Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Branch Line

The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. On average, the line carries 1,447,730 passengers daily (2017), the second highest of the Tokyo Metro network, behind the Tozai Line (1,642,378).Tokyo Metro station ridership in 2010
''Train Media (sourced from Tokyo Metro)'' Retrieved July 23, 2018.

The line was named after the Chiyoda ward, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color green, and its stations are given numbers using the letter "C".

Overview

The line serves the wards of Adachi, Arakawa, Bunkyō, Chiyoda, Minato and Shibuya, and a short stretch of tunnel in Taitō with no station. Its official name, rarely used, is . The Chiyoda Line was built as a bypass for the older Hibiya Line, with both lines following a similar route and having direct interchanges at three stations. Trains have through running onto other railway lines on both ends. More than half of these are trains to the northeast beyond Ayase onto the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Joban Line to ( during the rush hour). The rest run to the southwest beyond Yoyogi-Uehara onto the Odakyu Odawara Line to .

Services on the Kita-Ayase branch consist of a combination of shuttle services to Ayase and through services to Yoyogi-Uehara.

The Chiyoda Line has direct interchanges with all other Tokyo Metro and Toei lines with the exception of the Toei Oedo Line. However, Yushima Station is located relatively close to Ueno-okachimachi Station on the Oedo Line without being marked as an official transfer between the lines.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, as of June 2009 the Chiyoda Line was the second most crowded subway line in Tokyo, at its peak running at 181% capacity between and stations. In 2016 congestion was reported at 178%. In both fiscal years 2021 & 2022 the congestion rate had dropped to 139%, as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Basic data

*Distance:
*Double-tracking: Entire line
*Railway signalling: New CS- ATC

Metro Morning Way, Metro Homeway and Metro Hakone

''Metro Morning Way'' and ''Metro Homeway'' and are fully reserved seat commuter trains operating between Hon Atsugi on the Odakyu Odawara Line and Kita-Senju on the Chiyoda Line using 60000 series MSE Romancecar trains. These services require a seat reservation as well as payment of the Limited Express fee. Tickets can be purchased online or at ticket vending machines or ticket counters at Odakyu stations. Travel wholly within the Chiyoda Line is not permitted.

As of July 2024, on weekdays there are 2 ''Metro'' ''Morning Way'' services to Kita-Senju arriving 07:53 & 09:40, and there are 5 ''Metro Homeway'' services departing Otemachi hourly between 17:30 & 21:30 of which only the 18:30 departure commences from Kita-Senju at 18:14. On weekends and holidays there is one ''Metro'' ''Morning Way'' service to Kita-Senju arriving 09:46 and 2 ''Metro Homeway'' services departing Kita-Senju at 19:35 & 20:35.

''Metro Hakone'' is a similar service operating in the counter-peak direction between Kita-Senju and Hakone-Yumoto on the Hakone Tozan Line to serve visitors to Hakone, with a travel time of approximately 2 hours. On weekdays there is 1 trip in each direction, departing Kita-Senju at 09:47 and arriving back at Kita-Senju at 16:46. On weekends and holidays there are 3 trips in each direction: departing Kita-Senju at 08:33, 10:37 & 15:22, arriving back at Kita-Senju at 12:47, 18:21 & 19:53.

Station list

* All stations are located in Tokyo.
* Stopping patterns:
** Commuter Semi Express, Local, Semi Express, and Express trains stop at every station.
** Odakyu ''Romancecar'' ''Metro'' ''Morning Way'' and ''Metro Homeway'' limited express services stop at stations marked "●" and does not stop at those marked "｜".

Rolling stock

, the following train types are used on the line, all running as ten-car formations unless otherwise indicated.

Tokyo Metro

* 16000 series (x37) (since November 2010)
* 05 series 3-car trains (x4) (since April 2014, used on Kita-Ayase Branch)

File:Tokyo-metro 16108.jpg, 16000 series 10-car set in September 2011
File:Tokyo Metro 05-013F Chiyoda line Kita-Ayase branch line for test run.jpg, 05 series 3-car set in March 2014

Odakyu

* 4000 series (since September 2007)
* 60000 series MSE (since spring 2008, used on ''Metro Morning Way,'' ''Metro Homeway & Metro Hakone'' services)

File:Odakyu 4000 Jōban Local train.jpg, An Odakyu 4000 series set in April 2016
File:Odakyu 60000kei metro hakone.JPG, An Odakyu 60000 series MSE ''Romancecar'' EMU on a ''Metro Hakone'' service in April 2012

JR East

* E233-2000 series (x19) (since summer 2009)

File:E233系2000番台マト10編成.jpg, A Jōban Line/Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line E233-2000 series set in April 2019

Former rolling stock

* 6000 series (x35) (from 1971 until November 2018)
* JNR 103-1000 series (x16) (from 1971 until April 1986)
* JR East 203 series (x17) (from August 27, 1982 until September 26, 2011)
* JR East 209-1000 series (x2) (from 1999 until October 13, 2018)
* JNR 207–900 series (x1) (from 1986 until December 2009)
* 5000 series 3-car trains (x2) (from 1969 until 2014, later used on branch line)
* 6000 series 3-car train (x1) (prototype of the series built in 1968 until 2014, used on branch line)
* 06 series (x1) (from 1993 until January 2015)
* 07 series (x1) (September 2008 – December 2008)
* Odakyu 1000 series (1988–2010)
* Odakyu 9000 series (1978–1990)

File:Model 5000-Chiyoda of Teito Rapid Transit Authority.JPG, 5000 series (Aluminum prototype)
File:Tokyometro 6000 Chiyoda.jpg, A Tokyo Metro 6000 series set in December 2014

File:Chiyoda-line series07.jpg, An 07 series set in December 2008
File:Oer9000mikaku.JPG, An Odakyu 9000 series set in October 1977

History

The Chiyoda Line was originally proposed in 1962 as a line from Setagaya in Tokyo to Matsudo, Chiba; the initial name was "Line 8". In 1964, the plan was changed slightly so that through service would be offered on the Joban Line north of Tokyo, and the number was changed to "Line 9".

Line 9 was designed to pass through built-up areas in Chiyoda, and also intended to relieve the busy Ginza Line and Hibiya Line, which follow a roughly similar route through central Tokyo.

The first stretch was opened on December 20, 1969 between and . The line was almost completed by October 10, 1972 when it reached , although the section to was not completed until March 31, 1978.

The branch line to was opened on December 20, 1979. This branch primarily serves as a connection to Ayase Depot, but also serves Kita-Ayase Station constructed in the area. A three-car shuttle service operated between Ayase and Kita-Ayase.

The Chiyoda Line was one of the lines targeted in the Aum sarin gas attack on March 20, 1995.

On May 15, 2006, women-only cars were introduced on early-morning trains from on the Joban Line to .

On March 18, 2008, the Chiyoda Line became the first subway line in Japan with operations by reserved-seating trains when Odakyu ''Romancecar'' limited express services began running between Kita-Senju and (on the Hakone Tozan Line) and (on the Odakyu Tama Line). Trains also run from/to using tracks connecting to the Yurakucho Line.

On March 16, 2019, 10-car trains commenced operation on the branch line to Kita-Ayase station after platforms were lengthened by 135m, allowing direct services from Kita-Ayase to Yoyogi-Uehara.

Notes

a. Crowding levels defined by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:

:100% — Commuters have enough personal space and are able to take a seat or stand while holding onto the straps or hand rails.
:150% — Commuters have enough personal space to read a newspaper.
:180% — Commuters must fold newspapers to read.
:200% — Commuters are pressed against each other in each compartment but can still read small magazines.
:250% — Commuters are pressed against each other, unable to move.

References

*

External links

Tokyo Metro website

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chiyoda Line

Lines of Tokyo Metro
Railway lines in Tokyo
Railway lines opened in 1969
1067 mm gauge railways in Japan
1500 V DC railway electrification