The eight-car sets are primarily used on limited-stop "Rapid Limited Express" and "Limited Express" services on the Keikyu Main Line, including through-running services to and from the Toei Asakusa Line and the Keisei Oshiage Line. The four- and six-car sets are mostly used on all-stations "Local" services. The 1500 series sets can be used in multiple with other Keikyu EMU types, including the 600 series, N1000 series, 2000 series, and 2100 series.
Formations
, the fleet consists of 158 vehicles formed as four-car, six-car, and eight-car sets, as follows.
4-car sets 1501 to 1525
Designation
M1c
M2
M1
M2c
Numbering
15xx
15xx
15xx
15xx
The "M1c" and "M1" cars are each fitted with one lozenge-type pantograph.
Sets 1501 to 1517 have steel bodies. All other sets have aluminium bodies.
6-car sets 1529 to 1593
15 x six-car sets formed by adding two 1900 trailer cars to four-car sets.
Designation
M1c
M2
Tu
Ts
M1
M2c
Numbering
1xxx
1xxx
19xx
19xx
1xxx
1xxx
The "M1c" cars are fitted with one lozenge-type pantograph, and the "M1" cars are fitted with two.
8-car sets 1701 to 1731
Five x eight-car sets formed by adding two 1900 trailer cars to six-car sets.
Designation
M1c
M2
Tu
Ts
M1
M2
M1
M2c
Numbering
17xx
17xx
19xx
19xx
17xx
17xx
17xx
17xx
The "M1c" and end "M1" cars are each fitted with one lozenge-type pantograph, and the centre "M1" cars are fitted with two.
Interior
Passenger accommodation consists of longitudinal bench seating throughout.
History
The 1500 series fleet was built between 1985 and 1991. The first five four-car sets delivered had steel bodies, while all subsequent sets had aluminium bodies with door pocket windows discontinued. Sets built from 1990 onward used VVVF control. A programme of life-extension refurbishment commenced in 2002. This involved adding new air-conditioning units, removing the original door pocket windows of the steel bodied cars, and adding front-end skirts. On September 24th, 2012, set 1701 derailed between Oppama Station and Keikyu Taura Station. It was since retired and was replaced by Keikyu N1000 set 1169.
Livery variations
From 25 February 2018, four-car set 1521 was finished in a special "Keikyu 120 years of progress" livery with each of the four cars carrying a different livery used by Keikyu trains in the past. The livery remained on the car until 24th February 2019. Car 1 carries the dark red used on 51 series EMUs from 1924 to 1965, car 2 carries the red and yellow livery used on 500 series and other trains from 1951 to 1963, car 3 carries the red livery used on 1500 series and other trains since 1953, and car 4 carries the red and white livery used on N1000 and 2100 series trains since 1978.
