Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line

The Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (東京メトロ有楽町線, Tōkyō Metoro Yūrakuchō-sen) is a subway line in Japan owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line connects Wakōshi Station in Wakō, Saitama and Shin-Kiba Station in Kōtō, Tokyo. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color "gold", and its stations are given numbers using the letter "Y".

Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line
A Yūrakuchō Line 17000 series train
Overview
Other name(s)Y
Native name東京メトロ有楽町線
OwnerThe logo of the Tokyo Metro. Tokyo Metro
Line number8
LocaleTokyo
Termini
Stations24
Color on map     Gold (#C1A470)
Service
TypeRapid transit
SystemTokyo Subway
Operator(s)Tokyo Metro
Depot(s)Wakō, Shin-Kiba
Rolling stockTokyo Metro 10000 series
Tokyo Metro 17000 series
Seibu 6000 and 6050 series
Seibu 40000 and 40050 series
Tobu 9000 and 9050 series
Tobu 50070 series
Tokyu 5050-4000 series (less commonly used)
Daily ridership1,124,478[1]
History
Opened30 October 1974 (1974-10-30)
Last extension8 June 1988 (1988-06-08)
Technical
Line length28.3 km (17.6 mi)
Number of tracksDouble-track
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius150 m (490 ft)
Electrification1,500 V DC (overhead line)
Operating speed80 km/h (50 mph)
Train protection systemNew CS-ATC, ATO
Maximum incline3.5%
Route map

The line was named after the Yūrakuchō business district in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The proper name as given in an annual report of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is Line No. 8 Yūrakuchō Line (8号線有楽町線, Hachi-gō-sen Yūrakuchō-sen).[2] According to the Tokyo urban transportation plan, however, it is more complicated. The line number assigned to the section south from Kotake-Mukaihara to Shin-Kiba is Line 8, but that north of Kotake-Mukaihara to Wakōshi is Line 13, which indicates the section is a portion of Fukutoshin Line which shares the same number.

Services

The Yurakucho Line has inter-running counterparts on its northern side, both of which are "major" Japanese private railway companies in Greater Tokyo. One is the Tobu Railway at Wakōshi, north to Shinrin-kōen. The other is the Seibu Railway at Kotake-Mukaihara with its bypass line Seibu Yūrakuchō Line connecting to its main Ikebukuro Line, through trains north to Kotesashi or Hannō.

According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, as of June 2009 the Yurakucho Line is the fifth most crowded subway line in Tokyo, at its peak running at 173% capacity between Higashi-Ikebukuro and Gokokuji stations.[3]

Semi-express (準急) services ran on the Yurakucho Line between June 14, 2008 and March 6, 2010, operating twice hourly between Wakōshi and Shin-Kiba. Between Wakōshi and Ikebukuro, semi-express trains stopped only at Kotake-Mukaihara; between Ikebukuro and Shin-Kiba, trains stopped at all stations. The semi-express trains ran between rush hours during weekdays and more frequently on weekends and holidays. These services were abolished and replaced with local services on March 6, 2010.[4]

Since March 2008, very occasional Bay Resort limited express trains on the Odakyū Odawara Line operate to Shin-Kiba on the Yurakucho Line via a connecting track to the Chiyoda Line beyond Sakuradamon.

Since March 26, 2017, Seibu operates the S-Train limited-stop express service between Toyosu and Tokorozawa on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line on weekday mornings and evenings.

Station list
  • Local trains stop at every station.
    • S-Train services stop at the stations indicated by "●" and "↑" (alighting only during the morning, boarding only during the evening) and pass all stations indicated by "|".
No. Station Japanese Distance (km) S-Train Transfers Location
Between
stations		 From Y-01
↑ Through-service to/from Shinrin-kōen via the TJ Tobu Tojo Line ↑
Y01 Wakoshi 和光市[* 1] - 0.0  [* 2]
Wakō, Saitama
Y02 Chikatetsu-narimasu 地下鉄成増 2.2 2.2
  • F Fukutoshin Line (F-02) (same tracks)
  • TJ Tobu Tojo Line (Narimasu)
 Itabashi Tokyo
Y03 Chikatetsu-akatsuka 地下鉄赤塚 1.4 3.6
  • F Fukutoshin Line (F-03) (same tracks)
  • TJ Tobu Tojo Line (Shimo-Akatsuka)
 Nerima
Y04 Heiwadai 平和台 1.8 5.4 F Fukutoshin Line (F-04) (same tracks)
Y05 Hikawadai 氷川台 1.4 6.8 F Fukutoshin Line (F-05) (same tracks)
Through services via the Seibu Yūrakuchō Line To/from Hannō via the Seibu Ikebukuro Line
Y06 Kotake-mukaihara 小竹向原[* 3] 1.5 8.3 |
Y07 Senkawa 千川 1.0 9.3 | F Fukutoshin Line (F-07) Toshima
Y08 Kanamecho 要町 1.0 10.3 | F Fukutoshin Line (F-08)
Y09 Ikebukuro 池袋 1.2 11.5 [* 4]
Y10 Higashi-ikebukuro 東池袋 0.9 12.4 | Toden Arakawa Line (Higashi-ikebukuro-yonchome)
Y11 Gokokuji 護国寺 1.1 13.5 |   Bunkyō
Y12 Edogawabashi 江戸川橋 1.3 14.8 |  
Y13 Iidabashi 飯田橋 1.6 16.4 ↑
Shinjuku
Y14 Ichigaya 市ケ谷 1.1 17.5 |
  • N Namboku Line (N-09)
  • S Shinjuku Line (S-04)
  • JB Chūō-Sōbu Line
 Chiyoda
Y15 Kojimachi 麹町 0.9 18.4 |  
Y16 Nagatacho 永田町 0.9 19.3 |
Y17 Sakuradamon 桜田門 0.9 20.2 |  
Y18 Yurakucho 有楽町 1.0 21.2 ↑
Y19 Ginza-itchome 銀座一丁目 0.5 21.7 |
  • G Ginza Line (Ginza: G-09)
  • M Marunouchi Line (Ginza: M-16)
  • H Hibiya Line (Ginza: H-09)
 Chūō
Y20 Shintomicho 新富町 0.7 22.4 | H Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (Tsukiji: H-11)
Y21 Tsukishima 月島 1.3 23.7 | E Toei Oedo Line (E-16)
Y22 Toyosu 豊洲 1.4 25.1 ● Yurikamome Kōtō
Y23 Tatsumi 辰巳 1.7 26.8  
Y24 Shin-kiba 新木場 1.5 28.3
  1. Wakoshi is shared by both Tobu and Tokyo Metro; Tobu manages the station.
  2. The S-Train service runs between Toyosu and Tokorozawa on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line on weekday mornings and evenings.
  3. Kotake-mukaihara is shared by both Seibu Railway and Tokyo Metro; Tokyo Metro manages the station.
  4. The S-Train service stops at Ikebukuro on weekends and national holidays, when it runs between Seibu-Chichibu on the Seibu Chichibu Line and Motomachi-Chukagai on the Minatomirai Line via the Fukutoshin Line. Passengers cannot board the S-Train service at Ikebukuro.

Rolling stock

All types are operated as 10-car sets.

Tokyo Metro
  • A Tokyo Metro 10000 series EMU
    A Tokyo Metro 10000 series EMU
  • A Tokyo Metro 17000 series EMU
    A Tokyo Metro 17000 series EMU

Other operators
  • Seibu 40000 series EMU
    Seibu 40000 series EMU
  • Seibu 6000 series EMU
    Seibu 6000 series EMU
  • Tobu 9000 series EMU
    Tobu 9000 series EMU
  • Tobu 50070 series EMU
    Tobu 50070 series EMU

Former rolling stock
  • A Tokyo Metro 7000 series EMU
    A Tokyo Metro 7000 series EMU
  • A Tokyo Metro 07 series EMU
    A Tokyo Metro 07 series EMU

Depots
A 7000 series undergoing inspection at Shin-Kiba Depot
  • Wakō Depot (和光検車区) (main depot)
  • Shin-Kiba Depot (新木場検車区) (responsible for minor inspections; for major ones, EMUs are forwarded to the Ayase Depot (綾瀬車両基地) on the Chiyoda Line via underground connecting tracks)
  • Shin-Kiba Car Renewal (新木場CR) (specializes in railcar refurbishment: also used for Chiyoda and Hanzōmon Line railcars)

History
Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line diagram
Sakuradamon Station exit
  • 30 October 1974: Ikebukuro – Ginza-itchōme section opens.
  • 27 March 1980: Ginza-itchōme – Shintomichō section opens.
  • 24 June 1983: Eidan Narimasu (present Chikatetsu Narimasu) – Ikebukuro section opens
  • 1 October 1983: Seibu Railway Seibu Yūrakuchō Line Kotake-Mukaihara – Shin-Sakuradai section opened, through operation with Eidan Yūrakuchō Line begins.
  • 25 August 1987: Wakōshi – Eidan Narimasu opens. Through service to Tōbu Tōjō Line begins.
  • 8 June 1988: Shintomichō – Shin-kiba opens, current line completed.
  • 18 March 1993: 07 series EMUs introduced.
  • 7 December 1994: New line opened from Kotake-Mukaihara to Ikebukuro. This section was named the "Yūrakuchō New Line". All trains on it made Ikebukuro their terminus and did not stop at Senkawa nor Kanamechō. Through service from Shin-Kiba or Ikebukuro (on the New Line) to Nerima on Seibu Yūrakuchō Line begins.
  • 26 March 1998: Through operation to Seibu Ikebukuro Line begins.
  • 1 April 2004: The owner of the line changed from Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA, Eidan) to Tokyo Metro due to the former's privatization.[6]
  • 31 October 2005: Women-only cars introduced.
  • 1 September 2006: 10000 series introduced.
  • 3 May 2008: Limited Express "Bay Resort" (operated first from/to Odakyu Line) begins operating.
  • 14 June 2008: Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line began service. Yurakuchō New Line annexed by the Fukutoshin Line. Yurakuchō Line shares tracks with Fukutoshin Line between Wakōshi and Kotake-Mukaihara. Semi-Express service starts running.
  • October 2008: Automatic train control enabled on the Yurakuchō Line.
  • 6 March 2010: Semi-express services abolished.
  • 6 August 2022: "Wanman" one-person operation begins on the section between Kotake-Mukaihara and Shin-Kiba[7]

On 10 September 2012, 10-car 5050-4000 series sets entered revenue service on the Yurakucho Line, with inter-running through to the Tobu Tojo Line.[8]

Future developments

In 2021, plans were announced to branch the Yurakucho line at Toyosu Station, traveling north for 4.8 km (3.0 mi) connecting with Toyocho on the Tozai Line and Sumiyoshi Station on the Shinjuku Line and Hanzomon Line. An additional two stations (Edagawa and Sengoku) would also be added in the Koto Ward serving the Sengoku and Toyo districts.[9][10] Tentative names for the new stations were determined in August 2022.[11] The branch line (nicknamed the Toyozumi Line according to official city documents) is intended to aid in redevelopment efforts in Koto Ward.[11] As of 28 January 2022 the expected cost of construction is ¥269 billion (2021) . The branch line is expected to be in service in the mid-2030s.

A branch line from Toyosu Station has been planned since the early 1980s, heading north via Kameari Station (on the Jōban Line) to Noda in northwest Chiba Prefecture.[12]

References
  1. Tokyo Metro station ridership in 2010 Train Media (sourced from Tokyo Metro) Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  2. 株式会社電気車研究会・鉄道図書刊行会。鉄道要覧 (Tetsudō Yōran)。 (Issued every September)
  3. Metropolis, "Commute", June 12, 2009, p. 07. Capacity is defined as all passengers having a seat or a strap or door railing to hold on to.
  4. 3月6日（土）有楽町線・副都心線のダイヤ改正 (in Japanese) February 3, 2010. Accessed March 6, 2010.
  5. Shiina, Takayuki (February 2009). 東京地下鉄07系 転籍計画の概要 [Outline of Tokyo Metro 07 series reallocation plan]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 49, no. 574. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 80–83.
  6. "「営団地下鉄」から「東京メトロ」へ" [From "Teito Rapid Transit Authority" to "Tokyo Metro"]. Tokyo Metro Online. 27 January 2004. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
  7. "有楽町線小竹向原駅～新木場駅間でワンマン運転を開始します" [One-man operation will start between Kotake-Mukaihara Station and Shin-Kiba Station on the Yurakucho Line.]. tokyometro.jp. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  8. 東急5050系4000番台が東武東上線・地下鉄有楽町線で営業運転開始 [Tokyu 5050-4000 series enters service on the Tobu Tojo Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  9. "Tokyo Metro eyes extending 2 subway lines to ease congestion". The Asahi Shimbun. 21 September 2021. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  10. "有楽町線延伸（豊洲・住吉間）及び南北線延伸（品川・白金高輪間）の鉄道事業許可を申請しました。" [Yurakucho Line extension (between Toyosu and Sumiyoshi) and Namboku Line extension (between Shinagawa and Shirokane Takanawa) application for a Business Permit] (PDF). Tokyo Metro (in Japanese). 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
  11. "東京メトロ「豊住線」のルート詳細を公表…途中駅は仮称・枝川、東陽町、千石 2030年代半ば開業" [Details of the Tokyo Metro "Toyozumi Line" Route Announced, Intermediate Stations Tentatively Named Edagawa, Toyocho, and Sengoku to Open in the Mid-2030s]. Response.jp (in Japanese). 5 August 2022. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  12. 新たなネットワークを担う地下鉄整備の実現に向けて [Toward the realization of subway development that will carry a new network] (PDF). City of Koto, Tokyo. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 June 2010.
  • Shaw, Dennis and Morioka, Hisashi, "Tokyo Subways", published 1992 by Hoikusha Publishing
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