Odakyu 30000 series EXE

Seven 4+6-car trainsets (70 vehicles) were built between 1996 and 1999 to replace ageing Odakyu 3100 series NSE trains. Unlike earlier Romancecar trainsets, which used articulated carriages, the 30000 series sets have long bogie cars. The inner driving cabs of the 4+6-car formations have gangway doors. The passenger doors use wide sliding doors, with wide doors on cars 2, 5, and 8 to provide wheelchair accessibility. File:Odakyu 30000 Enoshima Yamato 20040214.jpg|A 30000 series half-set with a gangwayed driving car leading in February 2004 File:OER-30000-Coupling.jpg|The gangwayed intermediate driving cars (cars 6 and 7) File:Cockpit of Odakyu RomanceCar EXE 2.JPG|The interior of a gangwayed driver's cab ==Operations==

The 30000 series trains are used on Odakyu Odawara Line Hakone services between in Tokyo and Hakone-Yumoto Station in Kanagawa Prefecture (about ), as well as Sagami and Homeway services. They are also on Odakyu Enoshima Line Enoshima services between Shinjuku and . Trainsets were introduced on combined Hakone and Enoshima services, with trains dividing at , and later at . 10-car Hakone services to Hakone-Yumoto also divide at with just the 6-car sets continuing onward to Hakone-Yumoto. ==Formations==

, the fleet consists of seven 4+6-car trainsets, formed as follows, with car 1 at the western end. All seven sets are based at Ebina Depot. Cars 2, 3, 5, 8, and 9 are each fitted with a PT7113-A single-arm pantograph. ==Interior==

Passenger accommodation consists of monoclass unidirectional 2+2 abreast seating, with wide seats and a seating pitch of . The first eight half-sets delivered had green-coloured seats in the six-cars sets (evoking the forests of Hakone) and blue-coloured seats in the four-car sets (evoking the sea of Enoshima), but from 1999 onward, the seats in all sets was standardized with grey and brown seat covers. Wheelchair spaces are located in cars 5 and 8. Refreshment counters are provided in cars 3 and 9. Toilets are provided in cars 2, 5, and 8, and the toilet in car 5 is a universal access type. File:OER-EXE30000-inside.jpg|The passenger saloon interior in March 2007 File:OER-EXE30000-inside-Seat.jpg|Seating in March 2007 File:OER 30100 inside service counter.jpg|A refreshment counter in November 2011 ==History==

The first trains entered revenue service on 23 March 1996. Build history The fleet was built between 1996 and 1999 in three batches as follows. Refurbishment was carried out by Nippon Sharyo, with the design overseen by Noriaki Okabe Architecture Network. It includes the following changes: • Redesigned interiors and seating • Replacement of Japanese-style squat toilets with Western-style toilets (Toto "Washlet" type) • Additional luggage racks • LED lighting in passenger saloons File:Odakyu-Series30000R EXEa.jpg|A refurbished "EXEα" set in November 2021 File:OER-30000 EXE-Alpha-inside 20190416.jpg|The updated passenger saloon interior in April 2019 File:OER-30000 EXE-Alpha-inside Seat 20190416.jpg|Updated seating in April 2019 == Future ==

On 9 September 2024, Odakyu Electric Railway announced that development had started on a new Romancecar train type, positioned as a replacement for non-refurbished 30000 series sets and a spiritual successor to the 50000 series VSE. The new Romancecar type, classified 80000 series, is scheduled to enter revenue service in March 2029. ==In popular culture==

The Odakyu 30000 series EXE is featured as a non-driveable train in the Microsoft Train Simulator computer game. ==References==