Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line Explained

Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line
Other Name:Y
Linenumber:8
Native Name:東京メトロ有楽町線
Native Name Lang:ja
Mapcolor: Gold (#)
Type:Rapid transit
System:Tokyo Subway
Locale:Tokyo
Stations:24
Daily Ridership:1,124,478[1]
Operator:Tokyo Metro
Depot:Wakō, Shin-Kiba
Stock:Tokyo Metro 10000 series
Tokyo Metro 17000 series
Seibu 6000 and 6050 series
Seibu 40000 and 40050 series
Tobu 9000 and 9050 series
Tobu 50070 series
Tokyu 5050-4000 series (less commonly used)
Tracks:Double-track
Maxincline:3.5%
Trainprotection:New CS-ATC, ATO
Electrification: (overhead line)
Map State:collapsed

The is a subway line in Japan owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line connects Wakōshi Station in Wakō, Saitama and Shin-Kiba Station in Kōtō, Tokyo. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color "gold", and its stations are given numbers using the letter "Y".

The line was named after the Yūrakuchō business district in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The proper name as given in an annual report of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is .[2] According to the Tokyo urban transportation plan, however, it is more complicated. The line number assigned to the section south from Kotake-Mukaihara to Shin-Kiba is Line 8, but that north of Kotake-Mukaihara to Wakōshi is Line 13, which indicates the section is a portion of Fukutoshin Line which shares the same number.

Services

The Yurakucho Line runs generally northwest to southeast between Wakōshi Station in Saitama Prefecture and Shin-Kiba Station in Kōtō Ward. Although it was originally planned as a bypass for the established Marunouchi Line through central Tokyo, it was also built to serve the developing wards of Itabashi, Nerima, Toshima, and Koto. The section between Wakōshi and Kotake-mukaihara shares tracks with its sister line, the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line.

The Yurakucho Line has inter-running counterparts on its northern side, both of which are "major" Japanese private railway companies in Greater Tokyo. One is the Tobu Railway at Wakōshi, north to . The other is the Seibu Railway at with its bypass line Seibu Yūrakuchō Line connecting to its main Ikebukuro Line, through trains north to or .

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, as of June 2009 the Yurakucho Line is the fifth most crowded subway line in Tokyo, at its peak running at 173% capacity between Higashi-Ikebukuro and Gokokuji stations.[3]

services ran on the Yurakucho Line between June 14, 2008 and March 6, 2010, operating twice hourly between Wakōshi and Shin-Kiba. Between Wakōshi and Ikebukuro, semi-express trains stopped only at Kotake-Mukaihara; between Ikebukuro and Shin-Kiba, trains stopped at all stations. The semi-express trains ran between rush hours during weekdays and more frequently on weekends and holidays. These services were abolished and replaced with local services on March 6, 2010.[4]

Station list

Main Line

No.StationJapaneseDistance (km)S-TrainTransfersLocation
Between
stations
From Y-01
Through-service to/from via the Tobu Tojo Line
和光市[5] style="text-align: right;"-0.0 [6] Wakō, Saitama
地下鉄成増2.22.2ItabashiTokyo
地下鉄赤塚1.43.6Nerima
平和台1.85.4 Fukutoshin Line (F-04) (same tracks)
氷川台1.46.8 Fukutoshin Line (F-05) (same tracks)
Through services via the Seibu Yūrakuchō LineTo/from via the Seibu Ikebukuro Line
小竹向原[7] 1.58.3|||-|||千川|style="text-align: right;"|1.0|style="text-align: right;"|9.3|style="text-align: center;"|| Fukutoshin Line (F-07)Toshima
要町1.010.3|| Fukutoshin Line (F-08)|-|||池袋|style="text-align: right;"|1.2|style="text-align: right;"|11.5|style="text-align: center;"|[8] ||-|||東池袋|style="text-align: right;"|0.9|style="text-align: right;"|12.4|style="text-align: center;"||
護国寺1.113.5|| |rowspan="2" |Bunkyō|-|||江戸川橋|style="text-align: right;"|1.3|style="text-align: right;"|14.8|style="text-align: center;"|| 
飯田橋1.616.4Shinjuku
市ケ谷1.117.5|||rowspan="5" |Chiyoda|-|||麹町|style="text-align: right;"|0.9|style="text-align: right;"|18.4|style="text-align: center;"|| 
永田町0.919.3|||-|||桜田門|style="text-align: right;"|0.9|style="text-align: right;"|20.2|style="text-align: center;"||| |-|||有楽町|style="text-align: right;"|1.0|style="text-align: right;"|21.2|style="text-align: center;"|↑||-|||銀座一丁目|style="text-align: right;"|0.5|style="text-align: right;"|21.7|style="text-align: center;"||Chūō
新富町0.722.4|| Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (: H-11)|-|||月島|style="text-align: right;"|1.3|style="text-align: right;"|23.7|style="text-align: center;"||| Toei Oedo Line (E-16)|-|||豊洲|style="text-align: right;"|1.4|style="text-align: right;"|25.1|style="text-align: center;"|●|

Yurikamome| rowspan="5" |Kōtō|-|||辰巳|style="text-align: right;"|1.7|style="text-align: right;"|26.8| rowspan="2"| |-|||新木場|style="text-align: right;"|1.5|style="text-align: right;"|28.3||}

Rolling stock

All types are operated as 10-car sets.

Tokyo Metro

Other operators

Former rolling stock

Depots

  • (main depot)
  • (responsible for minor inspections; for major ones, EMUs are forwarded to the on the Chiyoda Line via underground connecting tracks)
  • (specializes in railcar refurbishment: also used for Chiyoda and Hanzōmon Line railcars)

History

The Yurakucho line was originally proposed in 1962 along with the Chiyoda Line, it was originally envisioned to run between Nakamurabashi Station and Kinshicho Station. In 1968, it was later revised to run between Chikatetsu-narimasu Station in the northwest and Shintomichō Station in the southeast; the extensions to Wakoshi and Shin-kiba were not confirmed at the time.

Line 8 was planned to serve areas that were not served by the Tokyo subway network such as Nerima and Koto Wards, while providing an adequate bypass for the overcrowding Marunouchi Line from Ikebukuro to Ginza-itchōme. [10] This initial section began construction in 1970 and opened on 30 October 1974 as the Yūrakuchō Line. In the late 1970s, the extensions towards Wakoshi and Shin-kiba were authorized. On 27 March 1980, the second section between Ginza-itchōme and Shintomichō section opened, while the third section between Eidan-narimasu (present Chikatetsu-narimasu) and Ikebukuro opened on 24 June 1983.

Through services with the Seibu Railway Seibu Yūrakuchō Line began on 1 October 1983 with the opening of the Kotake-Mukaihara – Shin-Sakuradai section. The northwestern extension to Wakōshi opened on 25 August 1987, allowing through service with the Tōbu Tōjō Line. The final section from Shintomichō to Shin-kiba opened on 8 June 1988, completing the current line.

On 18 March 1993, 07 series EMUs introduced. On 7 December 1994, the "Yūrakuchō New Line" (now the Fukutoshin Line) opened from Kotake-Mukaihara to Ikebukuro. All trains on it made Ikebukuro their terminus and did not stop at Senkawa nor Kanamechō. Through service from Shin-Kiba or Ikebukuro (on the New Line) to on Seibu Yūrakuchō Line began on that same day, with through operation to the Seibu Ikebukuro Line beyond Nerima beginning on 26 March 1998.

On 1 April 2004, the owner of the line changed from Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA, Eidan) to Tokyo Metro due to the former's privatization.[11] Women-only cars were introduced on 31 October 2005. 10000 series were introduced to the line on 1 September 2006.

On 3 May 2008, Limited Express "Bay Resort" (operated first from/to Odakyu Line) began operating. On 14 June 2008, the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line began service, and the Yurakuchō New Line annexed by the Fukutoshin Line. Yurakuchō Line shares tracks with Fukutoshin Line between Wakōshi and Kotake-Mukaihara. Semi-Express service began running until they were abolished on 6 March 2010.

On October 2008, Automatic train control was enabled on the Yurakuchō Line. On 10 September 2012, 10-car 5050-4000 series sets entered revenue service on the Yurakucho Line, with inter-running through to the Tobu Tojo Line.[12] Since March 26, 2017, Seibu operates the S-Train limited-stop express service between Toyosu and Tokorozawa on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line on weekday mornings and evenings.

On 6 August 2022, "Wanman" one-person operation began on the section between Kotake-Mukaihara and Shin-Kiba[13]

Future developments

In 2021, plans were announced to branch the Yurakucho line at Toyosu Station, traveling north for 5.2km (03.2miles) connecting with on the Tozai Line and Sumiyoshi Station on the Shinjuku Line and Hanzomon Line. An additional two stations (Edagawa and Sengoku) would also be added in the Koto Ward serving the Sengoku and Toyo districts.[14] [15] Tentative names for the new stations were determined in August 2022.[16] The branch line (nicknamed the Toyozumi Line according to official city documents) is intended to aid in redevelopment efforts in Koto Ward. As of 28 January 2022 the expected cost of construction is ¥269 billion (2021). There are also plans for a spur branching off from the planned Tokyo Rinkai Subway line at Kachidoki to link up to the future Toyozumi Line (Yurakucho Line branch) platforms at Toyosu Station. The branch line is expected to be in service in the mid-2030s.

No.Station (tentative)JapaneseDistance (km) Between
stations
TransfersLocation
豊洲0000 Yurakucho Line (for and ; some trains through)

Yurikamome

Kōtō
枝川0000
東陽町1.6
千石0.9
住吉0.9

A branch line from Toyosu Station has been planned since the early 1980s, heading north via Kameari Station (on the Jōban Line) to Noda in northwest Chiba Prefecture.[17]

References

  • Shaw, Dennis and Morioka, Hisashi, "Tokyo Subways", published 1992 by Hoikusha Publishing

External links

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Notes and References

  1. http://www.train-media.net/report/1110/metro.pdf Tokyo Metro station ridership in 2010
  2. 株式会社電気車研究会・鉄道図書刊行会。。 (Issued every September)
  3. Metropolis, "Commute", June 12, 2009, p. 07. Capacity is defined as all passengers having a seat or a strap or door railing to hold on to.
  4. http://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2010/2010-06.html 3月6日(土)有楽町線・副都心線のダイヤ改正
  5. Wakoshi is shared by both Tobu and Tokyo Metro; Tobu manages the station.
  6. The S-Train service runs between Toyosu and on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line on weekday mornings and evenings.
  7. Kotake-mukaihara is shared by both Seibu Railway and Tokyo Metro; Tokyo Metro manages the station.
  8. The S-Train service stops at Ikebukuro on weekends and national holidays, when it runs between on the Seibu Chichibu Line and on the Minatomirai Line via the Fukutoshin Line. Passengers cannot board the S-Train service at Ikebukuro.
  9. Shiina. Takayuki. ja:東京地下鉄07系 転籍計画の概要. Outline of Tokyo Metro 07 series reallocation plan. Japan Railfan Magazine. 49. 574. 80–83. Koyusha Co., Ltd.. Japan . ja. February 2009.
  10. Web site: 3 June 2024 . 埼玉県和光市と東京のウォーターフロントを結ぶ有楽町線の計画から全線開通まで. From the planning of the Yurakucho Line connecting Wako City, Saitama Prefecture and the waterfront of Tokyo to the opening of the entire line . Metro Archive.
  11. Web site: 27 January 2004 . 「営団地下鉄」から「東京メトロ」へ . From "Teito Rapid Transit Authority" to "Tokyo Metro" . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120516041232/http://www.tokyometro.jp/news/s2004/2004-06.html . 16 May 2012 . 29 May 2022 . Tokyo Metro Online.
  12. Web site: http://railf.jp/news/2012/09/11/085800.html. ja:東急5050系4000番台が東武東上線・地下鉄有楽町線で営業運転開始. Tokyu 5050-4000 series enters service on the Tobu Tojo Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line. 11 September 2012. Japan Railfan Magazine Online. Koyusha Co., Ltd.. Japan. ja. 11 September 2012.
  13. Web site: 20 July 2022 . 有楽町線小竹向原駅~新木場駅間でワンマン運転を開始します . One-man operation will start between Kotake-Mukaihara Station and Shin-Kiba Station on the Yurakucho Line. . https://web.archive.org/web/20220720051426/https://www.tokyometro.jp/news/2022/213206.html . 20 July 2022 . 10 August 2022 . tokyometro.jp.
  14. Web site: 21 September 2021. Tokyo Metro eyes extending 2 subway lines to ease congestion. https://web.archive.org/web/20220125115657/https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14444803. 25 January 2022. 28 January 2022. The Asahi Shimbun.
  15. Web site: 28 January 2022. 有楽町線延伸(豊洲・住吉間)及び南北線延伸(品川・白金高輪間)の鉄道事業許可を申請しました。. Yurakucho Line extension (between Toyosu and Sumiyoshi) and Namboku Line extension (between Shinagawa and Shirokane Takanawa) application for a Business Permit. 28 January 2022. Tokyo Metro. ja. PDF.
  16. Web site: 5 August 2022 . 東京メトロ「豊住線」のルート詳細を公表…途中駅は仮称・枝川、東陽町、千石 2030年代半ば開業 . Details of the Tokyo Metro "Toyozumi Line" Route Announced, Intermediate Stations Tentatively Named Edagawa, Toyocho, and Sengoku to Open in the Mid-2030s . https://web.archive.org/web/20220806082956/https://response.jp/article/2022/08/05/360477.html . 6 August 2022 . 15 August 2022 . Response.jp . ja.
  17. Web site: 2010 . ja:新たなネットワークを担う地下鉄整備の実現に向けて . Toward the realization of subway development that will carry a new network . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100601231757/https://www.city.koto.lg.jp/open/koho/yosanpress/50027/50044/50060/file/7-1.pdf . 1 June 2010 . City of Koto, Tokyo . PDF.