FUKUOKA — The transportation bureau of this city in southwestern Japan is preparing to unveil new “4000 series” commuter trains that one official said are the “most comfortable” in the country.

This will be the first time the Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau has introduced new trains on the Fukuoka City Metro Airport Line and Hakozaki Line since 1997. A total of 18 six-car trains will be introduced sequentially between this fall and fiscal 2027. these were unveiled to the press on October 23 at the Meinohama railway yard in the city’s Nishi District.

Features of the 4000 series include unusually wide and comfortable seats. Inside the cars, glass was used in the partitions next to the doors, on the upper shelves and in the doors between the cars to give passengers a feeling of spaciousness as soon as they got in. Some priority seats have higher-than-usual seating surfaces to reduce the burden of standing and sitting.

Since the sixth car of the train runs along the sea, it has large windows that even small children can easily see outside, and the seats are arranged in a way that passengers with children, strollers and wheelchair users can feel comfortable.

Three large screen sets were installed to display information. There are security cameras in four locations of each wagon; These cameras provide real-time monitoring from the driver’s cabin and the transport bureau’s control center to quickly understand the situation on trains.

Satoru Murata, 46-year-old chief of the transportation bureau’s rolling stock division, commented: “We are confident that these are the most comfortable commuter trains in Japan. It is also quiet inside, so we hope passengers will make the most of their trains.” Travel time.”

(Japanese original by Hibiki Yamaguchi, Kyushu News Department)