Opening Date Set For New Tokyo Subway Line

[Mulboyne]

If any Tokyo residents have been wondering about the apparent permanency of the construction work taking place along Meiji Dori between Shibuya and Ikebukuro, the Tokyo Metro has just announced that they now plan to open the new subway line in June 2008, three months later than the initial schedule.

Construction on the Number 13 line started in 2001. There'll be eight stations along the route including Shin-sendagaya and Meijijungumae (provisional names). Tadao Ando, fresh from Omotesando Hills, is designing the Shibuya terminal.

[Taro Toporific]

I don't get it. Is this supposed to be overflow from the Yamamote Line which runs parallel to this new line only 300-700 meters to the west?

[/QUOTE]

[GuyJean]

I don't get it. Is this supposed to be overflow from the Yamamote Line which runs parallel to this new line only 300-700 meters to the west?

That's exactly what I was thinking.. The Saikyo and Yamanote already service this area.. Probably more easily accessible and faster as well.. Waste o' money!

GJ

[Taro Toporific]

That's exactly what I was thinking.. The Saikyo and Yamanoto already service this area.. Probably more easily accessible and faster as well.. Waste o' money!

There's a lack of north-south train and road connections in Tokyo (and Yokohama) because transport has radiated out of Tokyo paralleling the coast (and the north was nowhere). As you said, this location is well served by the Yamanote and the Saikyo. Weird.

[GomiGirl]

Yes but the yamanote along this stretch is way over crowded at all hours of the day. Any slight delay and it causes bedlam. As somebody who comutes on this EVERY DAY I think this is a great new service. Just wished it opened earlier and that it was finished along Meiji-Dori.

[Mulboyne]

The Yamanote and Saikyo lines serve that corridor but it is pretty congested and all the money goes to JR East. The Tokyo Metro wants to connect the hordes from that market with their other lines. Currently, they lose their Yurakucho Line commuters at Ikebukuro. It will be interesting to see how easy the connections turn out to be. Here's a clearer map of the line from the Tokyo Metro site.

From 2012, The Toyoko line will move to the new Tadao Ando Shibuya terminus and offer through services to the Minato Mirai Line, so the long term aim is to provide a smooth transition between the Northwest and the Southwest

The No. 13 line is also due to combine with the 3.2 km segment from Kotake-Mukaihara to Ikebukuro which currently runs parallel to the Yurakucho Line on separate tracks. The line will be able to run the new 1000 series rolling stock which will come into service later this year.

[IkemenTommy]

5 bucks says the new subway service runs slower AND costs more than riding the JR.

[Iraira]

Taking the JR Yamanote from Shibuya to Ikebukero costs 160 yen and takes about 17 minutes. I think the Saikyo and Shonan Shinjuku sen do it in 12 minutes. Given that rents are partially set by proximity to the station, this seems like a nice way to make more money.

[Kuang_Grade]

Unlike the east side of town, the subways lack any north/south utility on the west side of town...you have to go into middle of town to make a transfer to go back out, which isn't very convenient or cheap. And I seem to remember there is something like a 1400 or 1900 meter distance between the Namboku platform and the Marunouchi line at Nagatacho station. Staying not to far from Meguro, I usually ended walking 15 minutes to JR Yamanote line station whenever I was going north vs using the Namboku line station 100 meters from my apt...While the new line wouldn't have helped me in that case, I suspect there is no shortage of people who have made similar decisions in the area where the new line will run.

[Iraira]

Why can I picture throngs of people crowding onto this train the first day it opens, for the sole purpose of "having been on the first run of the train line."?

"So, how was the #13 line?"
"It was great! They have seats, air conditioning, and hand straps. It is more train-like than other lines."

[IkemenTommy]

Why can I picture throngs of people crowding onto this train the first day it opens, for the sole purpose of "having been on the first run of the train line."?

"So, how was the #13 line?"
"It was great! They have seats, air conditioning, and hand straps. It is more train-like than other lines."

So true.. you know that the densha otakus will show up with their big fat zoom lens cameras.

[Mulboyne]

[GomiGirl]

One of the stations is just seconds away from my office. Hopefully this is going to take pressure from the yamnote line.

[gomichild]

Hopefully - the last couple of times I've caught it it's been crazy.

[Greji]

One of the stations is just seconds away from my office. Hopefully this is going to take pressure from the yamnote line.

Ahh, You just want it because you'll be able to ride the gropper's special again instead of being relegated to riding the all ladies car on the Yamanote!

[omae mona]

[Jack]

I don't live in Tokyo but from what I have seen on my trips there is that you never have enough trains or subways in the Shibuya-Ikebukuro area. Once the new subway line opens that will be full and the Yamanote will remain as crowded as wever.

[Buraku]

I don't get it. Is this supposed to be overflow from the Yamamote Line which runs parallel to this new line only 300-700 meters to the west?

Sounds like another white-elephant, I'll take a photo next time i'm in Tokyo and add it to my collection

[Doctor Stop]

If you can travel all the way from Motomachi-Chukagai to Wako without changing trains, it'll be worth it. That is if anyone wanted to get off at Wako. Motomachi-Chukagai to Shinjuku or Ikebukuro via the Toyoko Fukutoshin combination would give the Shonan Shinjuku line a run for its money, although the JR fare would probably end up being cheaper.

[emperor]

such a great movie

[kamome]

such a great movie

???

Did you mean to post this in a different thread?

[Mulboyne]

Fukutoshin Line Website

[omae mona]

Fukutoshin Line Website

For those not inclined to click through, the current estimate is June 14th, 2008.

As a certified geek, I have to say I am excited to find the first subway line with its own RSS feed.

[GomiGirl]

What are they going to be updating that needs an RSS feed?

"Jumper on platform 3" ?

[omae mona]

What are they going to be updating that needs an RSS feed?

"Jumper on platform 3" ?

"Groper, caucasian male, in car 7 on the Shibuya 5:22 departure" etc.

[GomiGirl]

"Groper, caucasian male, in car 7 on the Shibuya 5:22 departure" etc.

That could be also alerted by just having a location beacon attached to your person.

[Greji]

"Groper, caucasian male, in car 7 on the Shibuya 5:22 departure" etc.

Yabai! They're on to me. Better sprint into car 6 quick.

[ttjereth]

What are they going to be updating that needs an RSS feed?

"Jumper on platform 3" ?

It's just the fashionable thing for websites. Most websites that have RSS (or other syndication) feeds don't need them.

Hell most websites that have a "news" page don't need them

[omae mona]

Thank god for that RSS feed! I've just been notified that the new stations' entrance and exit locations are available on the site. The whole thing is a Flash application so I can't provide a direct link. But if you click on "駅の紹介", you'll see the station list, and you can view photos and entrance/exit locations for most stations.

Thanks to the timely notification, I'll have enough time to study all this material before the opening in June.



P.S. I do have to admit, though, some of the stations actually look kind of cool.

[GomiGirl]

P.S. I do have to admit, though, some of the stations actually look kind of cool.

Trainspotter!!