Sotetsu Railway has announced that the new 13000 series EMU, which is currently under construction, will begin commercial operation in spring 2026.
Since 2014, Sotetsu has been promoting the “Design Brand Up Project,” which designs everything from trains to station buildings and uniforms under a unified concept. The latest new train, the 13000 series, is painted in Yokohama Navy Blue, a deep navy color that evokes Yokohama, and is the second phase of the design, adding the new concept of “future” to the existing concept of “safety x security x elegance.”
The front masks are designed based on the graceful shapes of sea creatures cutting through the water. The thin headlights, made of crystal-cut acrylic, represent “eyes gazing into the future,” and concept emblems are installed on both ends to accentuate the edges. In addition to traditional analog work such as sketching, a future-oriented design methodology was also incorporated that utilizes pattern output from generative AI model learning.
The interior of the train is based on the gray color scheme of the 12000 series, which is used on the Sotetsu-JR direct line. It will continue to feature comfortable equipment such as glass luggage racks, large partitions, LED lighting with adjustable color and brightness that changes depending on the time of day, and “universal design seats” that are higher and easier to sit and stand on. The biggest difference is the number of seats in the front car, which will be six more than the 12000 series, for an additional 12 seats per train.
The first 13000 series train, an 8-car formation, will be introduced this fiscal year and will operate only on the Sotetsu Line.
