rapid transit
Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT) or heavy rail, commonly referred to as metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport that is generally built in urban areas. A grade separation, grade separated rapid transit line below ground su ...
line in
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
and
Chiba Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama ...
, Japan, owned and operated by
Tokyo Metro
The Tokyo Metro () is a major rapid transit system in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the #Organization, Tokyo Metro Co. With an average daily ridership of 6.52 million passengers (as of 2023), the Tokyo Metro is the larger of the Tokyo subway, two s ...
. Its name translates to "''East-West Line"''. The line runs between Nakano in Nakano-ku, Tokyo and Nishi-Funabashi in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture. The Tōzai Line was referred to as Line 5 during the planning stages; the seldom-used official name is . The line carries an average of 1,642,378 passengers daily (2017), making it the busiest line on the Tokyo Metro network. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the Tōzai Line is shown using the color "sky blue" and its stations are given numbers using the letter "T".
Overview
The line runs through central
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
from east to west via
Takadanobaba
is a neighborhood in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
History
Originally, the area's name was read ''Takatanobaba'' and many Tokyo residents in their 50s or older pronounce it as such. However, younger Tokyoites and residents who have come from outside ...
Ōtemachi
is a district of Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan. It is located north of Tokyo Station and Marunouchi, east of the Imperial Palace, west of Nihonbashi and south of Kanda. It is the location of the former site of the village of Shibazaki, the most an ...
,
Nihombashi
is a business district of Chūō, Tokyo, Japan, which sprung up around the bridge of the same name that has linked two sides of the Nihonbashi River at this site since the 17th century. The first wooden bridge was completed in 1603. The curren ...
Urayasu
260px, Old Urayasu
is a city located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 170,533 in 81,136 households and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Urayasu is best known as the home of Tokyo Dis ...
. It was opened as a bypass route for the Chuo Rapid Line and the Sobu Line, which were heavily congested at the time. It is the only
Tokyo Metro
The Tokyo Metro () is a major rapid transit system in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the #Organization, Tokyo Metro Co. With an average daily ridership of 6.52 million passengers (as of 2023), the Tokyo Metro is the larger of the Tokyo subway, two s ...
line to extend into
Chiba Prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Chiba Prefecture has a population of 6,278,060 (1 June 2019) and has a geographic area of . Chiba Prefecture borders Ibaraki Prefecture to the north, Saitama ...
(although the Shinjuku Line operated by Toei also extends into Chiba Prefecture.) It also runs above-ground for from to , nearly half of the line and longer than any other railway line in the
Tokyo subway
Two major operate in Tokyo: the Tokyo Metro and the Toei Subway. Most of the network is located in the Special wards of Tokyo, 23 special wards, with portions extending into Chiba Prefecture, Chiba and Saitama Prefecture, Saitama Prefectures. ...
network.
The Tōzai Line features through services at both ends of the line. Trains run onto the
JR East
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...
Chūō-Sōbu Line
The is a railway line that runs through Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network, the line operates on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line ( Chūō Line (Rapid)) and ...
for at the western (Nakano) end, and onto either the Chūō-Sōbu Line for or the Tōyō Rapid Railway Line for at the eastern (Nishi-Funabashi) end.
According to the
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
The , also known as Toei Transportation, Toei Transport, or simply , is a bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government which operates public transport services in Tokyo. Among its services, the Toei Subway is one of two rapid transit systems wh ...
in 2018, the Tokyo Metro Tōzai Line continues to be most crowded subway line in
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
, and the most crowded train line in all of Japan, with its peak running at 199% capacity between and stations. Women-only cars were introduced on the line for use during morning rush hour on November 20, 2006.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, peak ridership dropped from a rate of 199% in 2019 to 123% in 2020.
History
The Tōzai Line was planned by a review committee of the then Ministry of Transportation in 1962 and numbered Line 5. Its name literally means "East-West Line", and it was primarily planned to relieve traffic on the busy
Sōbu Main Line
The is a Japanese railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Japan. It connects Tokyo with the east coast of Chiba Prefecture, passing through the cities of Funabashi, Chiba, and Chōshi. Its name derives from the ...
as well as provide a straight crosstown connection through north-central Tokyo. Although this corridor is also served by the
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
The , also known as Toei Transportation, Toei Transport, or simply , is a bureau of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government which operates public transport services in Tokyo. Among its services, the Toei Subway is one of two rapid transit systems wh ...
Keiyō Line
The is a railway line connecting Tokyo and Chiba in Japan, paralleling the edge of Tokyo Bay. It is operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The line forms part of what JR East refers to as the around Tokyo, consisting of the Ke ...
, the Tōzai Line continues to operate beyond capacity due to its accessibility to other lines, as well as to growing
condominium
A condominium (or condo for short) is an ownership regime in which a building (or group of buildings) is divided into multiple units that are either each separately owned, or owned in common with exclusive rights of occupation by individual own ...
developments in eastern Tokyo.
The to section opened in 1964, and the remainder opened in stages until its completion in 1969. Through service with the then
Japanese National Railways
The , abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987.
Network Railways
As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pre ...
(today part of the
JR Group
The Japan Railways Group, commonly known as the or simply JR, is a network of railway companies in Japan formed after the Corporate spin-off, division and privatization of the government-owned Japanese National Railways (JNR) on April 1, 1987. ...
) – a first for a Tokyo subway line – began in 1969 connecting the Chūō and Sōbu lines. This is a rare situation in Tokyo, as the only other subway line with through services onto JR lines is the
Chiyoda 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).Tōyō Rapid Railway Line, effectively an eastward extension of the line, opened in 1996. It nevertheless remains a private entity to which the Tōzai lines offers through services.
Chronology
*March 16, 1966: The line is extended at both ends. It now runs between Nakano and Takebashi.
*April 28, 1966: Through service to the Chūō Line of JNR commences as far as Ogikubo.
*October 1, 1966: Takebashi to Ōtemachi section opens.
*September 14, 1967: Ōtemachi to Tōyōchō section opens.
*March 29, 1969: Tōyōchō to Nishi-Funabashi section opens and Rapid service begins (non-stop between Tōyōchō and Nishi-Funabashi).
*April 8, 1969: Through service on the Chūō Line is extended to Mitaka, and through service begins on the Sōbu line to Tsudanuma.
*April 8, 1972: Through service on the Sōbu Line is withdrawn except during rush hours.
*1975: Another type of Rapid service is introduced, calling at Urayasu between Tōyōchō and Nishi-Funabashi.
*October 1, 1979: Nishi-Kasai station opens.
*March 27, 1981: Minami-Gyōtoku station opens.
*1986: Commuter Rapid service is introduced, running non-stop between Urayasu and Nishi-Funabashi.
*(April 1, 1987: JNR is privatised. The Chūō and Sōbu lines become the property of JR East.)
*1996: The Rapid service that runs non-stop between Tōyōchō and Nishi-Funabashi ceases.
*April 27, 1996: Tōyō Rapid Line opens between Nishi-Funabashi and Tōyō-Katsutadai. Through service begins.
*January 22, 2000: Myōden station opens.
*April 1, 2004: Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA or Eidan) becomes Tokyo Metro.
*November 20, 2006: Women-only cars are introduced during morning rush hours.
Services
The Tōzai Line was the first Tokyo Metro line on which express services run: two types of rapid trains skip some stations east of Toyocho. The
Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line
The , formally the , is a subway line operated by Tokyo Metro in west-central Tokyo and Wako, Saitama, Japan. The newest line in the Tokyo subway network, it opened in stages between 1994 and 2008. On average, the Fukutoshin Line carried 362,654 ...
began services on June 14, 2008, and also features express services.
Through services to via the JR East Chūō Line and via the Tōyō Rapid Railway run all day. Outside of rush hours, only local trains run through to the Chūō Line and only rapid trains run through to the Tōyō Rapid Railway. During the morning and evening peak periods, through services run to via the JR East Sōbu Line.
Station list
*Local trains stop at every station. Rapid trains stop at stations marked "●" and do not stop at those marked "｜". Some weekday westbound trains do not stop at stations marked "↑".
Rolling stock
Present
Tōzai Line trains are 10-car formations of -long cars, with four doors per side and longitudinal seating. The maximum operating speed is . Newer trains feature wide doors to allow for faster boarding times.
*Tokyo Metro
** 05/05N series (since 1988)
** 07 series (since 2006) (transferred from Yūrakuchō Line)
** 15000 series (since 2010)
* Tōyō Rapid Railway
** 2000 series (since 2004)
*
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...
(JR East)
** E231-800 series (since 2003)
File:Tokyo-Metro Series05-122F.jpg, Tokyo Metro 05 series
File:Tokyo-Metro Series05-143F.jpg, Tokyo Metro 05N series
File:Tokyo-Metro Series07R-76.jpg, Tokyo Metro 07 series
File:Tokyo-Metro Series15000-15001.jpg, Tokyo Metro 15000 Series
File:Toyo-Rapid-Railway Series2000-2009.jpg, Toyo Rapid 2000 series
File:JRE Series-E231-800 K5.jpg, JR East E231-800 series
Past
*Tokyo Metro
** 5000 series (from 1964 until 2007)
** 8000 series (from 1987 until 1988, temporary, built for Hanzōmon Line)
*JR East
** 301 series (from 1966 until 2003)
** 103-1000 series (from 1989 until 2003)
** 103-1200 series (from 1971 until 2003)
*Tōyō Rapid
** 1000 series (from 1996 until 2006)
File:Model 5000-Stainless Steel of Teito Rapid Transit Authority.JPG, 5000 series with stainless steel body
File:Model 5000-Aluminum of Teito Rapid Transit Authority.JPG, 5000 series with aluminium body
File:301 K5 Mitaka 20030222.JPG, JR East 301 series in February 2003
File:Jnr 103-1200.jpg, JR East 103–1200 series
File:Tōyō Rapid 1008F.JPG, Tōyō Rapid 1000 series in September 2006
:
: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
* Shaw, Dennis and Morioka, Hisashi, "Tokyo Subways", published 1992 by Hoikusha Publishing