01 Series trains at Shibuya Station (Courtesy of the RW Place)

A 01 Series in special 80th Anniversary of the Ginza Line colors (Courtesy of uraken.net)

Tokyo Metro 01 Series

Operated on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line

In Service: 1984 - Present
Top Speed: 65km/h
Length: 16000 mm
Width: 2550mm
Consist/Formation: 3 motorized cars + 3 trailer cars (6 cars)
Electric System: 600v DC through third rail
Gauge: 1435mm (Standard)
Number Built: 228 cars
Control: 
Four quadrant choppers (First ~ fourth batch)
VVVF inverters with IGBT elements (Fifth batch)

The 01 Series is a three-door commuter-type electric multiple unit developed by the Teito Rapid Tranist Authority (TRTA) for the Ginza Line.

The Ginza Line is the oldest subway in all of Japan and by the 1980s, it was definately showing its age. Trains built before World War II were still in operation. The 01 Series was designed to give the line a whole new image.

The body is constructed of aluminum alloy instead of regular steel and has an orange stripe on the side. The interior is much brighter than previous trains on the Ginza Line and includes light-up maps that show which stop is next.

The earlier 01 Series trains were not built with air-conditioning equipment because roof-top units could not be fit. Smaller and thinner units were developed in 1990 and were later fit on to all 01 Series trains.

Did you know?
The 01 Series won the Laurel Prize, an award given to technologically advanced trains, in 1985.