A 02 series train
heading to Ikebukuro
emerges to cross the Kanda River
before enteringOchanomizu Station.
(right: JR East Ochanomizu Station
with a Chūō Line series 201 to Tokyo)
The Marunouchi Line(丸ノ内線,Marunouchi-sen?) of Tokyo Metro is a subway line, part of the Tokyo Metro system in Tokyo, Japan. It is the second line to be built in the city, and the first one constructed after the Second World War. The route is U-shaped, running from Ogikubo Station in the west of the city via the commercial and administrative district of Shinjuku through to the Marunouchi commercial center around Tokyo Station, before turning back and heading to Ikebukuro. The Marunouchi Line's color on maps is red. Its stations carry the letter M followed by a number. A branch line goes to Honancho; its stations have a lowercase m. Its planning line number is Line 4.
Its age, relatively small train size, and the lack of other subway connections to Shinjuku made it one of the most crowded lines in Tokyo for a long time, although the opening of the Toei Ōedo Line has relieved the problem somewhat. The Marunouchi Line is however the most frequent subway line in Tokyo, with trains timetabled at intervals of 1 minute 50 seconds at peak hours.
All stations have been upgraded with a chest-high platform edge safety barriers as of March 2008.
Though in the central zone of crowded Tokyo, this line runs on ground or higher level at several sections and points. For example, at Yotsuya Station, the bridge across Kanda River near Ochanomizu Station (see image), and Kōrakuen to Myōgadani Station.
The line is operated by the Tōkyō Metro 02 series rolling stock in six-car formations on the main branch, and three-car formations on the Honancho branch.
Opening dates
The Marunouchi Line is the second subway line to be built in the city, and the first to be constructed after the Second World War. It is rather similar to the Ginza Line (the oldest subway line in Tokyo); their current respective rolling stocks are similar, being standard gauge (unlike most Tokyo subway lines) and six cars long (The shortest on the network).
The first section was opened between Ikebukuro and Ochanomizu on January 20th 1954. The subsequent progress of the line is as follows:
Ochanomizu to Awajichō: March 1956
Awajichō to Tokyo: July 1956
Tokyo to Nishi-Ginza (now Ginza): December 1957
Nishi-Ginza to Kasumigaseki: October 1958
Kasumigaseki to Shinjuku: March 1959
Shinjuku to Shin-Nakano/Nakano-Fujumichō (not Nishi-Shinjuku): February 1961
Shin-Nakano to Minami-Asagaya (not Higashi-Kōenji): November 1961
Minami-Asagaya to Ogikubo: January 23 1962
Nakano-Fujimichō to Hōnachō: March 23 1962
Nishi-Ginza becomes part of Ginza when Hibiya Line reaches there: August 1964
Higashi-Kōenji opens (between Shin-Nakano and Shin-Kōenji) : September 1964
Prior to April 1 1972 the section west of Shinjuku was known as the Ogikubo Line. The Marunouchi Line name applied to the whole line after that date.
Nishi-Shinjuku opens (between Shinjuku and Nakano-Sakaue) May 1996.
Tokyo Metro : ○Namboku Line (N-11)
Toei Subway: ○Mita Line (at Kasuga)(I-12), ○Ōedo Line (at Kasuga)(E-07)
M-23
Myōgadani 茗荷谷
M-24
Shin-Ōtsuka 新大塚
M-25
Ikebukuro 池袋
Tokyo Metro: ○Yūrakuchō Line (Y-09), ○ Fukutoshin Line (F-09) JR East: Yamanote Line, Saikyō Line, Shōnan Shinjuku Line Tobu Railway: Tōjō Line
Seibu Railway: Ikebukuro Line
Tokyo Metro: ○its main line (to Ikebukuro or Ogikubo, see above) [3]
Toei Subway:○Ōedo Line (E-30)
^ some trains in morning and night run through between Nakano-fujimichō (on branch line) and Ikebukuro via Nakano-sakaue.
^ because of long distance on foot, Tokyo Metro doesn't make its Shinjuku station as transfer point for same name one on Toei Shinjuku Line (S-01), nor Ōedo Line (E-27).