Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
Encyclopedia
The is Tokyo's public transportation authority. Its subway lines are commonly described as 都営 Toei, meaning "operated (ei) by the metropolitan government (to)." It is one of two rapid transit
systems making up the Tokyo subway
system, the other being Tokyo Metro
.
Tokyo Metro and Toei trains form completely separate networks. While users of prepaid rail passes can freely interchange between the two networks, regular ticket holders must purchase a second ticket, or a special transfer ticket, to change from a Toei line to a Tokyo Metro line and vice versa. The sole exception is on the segment of the Toei Mita Line between Meguro and Shirokane-Takanawa, where the platforms are shared with the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
and it is therefore possible to change between the networks without passing through a ticket gate.
According to the company, an average of 2.34 million people used the company's four subway routes each day in 2008. The company made a profit of ¥12.2 billion in 2009.
In addition to the subways, Toei also operates the Toden Arakawa Line
streetcar, the Ueno Zoo Monorail
, and the Nippori-Toneri Liner automated guideway transit.
Most routes are designated by a kanji character
followed by a two-digit route number. The initial character usually indicates the main railway station where the line terminates: for instance, 渋66 (Shibu 66) is a suburban route from Shibuya Station
. Some routes replace the initial character with Latin letters, one prominent example being the RH01 service between Roppongi Hills
and Shibuya. Others use a special character derived from the route, such as 虹01 (Niji [Rainbow] 01) which crosses the Rainbow Bridge
. Some cross-town routes begin with the character 都 (to "metropolitan").
purchased the Tokyo Railway Company, a streetcar operator, in 1911, and placed its lines under the authority of the . The TMEB began bus
service in 1924 as an emergency measure after the Great Kanto Earthquake knocked out streetcar service in the city. (The TMEB was also responsible for providing electric power to Tokyo, but this service was privatized in 1942 as Tokyo Electric).
In 1942, the Japanese government forced a number of private transit businesses in Tokyo to merge into the TMEB. These included the bus lines of the Tokyo Underground Railway (whose Ginza Line remained independent), the Keio Electric Railway and the Tokyu Corporation, as well as the Oji Electric Tramway (operator of the Arakawa Line) and several smaller bus companies.
In 1943, Tokyo City was abolished and the TMEB's operations were transferred to the new TMBT.
The trolley buses were short-lived, however, mostly owing to their vulnerability to weather: rain caused problems with the overhead power supply, and snow required tire chains to be installed on vehicles in order to maintain grounding.
Rapid transit
A rapid transit, underground, subway, elevated railway, metro or metropolitan railway system is an electric passenger railway in an urban area with a high capacity and frequency, and grade separation from other traffic. Rapid transit systems are typically located either in underground tunnels or on...
systems making up the Tokyo subway
Tokyo Subway
The is an integral part of the world's most extensive rapid transit system in a single metropolitan area, Greater Tokyo. While the subway system itself is largely within the city center, the lines extend far out via extensive through services onto suburban railway lines.- Networks :As of June...
system, the other being Tokyo Metro
Tokyo Metro
is one of two rapid transit systems making up the Tokyo subway system, the other being Toei. It is the most used subway system in the world in terms of annual passenger rides.-Organization:...
.
Toei Subway
The lines were originally licensed to the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (the predecessor of Tokyo Metro) but were constructed by the Tokyo metropolitan government following transfers of the licenses for each line. The subway has run at a financial loss for most of its history due to high construction expenses, particularly for the Oedo Line. However, it reported its first net profit of ¥3.13bn in FY 2006.Tokyo Metro and Toei trains form completely separate networks. While users of prepaid rail passes can freely interchange between the two networks, regular ticket holders must purchase a second ticket, or a special transfer ticket, to change from a Toei line to a Tokyo Metro line and vice versa. The sole exception is on the segment of the Toei Mita Line between Meguro and Shirokane-Takanawa, where the platforms are shared with the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
Tokyo Metro Namboku Line
The is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. Its name literally means South-North Line. The line runs between Meguro in Shinagawa and Akabane-Iwabuchi in Kita...
and it is therefore possible to change between the networks without passing through a ticket gate.
| Line color | Mark | Line number | Line | Japanese | Route | Stations Served | Length | Gauge | Current System |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Line 1 | Asakusa Line | Nishi-Magome Nishi-magome Station is the southern terminal of the Toei Asakusa Line, a subway line operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation. It is located in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan. It is the southernmost station of the Tokyo subway network. Its station number is A-01.... to Oshiage Oshiage Station Oshiage Station is a train station located at the Oshiage-eki-mae intersection of Metropolitan Routes 453 and 465 in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan... |
20 | 18.3 km | 1435 mm | 1500 VDC, overhead supply | |||
| Line 6 | Mita Line Toei Mita Line The is a subway line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation network in Tokyo, Japan. The line runs between Nishi-Takashimadaira in Itabashi and Meguro in Shinagawa. Trains continue with direct service into the Meguro Line of Tokyu Corporation for... |
Meguro Meguro Station is a railway station located in Tokyo's Shinagawa ward close to the boundary with Meguro ward. The station is just south of Meguro Dori .-Lines:Meguro Station is served by the following lines:*East Japan Railway Company Yamanote Line... to Nishi-Takashimadaira Nishi-Takashimadaira Station is a metro station on the Toei Mita Line in Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan. It is a terminus for all trains running past the Takashimadaira Sidings on the Mita line and the northern-most station on the Tokyo subway network.-Platforms:... |
27 | 26.5 km | 1067 mm | ||||
| Line 10 | Shinjuku Line Toei Shinjuku Line The is a subway line in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . The line runs between Motoyawata Station in Ichikawa, Chiba in the east and Shinjuku Station in the west... |
Shinjuku Shinjuku Station is a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,... to Moto-Yawata |
21 | 23.5 km | 1372 mm | ||||
| Line 12 | Ōedo Line Toei Oedo Line The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . It commenced full operations on December 12, 2000; using the Japanese calendar this reads "12/12/12" as the year 2000 equals Heisei 12... |
Hikarigaoka Hikarigaoka Station is an underground railway station in Nerima, Tokyo, Japan. It is the terminus of the Toei Ōedo Line. The station number is E-38.-Platforms:The station has an island platform with two tracks. This platform is 11.9 m below ground level, the closest to the surface of all the Ōedo Line... to Tochōmae Tochomae Station is located in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.This is a connected station for a toroidal part and the radiant section of the Toei Oedo Line, and trains from Iidabashi terminate at this station.-History:* December 19, 1997 Opened.... via Tochōmae, Roppongi Roppongi Station is located in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.The Toei Ōedo Line platform 1 is 42 m underground, making this station the deepest of the Tokyo subway stations... and Ryogoku Ryogoku Station is a railway station in Yokoami, Sumida, Tokyo, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company and Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation .-Lines:... |
38 | 40.7 km | 1435 mm |
Through services to other lines
The different gauges of the Toei lines arose in part due to the need to accommodate through services with private suburban railway lines. Through services currently in regular operation include:| | Line | Through Lines | |
|---|---|---|
| Asakusa Line | Keikyu Kurihama Line Keikyu Kurihama Line The is a commuter rail line operated by Keikyu in Japan. Keikyū Main Line trains from Oshiage and Shinagawa in Tokyo run through the Miura Peninsula on the Keikyū Kurihama Line.-Stations:... and Keikyu Airport Line Keikyu Airport Line The is a commuter line operated by Keihin Kyuko Electric Railway. It runs from Keikyū Kamata to in Tokyo, and has Airport Express , Ltd. Express , Rapid Ltd. Express , and Airport Rapid Ltd. Express services.-Station list:... both via the Keikyu Main Line (Sengakuji Sengakuji Station is a railway station in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.It is entirely owned and operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, but also serves as the northern terminus of the Keikyu Main Line operated by the Keihin Electric Express Railway... to Haneda Airport Haneda Airport Station is a train station in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, operated by Keikyu. The station is located beneath the Shuto Expressway Wangan Line and Route 357. The West Exit leads to Terminal 1 of Tokyo International Airport, and the East Exit leads to Terminal 2.- Station layout :... (Tokyo International Airport Tokyo International Airport , commonly known as , is one of the two primary airports that serve the Greater Tokyo Area in Japan. It is located in Ōta, Tokyo, south of Tokyo Station.... ) or Misakiguchi) |
|
| Keisei Oshiage Line, Keisei Main Line, Hokuso Railway Line, Keisei Higashi-Narita Line Keisei Higashi-Narita Line The is a branch line of the Keisei Main Line from Keisei Narita Station to Higashi-Narita Station .-Stations:... and Shibayama Railway Line (Oshiage Oshiage Station Oshiage Station is a train station located at the Oshiage-eki-mae intersection of Metropolitan Routes 453 and 465 in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan... to Narita Airport Narita Airport Station is an underground train station located beneath Terminal 1 of Narita International Airport in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. The station is shared between East Japan Railway Company and Keisei Electric Railway.-Station layout:... , Inba-Nihon-Idai Inba-Nihon-Idai Station is a train station in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, Japan. In July 2010 this station was connected to the Narita Sky Access Line to Narita Airport.- Lines :* Hokusō Railway** Hokusō Line* Keisei Electric Railway** Narita Sky Access-Service pattern:... or Shibayama-Chiyoda Shibayama-Chiyoda Station Shibayama-Chiyoda Station is a terminus of the Shibayama Railway Line, located on the border between Shibayama and Narita, Chiba Prefecture, on the eastern boundary of Narita International Airport.... ) |
||
| Mita Line Toei Mita Line The is a subway line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation network in Tokyo, Japan. The line runs between Nishi-Takashimadaira in Itabashi and Meguro in Shinagawa. Trains continue with direct service into the Meguro Line of Tokyu Corporation for... |
Tokyu Meguro Line (Meguro Meguro Station is a railway station located in Tokyo's Shinagawa ward close to the boundary with Meguro ward. The station is just south of Meguro Dori .-Lines:Meguro Station is served by the following lines:*East Japan Railway Company Yamanote Line... to Hiyoshi Hiyoshi Station (Kanagawa) is an interchange railway station on the Tokyu Corporation's Tōyoko Line and Meguro Line, as well as the Yokohama Municipal Subway's Green Line. It is located in located in Kōhoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan... ) |
|
| Shinjuku Line Toei Shinjuku Line The is a subway line in Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . The line runs between Motoyawata Station in Ichikawa, Chiba in the east and Shinjuku Station in the west... |
Keio New Line Keio New Line The is a 3.6 km link which connects Keio Corporation's Keiō Line from Sasazuka Station in Shibuya to Shinjuku Station with through service on to the Shinjuku Line of the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation.-Synopsis:... and Keio Sagamihara Line Keio Sagamihara Line The is a Japanese railway line operated by Keio Corporation, connecting Hashimoto Station in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture and Chōfu Station in Chōfu, Tokyo.-History:... both via the Keiō Line (Shinjuku Shinjuku Station is a train station located in Shinjuku and Shibuya wards in Tokyo, Japan.Serving as the main connecting hub for rail traffic between central Tokyo and its western suburbs on inter-city rail, commuter rail and metro lines, the station was used by an average of 3.64 million people per day in 2007,... to Hashimoto Hashimoto Station (Kanagawa) is a major stop on the East Japan Railway Company Yokohama Line, Sagami Line and the Keio Sagamihara Line straddling the city of Sagamihara in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.- JR East:- Keiō :-Surrounding area:*Midori Ward Office... or Takosanguchi) |
|
| Ōedo Line Toei Oedo Line The is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . It commenced full operations on December 12, 2000; using the Japanese calendar this reads "12/12/12" as the year 2000 equals Heisei 12... |
none |
- Mita Line shares tracks of the section from Meguro to Shirokane-TakanawaShirokane-takanawa Stationis a subway station in the Tokyo Metro and Toei networks. It is located at Takanawa 1 Chome, Minato, Tokyo.- Average Daily Use:The average day in 2004 saw 22,714 people use this station on the Tokyo Metro side, and 16,208 on the Toei side.-External links:...
with Tokyo Metro Namboku LineTokyo Metro Namboku LineThe is a subway line owned and operated by Tokyo Metro in Tokyo, Japan. Its name literally means South-North Line. The line runs between Meguro in Shinagawa and Akabane-Iwabuchi in Kita...
, 2.3 km.
According to the company, an average of 2.34 million people used the company's four subway routes each day in 2008. The company made a profit of ¥12.2 billion in 2009.
Light rail lines
Toden Arakawa Line
The is a streetcar line in Tokyo, Japan. The Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation operates this line. The Arakawa Line is the sole survivor of Tokyo's once-extensive Tokyo Toden streetcar system, but it is not the only tram line in Tokyo, as the privately owned Tōkyū Setagaya Line is also...
streetcar, the Ueno Zoo Monorail
Ueno Zoo Monorail
The is a 0.3 km long suspended monorail operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation . It lies within the Ueno Zoo in Taitō, Tokyo, Japan. The monorail is similar to the Schwebebahn Wuppertal, but has rubber tires rather than steel wheels. Many of the parts manufactured for...
, and the Nippori-Toneri Liner automated guideway transit.
Bus lines
Toei operates local bus service in central Tokyo, generally to fill in the gaps unserved by the Tokyo Metro and Toei subway network.Most routes are designated by a kanji character
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
followed by a two-digit route number. The initial character usually indicates the main railway station where the line terminates: for instance, 渋66 (Shibu 66) is a suburban route from Shibuya Station
Shibuya Station
is a train station located in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. With 2.4 million passengers on an average weekday in 2004, it is the fourth-busiest commuter rail station in Japan handling a large amount of commuter traffic between the center city and suburbs to the south and west.-JR East:*Saikyō Line /...
. Some routes replace the initial character with Latin letters, one prominent example being the RH01 service between Roppongi Hills
Roppongi Hills
is a New Urban Centre and one of Japan's largest integrated property developments, located in the Roppongi district of Minato, Tokyo.Constructed by building tycoon Minoru Mori, the mega-complex incorporates office space, apartments, shops, restaurants, cafés, movie theaters, a museum, a hotel, a...
and Shibuya. Others use a special character derived from the route, such as 虹01 (Niji [Rainbow] 01) which crosses the Rainbow Bridge
Rainbow Bridge (Tokyo)
The is a suspension bridge crossing northern Tokyo Bay between Shibaura Pier and the Odaiba waterfront development in Minato, Tokyo, Japan.Construction started in 1987 and was completed in 1993. The bridge is long with a main span of . Officially called the "Shuto Expressway No...
. Some cross-town routes begin with the character 都 (to "metropolitan").
Other services
Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation also maintains a large fiber optic cable network in the city, as well as several electric power generators.Establishment
Tokyo CityTokyo City
was a municipality in Japan and part of Tokyo-Fu which existed from May 1, 1889 until its merger with its prefecture on July 1, 1943. The historical boundaries of Tokyo City are now occupied by independent special wards...
purchased the Tokyo Railway Company, a streetcar operator, in 1911, and placed its lines under the authority of the . The TMEB began bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
service in 1924 as an emergency measure after the Great Kanto Earthquake knocked out streetcar service in the city. (The TMEB was also responsible for providing electric power to Tokyo, but this service was privatized in 1942 as Tokyo Electric).
In 1942, the Japanese government forced a number of private transit businesses in Tokyo to merge into the TMEB. These included the bus lines of the Tokyo Underground Railway (whose Ginza Line remained independent), the Keio Electric Railway and the Tokyu Corporation, as well as the Oji Electric Tramway (operator of the Arakawa Line) and several smaller bus companies.
In 1943, Tokyo City was abolished and the TMEB's operations were transferred to the new TMBT.
Trolley buses
TMBT operated electric "trolley buses" between 1952 and 1968 on four routes:- Route 101: Imai - Kameido - Oshiage - Asakusa - Ueno
- Route 102: Ikebukuro - Shibuya - Naka-meguro - Gotanda - Shinagawa
- Route 103: Ikebukuro - Oji - San'ya - Kameido
- Route 104: Ikebukuro - Oji - Asakusa
The trolley buses were short-lived, however, mostly owing to their vulnerability to weather: rain caused problems with the overhead power supply, and snow required tire chains to be installed on vehicles in order to maintain grounding.