Tokyo Metro Tozai Line facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tokyo Metro Tozai Line |
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A Tozai Line 15000 series train
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| Overview | |
| Other name(s) | T |
| Native name | 東京メトロ東西線 |
| Owner |  |
| Line number | 5 |
| Locale | Tokyo, Chiba prefectures |
| Termini | Nakano or Mitaka Nishi-Funabashi or Tsudanuma or Toyo-Katsutadai |
| Stations | 23 |
| Color on map | Sky blue (#009BBF) |
| Service | |
| System | Tokyo subway |
| Operator(s) | Tokyo Metro |
| Depot(s) | Fukagawa, Gyōtoku |
| Rolling stock | Tokyo Metro 05/05N series Tokyo Metro 07 series Tokyo Metro 15000 series Tōyō Rapid 2000 series JR East E231-800 series |
| Daily ridership | 1,642,378 (2017) |
| History | |
| Opened | 23 December 1964 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 30.8 km (19.1 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Double-track |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Minimum radius | 200 m (660 ft) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC (overhead line) |
| Operating speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) |
| Train protection system | New CS-ATC |
| Maximum incline | 4.0% |
The Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (東京メトロ東西線, Tōkyō Metoro Tōzai-sen) is a subway line in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and run by Tokyo Metro. Its name means "East-West Line".
The line runs between Nakano in Tokyo and Nishi-Funabashi in Chiba Prefecture. It was once called Line 5 during its planning. The Tozai Line is the busiest line on the Tokyo Metro network. In 2017, about 1.6 million passengers used it every day. On maps, the Tozai Line is shown in "sky blue". Its stations use the letter "T" for numbering.
Contents
About the Tozai Line
This subway line goes through the middle of Tokyo from east to west. It passes through areas like Takadanobaba and Nihombashi. The line was built to help reduce crowding on other busy train lines.
The Tozai Line is special because it's the only Tokyo Metro line that goes into Chiba Prefecture. Also, almost half of the line (14 km) runs above ground. This is longer than any other subway line in Tokyo.
Connecting with Other Train Lines
Trains on the Tozai Line can continue onto other railway lines. This is called "through service". At the western end (Nakano), trains go onto the JR East Chūō-Sōbu Line towards Mitaka. At the eastern end (Nishi-Funabashi), trains can go to Tsudanuma on the Chūō-Sōbu Line. They can also go to Tōyō-Katsutadai on the Tōyō Rapid Railway Line.
How Busy is the Line?
The Tokyo Metro Tozai Line is known for being very popular. In 2018, it was the most crowded subway line in Tokyo. It was also the most crowded train line in all of Japan. During busy morning hours, it could be at 199% of its normal capacity.
To help with crowding, special "women-only cars" were started on November 20, 2006. These cars are used during the morning rush hour. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of passengers dropped. The peak crowding went from 199% in 2019 to 123% in 2020.
History of the Tozai Line
The Tozai Line was planned in 1962. It was called Line 5. Its main goal was to ease traffic on the busy Sōbu Main Line. It also aimed to create a direct route across north-central Tokyo. Even with other lines serving the area, the Tozai Line is still very busy. This is because it connects easily to many other lines. Also, many new apartments have been built in eastern Tokyo.
Opening in Stages
The first part of the line opened in 1964, connecting Takadanobaba to Kudanshita. More sections opened over time. The whole line was finished in 1969. In 1969, through service with the national railway (now JR East) began. This was a first for a Tokyo subway line. Only one other Tokyo subway line has through services with JR lines.
The Tōyō Rapid Railway Line opened in 1996. This line is like an extension of the Tozai Line to the east. The Tozai Line trains can run directly onto this private line.
Timeline of Key Events
- March 16, 1966: The line gets longer at both ends. It now runs between Nakano and Takebashi.
- April 28, 1966: Through service to the Chūō Line starts, going as far as Ogikubo.
- October 1, 1966: The section from Takebashi to Ōtemachi opens.
- September 14, 1967: The section from Ōtemachi to Tōyōchō opens.
- March 29, 1969: The section from Tōyōchō to Nishi-Funabashi opens. Faster "Rapid" trains also start running.
- April 8, 1969: Through service on the Chūō Line extends to Mitaka. Through service on the Sōbu line to Tsudanuma also begins.
- April 8, 1972: Through service on the Sōbu Line stops, except during busy rush hours.
- 1975: A new type of Rapid service is added. These trains stop 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 starts. These trains run non-stop between Urayasu and Nishi-Funabashi.
- April 27, 1996: The Tōyō Rapid Line opens. It runs between Nishi-Funabashi and Tōyō-Katsutadai. Through service with this line begins.
- January 22, 2000: Myōden station opens.
- April 1, 2004: The company that ran the subway changes its name to Tokyo Metro.
- November 20, 2006: Women-only cars are added during morning rush hours.
Train Services
The Tozai Line was the first Tokyo Metro line to have "express services". These are faster trains that skip some stations east of Toyocho. The Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line also has express services.
Through services run all day. They go to Mitaka via the JR East Chūō Line. They also go to Tōyō-Katsutadai via the Tōyō Rapid Railway. During morning and evening rush hours, trains also go to Tsudanuma 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 trains going west do not stop at stations marked "↑".
| No. | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Comm. Rapid | Rapid | Transfers | Location | ||
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| Between stations |
From Nakano | ||||||||
| ↑ Through-services to/from Mitaka via the JB Chūō-Sōbu Line ↑ | |||||||||
| T01 | Nakano | 中野 | – | 0.0 | ● | ● |
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Nakano | Tokyo |
| T02 | Ochiai | 落合 | 2.0 | 2.0 | ● | ● | Shinjuku | ||
| T03 | Takadanobaba | 高田馬場 | 1.9 | 3.9 | ● | ● |
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| T04 | Waseda | 早稲田 | 1.7 | 5.6 | ● | ● |  (Waseda) |
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| T05 | Kagurazaka | 神楽坂 | 1.2 | 6.8 | ● | ● | |||
| T06 | Iidabashi | 飯田橋 | 1.2 | 8.0 | ● | ● |
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Chiyoda | |
| T07 | Kudanshita | 九段下 | 0.7 | 8.7 | ● | ● |
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| T08 | Takebashi | 竹橋 | 1.0 | 9.7 | ● | ● | |||
| T09 | Ōtemachi | 大手町 | 1.0 | 10.7 | ● | ● |
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| T10 | Nihombashi | 日本橋 | 0.8 | 11.5 | ● | ● |
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Chūō | |
| T11 | Kayabachō | 茅場町 | 0.5 | 12.0 | ● | ● | H Hibiya Line (H-13) | ||
| T12 | Monzen-Nakachō | 門前仲町 | 1.8 | 13.8 | ● | ● | E Ōedo Line (E-15) | Kōtō | |
| T13 | Kiba | 木場 | 1.1 | 14.9 | ● | ● | |||
| T14 | Tōyōchō | 東陽町 | 0.9 | 15.8 | ● | ● | |||
| T15 | Minami-Sunamachi | 南砂町 | 1.2 | 17.0 | ● | | | |||
| T16 | Nishi-Kasai | 西葛西 | 2.7 | 19.7 | ● | | | Edogawa | ||
| T17 | Kasai | 葛西 | 1.2 | 20.9 | ● | | | |||
| T18 | Urayasu | 浦安 | 1.9 | 22.8 | ● | ● | Urayasu | Chiba | |
| T19 | Minami-Gyōtoku | 南行徳 | 1.2 | 24.0 | ↑ | | | Ichikawa | ||
| T20 | Gyōtoku | 行徳 | 1.5 | 25.5 | ↑ | | | |||
| T21 | Myōden | 妙典 | 1.3 | 26.8 | ↑ | | | |||
| T22 | Baraki-Nakayama | 原木中山 | 2.1 | 28.9 | ↑ | | | Funabashi | ||
| T23 | Nishi-Funabashi | 西船橋 | 1.9 | 30.8 | ● | ● |
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| ↓ Through-services to/from Tōyō-Katsutadai via the TR Tōyō Rapid Railway Line ↓
or ↓ Through-services to/from Tsudanuma via the JB Chūō-Sōbu Line ↓ |
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Trains Used on the Tozai Line
The trains used on a railway line are called "rolling stock". Tozai Line trains have 10 cars. Each car is about 20 meters (65 feet) long. They have four doors on each side to help people get on and off quickly. These trains can travel up to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour). Newer trains have wider doors for even faster boarding.
Current Trains
- Tokyo Metro
- 05/05N series (since 1988)
- 07 series (since 2006) (moved from Yūrakuchō Line)
- 15000 series (since 2010)
- Tōyō Rapid Railway
- 2000 series (since 2004)
- East Japan Railway Company (JR East)
- E231-800 series (since 2003)
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Tokyo Metro 05 series
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Tokyo Metro 05N series
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Tokyo Metro 07 series
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Tokyo Metro 15000 Series
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Toyo Rapid 2000 series
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JR East E231-800 series
Past Trains
- 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)
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5000 series with stainless steel body
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5000 series with aluminium body
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JR East 301 series in February 2003
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JR East 103-1200 series
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Tōyō Rapid 1000 series in September 2006
Train Depots
Train depots are places where trains are stored, cleaned, and repaired. The Tozai Line has two main depots.
- Fukagawa Depot (深川検車区)
- Gyōtoku Depot (深川検車区行徳分室)
- Fukagawa Workshop (深川工場)
See also
In Spanish: Línea Tōzai (Metro de Tokio) para niños
