as of September 2023. The train currently operates on the Keisei Main Line, but have also been seen on the Toei Asakusa Line, Hokusō Line and Keikyu Main and Airport Lines.
==Design==
The 3400 series sets use a conventional squared-off design with dual mounted headlights. The trains use a scroll-type destination signboard on the front as well as dual express indicators on the tops of each car. The trains feature future red and human blue accents.
==Specifications==
Construction of the cars is of painted steel. Cars are 19 meters long. Underfloor equipment is essentially the same as used on the previous generation AE series trains, a field chopper control system manufactured by Tōyō Denki Seisakushō noted for its howling noise. The train's body appears quite similar to that of the 3700 series cars, but feature painted steel bodies as opposed to stainless steel ones.
==References==
*Wikipedia.org
Category:Electric trainsets
Category:Keisei trains
Category:Daiei Sharyo locomotives