Toei Asakusa Line

The Nihongo|Toei Asakusa Line|都営地下鉄浅草線|Toei Chikatetsu Asakusa-sen is a subway line operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation in Tokyo, Japan. On maps, its color is light coral, and its stations carry the letter "A" followed by a two-digit number.

The line runs between Nishi Magome Station (A-01) in Ota Ward and Oshiage Station (A-20) in Sumida Ward.

The Asakusa Line was the first subway line in Japan to offer through service with a private railway. Today, it has more through services to other lines than any other subway line in Tokyo. The Keihin Kyuko Electric Railway operates through trains to Misakiguchi Station on the Keikyu Main Line and Haneda Airport Station on the Keikyu Kuko Line. The Keisei Electric Railway operates through trains to Hokuso Tetsudo Hokuso Imba Nihon Idai Station on the Keisei Oshiage Line, Narita Airport Station on the Keisei Main Line, and Shibayama Chiyoda Station on the Shibayama Railway Line.

Route information

* Length: 18.4 km
* Gauge: 1,435 mm (standard gauge)
* Stations: 20 (including ends)
* Double-track: Entire line
* Electric supply: 1,500 V DC, overhead supply
* Block system: Automatic

Development

The Toei Asakusa Line was the first subway line constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Its planning name is Line 1: it was later named after the famous Asakusa district of Tokyo. In its original plan form, the line would have actually bypassed Asakusa Station entirely. However, the plan was changed to take advantage of the existing Tobu Railway and Ginza Line connections at Asakusa.

The initial 3.2 km segment between Oshiage and Asakusabashi opened on December 4, 1960. The line then opened in stages from north to south:
*Asakusabashi to Higashi-Nihonbashi May 1962
*Higashi-Nihonbashi to Ningyōchō September 1962
*Ningyōchō to Higashi-Ginza February 1963
*Higashi-Ginza to Shinbashi December 1963
*Shinbashi to Daimon October 1964
*Daimon to Sengakuji June 1968 (Through service with Keikyū begins)
*Sengakuji to Nishi-Magome November 15, 1968.

From 1998 to 2002, the Asakusa Line was used as part of a rail connection between Tokyo's two major airports, Haneda and Narita. While a few trains still run between the airports (see below), the service has greatly diminished in frequency since 2002.

In 2005, a research group of government, metropolitan and railway company officials proposed that the Asakusa Line be connected to Tokyo Station via a spur to the north of Takaracho Station. This would provide Tokyo Station's first direct connection to the Toei subway network. It would also make it possible to reach Haneda Airport from Tokyo Station in 25 minutes (versus 35 minutes today) and Narita Airport in 40 minutes (versus 57 minutes today). [ [http://www.metro.tokyo.jp/INET/CHOUSA/2003/05/60d5t201.htm 都営浅草線東京駅接着等の事業化推進に関する検討 調査結果のとりまとめ] , May 2003.] This plan has yet to be finalized or formally adopted.

Trains

Most trains on the Asakusa Line make regular subway service stops at all subway stations on the line. A variety of rolling stock is in use due to the large number of through service operators on the line. Train models currently in use include:

* Subway trains: Toei 5300
**Past trains: 5000, 5200
* Keisei trains: Keisei 3000 (second model), 3200, 3300, 3400, 3500, 3600, 3700
**Past trains: 3000 (first model) etc.
* Keihin Kyuko trains: Keikyu 600, 1000 (second model), 1000 (first model), 1500
* Hokuso trains: Hokuso Kaihatsu Railway 7250 (borrowed from Keisei), 7300 (a set borrowed from Keisei)
**Past trains: 7000, 7050, 7150, (Keisei 3400 series also borrowed)
* Chiba New Town Railway: Toshi Kiban Seibi Kodan 9000, 9100

Airport Special Rapid Service

Although the nihongo|Airport Special Rapid Service|エアポート快特|eapoto kaitoku was originally planned as an airport-to-airport connection, almost all scheduled trains now serve only Haneda Airport, terminating at either Keisei Takasago, Keisei Sakura or Shibayama Chiyoda on the Keisei end. These trains pass through certain Asakusa Line stations without stopping, and only stop at special rapid service stations on the Keikyu Line and Keisei Line. The table below indicates the stations where the trains stop; no surcharge or special ticket is necessary to use these trains.

The two airports remain directly connected by a single daily train, which only runs on weekends and holidays. This train makes express stops on the Keisei Line, but makes all station stops on the Asakusa Line. The total travel time from airport to airport is 1 hour and 46 minutes.

The service's main competitor is the Tokyo Monorail, which feeds into the JR East network.

Stations

Explanation of marks:
* ●: Train stops at this station
* |: Train does not stop at this station
* No mark: Train bypasses station

ee also

References