Keikyu's new train: the moving toilets

On 24th March, the unit 1892 of Keikyu 1000 series, which is formed of four coaches, was delivered to Kurihama Depot. It is the second unit of 1890 subseries, numbered 1892-1 to 1892-4.

According to the company, the 1890 subseries has various unique features to provide "new style of commuter train for post COVID-19 era": centre gangway (like 1800 subseries), convertible seating (from longitudinal to transverse and vice versa) and toilets (two per four coaches, apparently too much). However, it is uncertain if they would really work well.

Front design of the 1890 is based on the 1800 subseries, which was constructed in 2016. The 1800s have been criticised of front design. On the one hand, enthusiasts were disappointed at front end, which is too flat and spoiling the well-balanced design owing to centre gangway. On the other hand, crews have been dissatisfied with smaller and less comfortable cab because of the centre gangway.

The design of the 1890s is even worse, especially the font size of carriage number. It is hard to comprehend why the designer decided to write it in such tiny letters. Small tail lamps (which emit yellow light when train is running forward as express or non-passenger service) do not look good either. Generally speaking, whether the design is good or bad depends on each person's sense, but I have never heard of any person praising it.The most important feature is toilets. Each four-carriage unit of the 1890 subseries has two restrooms, an accessible toilet and a urinal. The subseries is the first rolling stock of Keikyu having such facilities. It is doubtful whether toilet is necessary, as reasonable maximum journey time on Keikyu line is no longer than 75 minutes, while trains run every 10 minutes or even more frequently and each station has restrooms. Toilet is costly to maintain for obvious reasons, and it also reduces capacity.

Nevertheless, Keikyu insists that toilets are absolutely necessary. According to the company, toilets would be useful when the trains are used for rail tours. Keikyu has been holding so-called "beer-train" since 2016, and there have been several "emergency cases" during the tours. Toilets are undoubtedly vital in so far as the train is used for tours with alcohol, but such cases are exceptional.

In addition, carriage numbers of the 1890s has made the numbering system of Keikyu even more chaotic. Keikyu had been numbering 1000 series carriages in quite a simple way. For example, the first eight-car unit was numbered from 1001 to 1008, and the second one was from 1009 to 1016. As Keikyu 1000 series is running out of numbers, the company has taken an unprecedented "five-digit" approach: the first unit of 1890 subseries is numbered from 1891-1 to 1891-4, and the second one is from 1892-1 to 1892-4.

The 1890 subseries is expected enter service in April, and will be mainly used for Morning Wing services from May. Though there are so many critical opinions, the 1890 subseries trains could be successful. It fully depends on how Keikyu can make it attractive.

Keikyu is going to commence withdrawal of 1500 series soon, which was introduced in 1985-93. However, it is not certain at present if the brand new train with toilets could be good successor to the old trains. It is likely that Keikyu will order more new trains for next few years, but possibly without toilets.