| Kita-Osaka Kyuko 8000 series Polestar | |
| Service: | 1986–present |
| Manufacturer: | Alna Kōki |
| Replaced: | 2000 series |
| Yearconstruction: | 1986–1993 (9-car sets), 1995–1996 (additional 10th cars) |
| Refurbishment: | 2012, 2014–2015, 2018– |
| Yearscrapped: | 2014– |
| Successor: | 9000 series |
| Numberbuilt: | 70 vehicles (7 sets) |
| Numberservice: | 30 vehicles (3 sets) |
| Numberpreserved: | 2 vehicles and 1 cab end |
| Numberscrapped: | 37 vehicles (4 sets) |
| Formation: | 10 (originally 9) cars per trainset |
| Fleetnumbers: | 8001–8007 |
| Capacity: | 1,280 per set |
| Operator: | Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway |
| Depots: | Momoyamadai Depot |
| Lines: | Kitakyu Namboku Line, Midōsuji Line |
| Carbody: | Aluminium |
| Width: | 2890mm |
| Height: | 3745mm |
| Doors: | 4 pairs per side |
| Maxspeed: | 70km/h |
| Traction: | Variable-frequency (GTO) |
| Electricsystem: | 750 V DC |
| Collectionmethod: | Third rail |
| Safety: | WS-ATC |
The, branded as Polestar, is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Kita-Osaka Kyuko Railway on the Kitakyū Namboku Line in north Osaka since 1986, with through service to the Osaka Metro Midōsuji Line.
The 8000 series was introduced in 1986 to replace ageing rolling stock which were mostly derived from Osaka Municipal Subway rolling stock. It was also the first Kitakyū rolling stock type to feature air conditioning in the passenger interiors and driver cabs. It was also one of the three recipients of the 27th Laurel Prize of the Japan Railfan Club.
, five out of the original seven 10-car sets were in service, formed as shown below, with five motored ("M") cars and five non-powered trailer ("T") cars, and car 1 at the Senri-Chuo end.[1]
| Car No. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Designation | Tc1 | M0 | Te | M1 | M2' | Te' | T | M1 | M2 | Tc2 | |
| Numbering | 800x | 810x | 820x | 830x | 840x | 850x | 860x | 870x | 880x | 890x |
Each car includes a wheelchair space.[1]
The first train, set 8001, was introduced on 1 July 1986.[2]
Withdrawals commenced in 2014, with 8002 in August 2014, and set 8004 in February 2015.[1] Set 8001 carried a special headboard from late February 2016 to mark its scheduled withdrawn in March 2016.[2]