Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

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Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line
Marunouchi Line 2000 series trains at Yotsuya Station
Overview
Other name(s)Line 4 / M (Main line) / Mb (Branch line)
Native name東京メトロ丸ノ内線
OwnerTokyo Metro
Line number4
LocaleTokyo
Termini
Stations28 (including branch line)
Color on map     Red (#F62E36)
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemTokyo subway
Depot(s)Koishikawa, Nakano
Rolling stock02 series
2000 series
Daily ridership1,159,898 (2017)[1]
History
Opened20 January 1954; 70 years ago (1954-01-20)
Technical
Line length27.4 km (17.0 mi) (Main line)
3.2 km (2.0 mi) (Branch Line)
Number of tracksDouble-track
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius140 m (460 ft) (Main line: Near Ginza)
125 m (410 ft) (Branch Line)
Electrification600 V DC (third rail)
Operating speed75 km/h (47 mph) (Main line)
65 km/h (40 mph) (Branch line)
SignallingTokyo Metro CS-ATC
Maximum incline3.5%
Route map

0.0
M-01 Ogikubo
1.5
M-02 Minami-Asagaya
2.7
M-03 Shin-Kōenji
3.6
M-04 Higashi-Kōenji
4.6
M-05 Shin-Nakano
0.0
Mb-03 Hōnanchō
Nakano Depot
1.3
Mb-04 Nakano-fujimichō
1.9
Mb-05 Nakano-shimbashi
5.7
3.2
M-06 Nakano-sakaue
6.8
M-07 Nishi-Shinjuku
Chūō-Sōbu Line
Chūō Main Line
7.6
M-08 Shinjuku
7.9
M-09 Shinjuku-sanchōme
8.6
M-10 Shinjuku-gyoenmae
9.5
M-11 Yotsuya-sanchōme
10.5
M-12 Yotsuya
11.8
M-13 Akasaka-mitsuke
12.7
M-14 Kokkai-gijidōmae
13.4
M-15 Kasumigaseki
Yamanote, Keihin Tōhoku, Tōkaidō, Sōbu lines
Shinkansen
14.4
M-16 Ginza
Tōhoku, Jōetsu, Nagano Shinkansen
Yamamanote Line
Chūō Main Line
15.5
M-17 Tokyo
16.1
M-18 Ōtemachi
17.0
M-19 Awajichō
Kanda River
17.8
M-20 Ochanomizu
18.6
M-21 Hongō-Sanchōme
19.4
M-22 Kōrakuen
Koishikawa Depot
21.2
M-23 Myōgadani
22.4
M-24 Shin-Ōtsuka
Saikyō, Shōnan Shinjuku lines
24.2
M-25 Ikebukuro

The Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line (東京メトロ丸ノ内線, Tōkyō Metoro Marunouchi-sen) is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by Tokyo Metro. The line runs in a U-shape between Ogikubo Station in Suginami and Ikebukuro Station in Toshima, with a branch line between Nakano-Sakaue Station and Hōnanchō Station. The official name is Line 4 Marunouchi Line (4号線丸ノ内線, Yon-gōsen Marunouchi-sen).

The line was named after the Marunouchi business district in Chiyoda, Tokyo, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color red, and its stations are given numbers using the letters "M" for the main line and "Mb" for the branch line.

Overview[edit]

The Marunouchi Line is the second line to be built in the city, and the first one constructed after the Second World War. The route is U-shaped, running from Ogikubo Station in the west of the city via the commercial and administrative district of Shinjuku through to the Marunouchi commercial center around Tokyo Station, before turning back and heading to Ikebukuro. Along with the Ginza Line, it is self-enclosed and does not have any through services with other railway lines.

The Marunouchi Line is served by Tokyo Metro 02 series rolling stock in six-car trains on the main line, and mostly three-car trains on the Hōnanchō branch (some six-car trains during peak hours). The main line was the most frequent subway line in Tokyo, with trains once running at intervals of 1 minute 50 seconds during peak hours. In spite of such high-frequency service, according to the 2018 survey by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Marunouchi Line is one of the most crowded railway lines in Tokyo, [2] running at 169% capacity between Shin-ōtsuka and Myōgadani stations.[3] Its age and relatively short train length has made it one of the most crowded lines in Tokyo, although the 2000 opening of the Toei Ōedo Line has relieved the problem somewhat. In response to crowding, Tokyo Metro upgraded all stations with chest-high platform doors on March 28, 2009, a date on which it also began driver-only operation. The Hōnanchō branch switched to driver-only operation in July 2004.[4]

Due to the age of the Marunouchi Line and the relative shallowness at which it runs, at several points in central Tokyo trains run at or above ground level. These include Yotsuya Station, the Kanda River near Ochanomizu Station (see image), and between Kōrakuen and Myōgadani stations.

On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color red. Its stations are given numbers using the prefix "M"; Hōnanchō branch line stations carry the prefix "Mb", which replaced the previously used lowercase "m" prefix in November 2016.[5]

Station list[edit]

  • All stations are located in Tokyo.
  • Some trains leave the main line at Nakano-sakaue (M-06) for the Marunouchi Branch Line to Hōnanchō.

Main Line[edit]

No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations
From Ogikubo
M01 Ogikubo 荻窪 0.0 Suginami
M02 Minami-asagaya 南阿佐ケ谷 1.5 1.5  
M03 Shin-koenji 新高円寺 1.2 2.7  
M04 Higashi-koenji 東高円寺 0.9 3.6  
M05 Shin-nakano 新中野 1.0 4.6   Nakano
M06 Nakano-sakaue 中野坂上 1.1 5.7
M07 Nishi-Shinjuku 西新宿 1.1 6.8   Shinjuku
M08 Shinjuku 新宿 0.8 7.6
M09 Shinjuku-sanchōme 新宿三丁目 0.3 7.9
M10 Shinjuku-gyoemmae 新宿御苑前 0.7 8.6  
M11 Yotsuya-sanchōme 四谷三丁目 0.9 9.5  
M12 Yotsuya 四ツ谷 1.0 10.5
M13 Akasaka-mitsuke 赤坂見附 1.3 11.8
Minato
M14 Kokkai-gijidō-mae 国会議事堂前 0.9 12.7
Chiyoda
M15 Kasumigaseki 霞ケ関 0.7 13.4
M16 Ginza 銀座 1.0 14.4
Chūō
M17 Tokyo 東京 1.1 15.5 Chiyoda
M18 Ōtemachi 大手町 0.6 16.1
M19 Awajichō 淡路町 0.9 17.0
M20 Ochanomizu 御茶ノ水 0.8 17.8
Bunkyō
M21 Hongō-sanchōme 本郷三丁目 0.8 18.6 E Toei Oedo Line (E-08)
M22 Kōrakuen 後楽園 0.8 19.4
  • N Namboku Line (N-11)
  • I Mita Line (Kasuga: I-12)
  • E Ōedo Line (Kasuga: E-07)
M23 Myōgadani 茗荷谷 1.8 21.2  
M24 Shin-ōtsuka 新大塚 1.2 22.4  
M25 Ikebukuro 池袋 1.8 24.2
Toshima

Branch Line (Honancho Line)[edit]

No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations
Total
Mb03 Hōnanchō 方南町 0.0   Suginami
Mb04 Nakano-fujimichō 中野富士見町 1.3 1.3   Nakano
Mb05 Nakano-shimbashi 中野新橋 0.6 1.9  
M06 Nakano-sakaue 中野坂上 1.3 3.2
  • M Marunouchi Line (for Ikebukuro and Ogikubo; some trains through)
  • E Ōedo Line (E-30)

Rolling stock[edit]

Two 02 series EMUs at Yotsuya Station in November 2020

Marunouchi Line services are operated using a fleet of 53 Tokyo Metro 02 series six-car EMUs in service since 1988 together with six three-car sets used on Hōnanchō branch services until September 2022. All trains are based at Koishikawa and Nakano Depots.[6]

A fleet of 53 new Tokyo Metro 2000 series six-car trains was scheduled to be introduced from fiscal 2018, replacing the 02 series trains by fiscal 2025.[7] On February 23, 2019, the 2000 series started operation.

Former[edit]

History[edit]

Opening ceremony at Ikebukuro in 1954

The Marunouchi Line is the second subway line to be built in the city, and the first to be constructed after the Second World War. Its design is similar to that of the Ginza Line, the oldest subway line in Tokyo. Both lines are standard gauge and use third rail power, unlike subsequent Tokyo subway lines which use overhead wires and are mostly narrow gauge to accommodate through services with other railway lines.

In a 1925 plan for a five-line subway system, the Marunouchi Line was planned to run from Shinjuku to Ōtsuka via Hibiya, Tsukiji and Okachimachi, as a 20 km (12 mi) underground route. A 1.2 km (0.75 mi) segment between Akasaka-mitsuke and Yotsuya began construction in 1942, but was abandoned in 1944 as a result of the continuing effects of World War II. On December 7, 1946, the Marunouchi Line was revised to begin from Nakano-fujimichō to the Mukōhara neighbourhood in Toshima Ward via Kanda and Ikebukuro, for a total length of 22.1 km (13.7 mi). On March 30, 1951, a groundbreaking ceremony was held at Ikebukuro Station East Exit to begin construction of the initial 7.7 km (4.8 mi) segment of the Marunouchi Line.

The first section was opened between Ikebukuro and Ochanomizu on January 20, 1954. The subsequent progress of the line was as follows:

  • Ochanomizu to Awajichō: March 1956
  • Awajichō to Tokyo: July 1956
  • Tokyo to Nishi-Ginza (now Ginza): December 1957
  • Nishi-Ginza to Kasumigaseki: October 1958
  • Kasumigaseki to Shinjuku: March 1959
  • Shinjuku to Shin-Nakano/Nakano-Fujimichō (not Nishi-Shinjuku): February 1961
  • Shin-Nakano to Minami-Asagaya (not Higashi-Kōenji): November 1961
  • Minami-Asagaya to Ogikubo: January 23, 1962
  • Nakano-Fujimichō to Hōnanchō: March 23, 1962
  • Nishi-Ginza becomes part of Ginza when Hibiya Line reaches there: August 1964
  • Higashi-Kōenji opens (between Shin-Nakano and Shin-Kōenji): September 1964
  • Nishi-Shinjuku opens (between Shinjuku and Nakano-Sakaue) May 1996.

The Marunouchi Line was one of the lines targeted in the Aum sarin gas attack on March 20, 1995. A plan to extend the Marunouchi Line from Ogikubo to Asaka City in Saitama Prefecture was rejected in the late 1990s.

The line, stations, rolling stock, and related facilities were inherited by Tokyo Metro after the privatization of the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA) in 2004.[8]

Automatic train control (ATC) was activated on the Marunouchi Line on February 27, 1998, which allowed for an increase in the maximum operating speed limit from 65 km/h (40 mph) to 75 km/h (47 mph). This was followed by train automatic stopping controller (TASC) which was introduced in November 2002, along with automatic train operation (ATO) which was introduced on the main segment of the Marunouchi Line on December 27, 2008. The platform-edge doors at Hōnanchō Station, the terminus of the Hōnanchō Branch, were lengthened to allow six-car trains to use the station, with work starting in 2013, which enabled through trains to and from Ikebukuro to start operating all the way to Hōnanchō from fiscal 2017.[9]

Future plans[edit]

Communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling is also scheduled to be introduced together with the new rolling stock from 2022.[10]

References[edit]

  • Shaw, Dennis and Morioka, Hisashi, "Tokyo Subways", published 1992 by Hoikusha Publishing
  1. ^ Tokyo Metro station ridership in 2017 Train Media (sourced from Tokyo Metro) Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  2. ^ [1] Archived 2020-09-29 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-08-15. Retrieved 2009-09-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Tetsudo.com News: 丸ノ内線全線でワンマン運転開始 28日から (17 March 2009). Retrieved on 17 March 2009. (in Japanese)
  5. ^ 丸ノ内線 方南町〜中野新橋駅間の駅ナンバリングを 訪日外国人旅行者の利便性向上のため、2016年11月から順次変更します
  6. ^ 私鉄車両編成表 2016 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations – 2016] (in Japanese). Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 25 July 2016. p. 69. ISBN 978-4-330-70116-5.
  7. ^ 大手民鉄 2016年度の車両の新造・更新予定 [Major private railway fiscal 2016 rolling stock construction and refurbishment plans]. Tetsudo Daiya Joho Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 45, no. 389. Japan: Kotsu Shimbun. September 2016. p. 70.
  8. ^ "「営団地下鉄」から「東京メトロ」へ" [From "Teito Rapid Transit Authority" to "Tokyo Metro"]. Tokyo Metro Online. 2006-07-08. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  9. ^ 丸ノ内線、方南町駅へ直通運転開始 東京メトロが17年度から [Tokyo Metro to operate through trains on Marunouchi Line to Hōnanchō Station from fiscal 2017]. Nikkei Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei Inc. 13 November 2013. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  10. ^ Tokyo Metro Plan 2018 (PDF). 2017. p. 32.

External links[edit]