Nishitetsu Orders Fleet of New Commuter Trains

Tokyo, February 4, 2016 — Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. announced today that it has received an order from Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co., Ltd. (Nishitetsu) for 18 newly designed 9000-series train cars. The rolling stock will be built at Kawasaki's Hyogo Works in Kobe City and delivered in FY 2016 and FY 2017 as each unit is completed.

The new 9000-series trains were ordered to replace Nishitetsu's 5000-series models, which Kawasaki built and delivered to the company between 1975 and 1991. Based on the 3000-series models delivered from 2006 to January 2016, the 9000 series was designed as environmentally-friendly rolling stock for commuting purposes featuring performance improvements, energy-saving measures and other enhancements. In addition to utilizing silicon carbide (SiC) hybrid devices in variable voltage variable frequency (VVVF) inverter controllers and static inverter (SIV) units to improve energy efficiency, the new trains will employ LEDs for train lighting and exterior destination indicators, thus cutting energy consumption compared with older train types. Furthermore, screens located inside each car above the doors will display information for passengers in four languages (Japanese, English, Chinese and Korean), interior design will enable easier distinction between standard and priority seating spaces, and the trains will feature more thoroughgoing barrier-free design.

The 9000-series' exterior design features the red-striped motif often seen on past Nishitetsu trains, this time expressed in a calm royal red. The bold vertical stripes on the front end give an impression of strong forward motion while emphasizing the new train design. Inside the cars, glass panels used for seating-area partitions and doors separating cars, as well as the large-scale patterns along the floor coverings, provide an updated appearance over previous models..

Ever since Kyushu Electric Railway, the predecessor to today's Nishitetsu, founded their company in 1911, Kawasaki has continued to provide rolling stock for the company, the first being the 1-series train delivered in 1911.

Kawasaki will continue to enhance its credibility with its technological expertise by providing environmentally-friendly modes of transportation to markets around the world.


Overview of 9000-series Rolling Stock

	Train exterior (artist’s rendering)		Train interior (artist’s rendering)