Tobu Isesaki line
The is a Japanese railway line operated by the private railway company Tobu Railway, extending from Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen Station in Saitama to Isesaki Station in Gunma Prefecture. The Isesaki Line can refer to the entire section between Asa ...
operated by the
private railway
A private railway is a railroad run by a private business entity (usually a corporation but not need be), as opposed to a railroad run by a public sector.
Japan
In Japan, , commonly simply ''private railway'', refers to a public transit railway o ...
company
Tobu Railway
is a Japanese commuter railway and ''keiretsu'' holding company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. Excluding the Japan Railways Group companies, Tobu's rail system is the second longes ...
, extending from
Asakusa Station
is a railway station in the Asakusa district of Taitō, Tokyo, Japan, operated by Tobu Railway, Tokyo Metro, and Toei Subway. It formed one terminus of the original subway line in Tokyo, now the Ginza Line.
Station layout
There is a connect ...
Saitama Prefecture
is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture ...
. Some trains from the line continue to the
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line was named after the Hibiya area in Chiyoda's Yurakucho district, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color sil ...
and
Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro.
Overview
The 16.8 km line serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chiyoda, Chūō, Kōtō, and Sumida. Despite being shorter in length than nearly all other Tokyo su ...
. This section was branded the Tobu Skytree Line on 17 March 2012 in conjunction with the opening of the
Tokyo Skytree
is a broadcasting and observation tower in Sumida, Tokyo. It became the tallest structure in Japan in 2010
:Double: Rest of the line
Note that
Oshiage Station
is a railway station in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan, jointly operated by Tokyo Metro, Tobu Railway, Toei, and Keisei Electric Railway. It is adjacent to the Tokyo Skytree complex.
Lines
Oshiage Station is served by the following lines. It is the ...
is officially an extension or part of Tokyo Skytree. The double tracks between Oshiage and Hikifune are thus the third and fourth tracks of the Tokyo Skytree − Hikifune section.
Operation
All-stations "Local" services operate from to , and , and onward to on the
Tōbu Nikkō Line
The is a railway line in Japan operated by the private railway company Tobu Railway. It branches from Tōbu Dōbutsu Kōen Station in Miyashiro, Saitama on the Skytree Line, extending north to Tōbu Nikkō Station in Nikkō, Tochigi.
T ...
.Tobu Timetable, 16 March 2013 p.2-65 Some peak-hour Local services from Asakusa terminate at Takenotsuka, Kita-Koshigaya, or Kita-Kasukabe.
Through trains
The Skytree Line has trains that inter-run with two
Tokyo Metro
The is a major rapid transit system in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo Metro Co. With an average daily ridership of 6.84 million passengers, the Tokyo Metro is the larger of the two subway operators in the city; the other being the Toe ...
subway lines. One is the
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line was named after the Hibiya area in Chiyoda's Yurakucho district, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color sil ...
connected at , with all-station stop "Local" trains only. The other is the
Tokyo Metro Hanzōmon Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro.
Overview
The 16.8 km line serves the wards of Shibuya, Minato, Chiyoda, Chūō, Kōtō, and Sumida. Despite being shorter in length than nearly all other Tokyo su ...
at Oshiage, running as either local, semi-express or express trains within the subway line and the Tokyu Denentoshi line. Beyond , the terminus of the Hanzomon Line, nearly all trains continue to and from the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, down to the terminus of .
To the north, trains run via the Yagan Railway to the
Aizu Railway
, is a third-sector Japanese railway company whose major shareholders include the Fukushima prefectural and Aizuwakamatsu city governments. It owns and operates its only line, the Aizu Railway Aizu Line.
The names of the company and the line ...
's Aizutajima Station.
Service patterns
Stops and operated sections are as of 2013.
; (announced as or for short) (L)
:*Asakusa − Kita-Senju. 6 cars.
:* of
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line was named after the Hibiya area in Chiyoda's Yurakucho district, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color sil ...
− Kita-Senju − Takenotsuka - Kita-Koshigaya - Kita-Kasukabe - Tobu-Dobutsu-Koen - Minami-Kurihashi. 7 cars.
; (SSE)
:Between Asakusa and Kita-Koshigaya, Kita-Kasukabe, Tōbu-Dōbutsu Kōen, Kuki, Tatebayashi (Isesaki Line) or Minami-Kurihashi (Nikkō Line). 6 cars.
; (SmE)
:Early morning and late night. Down to Kita-Koshigaya, Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen, Kuki or to Minami-Kurihashi on the Nikkō Line through from Chūō-Rinkan on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line via the Hanzomon Line. 10 cars.
; (SE)
:Between Asakusa and Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen, Kuki, Tatebayashi (Isesaki Line) or Minami-Kurihashi (Nikkō Line). 6 cars.
; (Ex)
:From morning to night. Down to Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen, Kuki (nearly half to Minami-Kurihashi on the Nikkō Line), through from Chūō-Rinkan on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line via Hanzōmon Line. 10 cars.
; (LE)
:Stops not shown. Charged for seat reservation and rapid service. Mainly through to the Nikkō Line for the Nikko area named , , and and and and . Some through to Isesaki from Asakusa, sole direct service named and . Some through to/from Kuki from/to Ebisu on Hibiya Line, sole direct service named . Some through to Kasukabe from Asakusa, sole direct service named . Some through Ōmiya/Kashiwa from Asakusa, sole direct service named .
Stations
*S: Stop
**1: To on
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line was named after the Hibiya area in Chiyoda's Yurakucho district, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color sil ...
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line was named after the Hibiya area in Chiyoda's Yurakucho district, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color sil ...
**6: Terminating Services from on Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line via Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line
*KN・KG: The stations which are marked "KN・KG" are stopped by Limited Express ''Kinu'' and ''Kegon'' trains
*RM: The stations which are marked "RM" are stopped by Limited Express ''Ryomo'' trains
*RV RM: The stations which are marked "RV RM" are stopped by Limited Express ''Revaty Kinu'' and ''Revaty Kegon'' and ''Revaty Aizu'' and ''Revaty Ryomo'' trains
*RV KG・KN: The stations which are marked "RV RM" are stopped by Limited Express ''Revaty Kinu'', ''Revaty Kegon'' and ''Revaty Aizu'' trains
*SL: The stations which are marked "SL" are stopped by Limited Express ''Skytree Liner'' trains
*UL: The stations which are marked "UL" are stopped by Limited Express ''Urbanpark Liner'' trains
*TH: The stations which are marked "TH" are stopped by Limited Express ''TH Liner'' trains
*KF: The stations which are marked "KF" are stopped by Limited Express ''Kirifuri'' trains
**Limited Express: Limited Express which are marked * travel to Asakusa stop at Hikifune station in the morning and they travel to Kasukabe or Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen direction stop at Hikifune Station in the evening.
;Notes:
Rolling stock
Current
''As of August 2021''
*
Tobu 10000 series
The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated in Japan by the private railway operator Tobu Railway since 1983.
First entering service in 1983 on the Tobu Tojo Line (1984 on the Tobu Isesaki Line), production continued ...
(since 1984)
*
Tobu 100 series
The , branded , is a limited express electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1990. The trains are used on ''Kegon'', ''Spacia Nikko'', ''Kinu'', and ''Spacia Kinugawa'' servic ...
(6-car EMUs, since 1990)
* Tobu 200 series (6-car EMUs, since 1991)
*
Tobu 500 series
The , branded , is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway on limited express services in Japan since 21 April 2017. 11 three-car sets (33 vehicles in total) have been built by Kawasaki ...
(3-car EMUs, since 21 April 2017)
*
Tobu 50000 series
The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since March 2005, manufactured by Hitachi to its "A-train" concept. The trains represent the first use of aluminium bod ...
Tokyo Metro 18000 series
The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated Tokyo Metro on the Hanzomon Line in Japan. Introduced into service on 7 August 2021, a total of 19 ten-car trainsets are being manufactured by Hitachi Rail from 2020 to replace the ag ...
Tokyo Metro 13000 series
The is a Japanese DC commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Tokyo subway operator Tokyo Metro on Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line and Tobu Skytree Line inter-running services. Introduced into service on 25 March 2017, a total o ...
(7-car EMUs, since 25 March 2017)
*
Tokyu 2020 series
The is an electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type built by J-TREC and used by the Japanese private railway operator Tokyu Corporation in the Tokyo area since March 2018. The 2020 series is used primarily on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line ...
(10-car EMUs, since 1 October 2018)
* Tokyu 5000 series (10-car EMUs, since 2002)
*
Tokyu 8500 series
The is a commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the private railway operator Tokyu Corporation on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line and Tokyu Oimachi Line in the Tokyo area of Japan since 1975 and the Jabodetabek area of Indon ...
(10-car EMUs, since 1975)
File:Tobu-Series100-106F.jpg, Tobu 100 series
File:Tobu-Series50050-50052.jpg, Tobu 50050 series
File:Tobu-Series70000-77718.jpg, Tobu 70000 series
Former
*
Tokyo Metro 03 series
The was an electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the Tokyo subway operator Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. A total of 42 eight-car trainsets were built, between 1988 and 1994, entering service on 1 July 1988.
Operations
The 03 serie ...
(8-car EMUs, from 1988 to 2020)
* Tobu 20000 series (8-car EMUs, from 1988 to 2020)
*
Tobu 30000 series
The is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter train type operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since 1997. Initially formed as six-car and four-car sets, sets are mostly formed as permanently coupled ten-car format ...
(4/6/10-car EMUs, from 1997 to 2021)
History
The first section of the Isesaki Line was opened by the present company in 1899 between Kita-Senju and Kuki utilising steam motive power. In 1902, Tobu extended the line south to have a maritime connection at present Tokyo Skytree (then Azumabashi (吾妻橋), later renamed Asakusa) in downtown Tokyo, and north to Kazo. The following year a further northern extension to Kawamata (then on the south bank of Tone River) was opened. Further northward extension progressed, and in 1910 the line arrived at Isesaki. In 1931, a bridge over the Sumida River was built and present Asakusa Station (then Asakusa Kaminarimon (浅草雷門)) opened as part of the department store building, the entire line being completed.
The Asakusa to Nishiarai section was double-tracked in 1912, and the rest of the line was double-tracked between 1920 and 1927, except for the Hanyu to Kawamata section, which was double-tracked when a second bridge was built over the Tonegawa in 1992.
Electrification started in 1924 on the section of Asakusa and Nishiarai, and in 1927 completed as far as Isesaki. The distance of over 100 km was then one of the longest electrified railway lines together with the present Kintetsu Osaka Line and Yamada Lines.
After World War II, the Tobu Lines had no connection to the Yamanote Line or other major lines of the then Japanese National Railways (JNR) to offer efficient transfers to central Tokyo. The sole connection was with the Jōban Line at Kitasenju, which offered poor access to central Tokyo. To solve the inefficiencies of transfers at Kitasenju and notoriously narrow Asakusa, in 1962, the Hibiya Line of the then Teito Rapid Transport Authority (帝都高速度交通営団, Teito Kōsokudo Kōtsū Eidan), known as TRTA, present Tokyo Metro) was built, connecting at Kitasenju.
Further growing traffic required Tobu to build a second through line to Tokyo Metro Hanzomon Line in the 1990s. In 2003, the company built new tracks from Hikifune to connect at Oshiage, officially an annex station of Tokyo Skytree.
From the 3 March 2006, timetable revision, less than half of trains originated or terminated at Asakusa, with more trains operating through to Tokyo Metro subway lines.
From 17 March 2012, the section south of Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen was rebranded as the Tobu Skytree Line.
The former ''Skytree Train'' and ''Kirifuri'' limited express, ''Rapid'', and ''Section Rapid'' services were discontinued from the start of the revised timetable on 21 April 2017.
See also
*
List of railway lines in Japan
List of railway lines in Japan lists existing railway lines in Japan alphabetically.
The vast majority of Japanese railways are classified under two Japanese laws, one for and another for . The difference between the two is a legal, and not alway ...