The beginnings of the Fukuoka Municipal Subway

Fukuoka underwent rapid urbanization, and as such, the need to resolve the potential for significant traffic congestion became a pressing concern. In order to start establishing new public transportation infrastructure based around high-speed rail, plans for the construction of a subway were formalized, and work was underway by 1975. In July 1981, the first line covering the 5.8km between Muromi and Tenjin Stations was opened.

Present State of the Subway System

Since opening in 1981, steady progress has been made with expanding the system. In March 1993 the Kuko (Airport) Line was extended from Hakata Station to Fukuoka Airport, bringing the total length of the line from Meinohama Station to the airport to 13.1km. At this time, work on extending the Hakozaki Line was also completed – making the total distance covered between Nakasu-Kawabata Station and Kaizuka Station 4.7km.

Following this, work began on the new Nanakuma Line between Hashimoto Station and Tenjin-minami (12km) in 1996, with operation commencing in February 2005. Since the opening of the Nanakuma Line, Fukuoka now has three main subway lines, covering a total of 29.8km. The subway network is used by over 430,000 passengers a day, and represents an irreplaceable mainstay of the city’s public transport system.

An Extensive Transport Network

The subway system interfaces with the Japan Rail Chikuhi Line at Meinohama Station, and with JR Nishitetsu services on other lines, meaning the subway is situated within a much larger transport network servicing Fukuoka’s urban and suburban districts. Fukuoka’s subway is also the first in Japan to directly link to an airport, connecting passengers with a nationwide transport network including domestic and international flights as well as other national rail services.

Extensions to the Nanakuma Line

In response to city-wide transportation issues and wider environmental concerns, plans to improve transport circulation around the city, promote community development, and enhance the appeal of Fukuoka as a destination, the opening of an extension to the Nanakuma line between Tenjin-minami and Hakata Station (approximately 1.4km) is planned for 2020.

【Summary of Planned Extension to the Nanakuma Line】

● Section of line: Tenjin-minami Station – Hakata Station
● Length of extension: approx. 1.4km (in practice 1.6km)
● Construction costs: approx. 45 billion yen
● Construction methods: underground (excavation, shield method, New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), underpinning)
● Number of passengers: 82,000 per day (includes additional 23,000 new passengers per day)
* New passengers refers to those who would have previously travelled by car for a similar journey.
● Planned commencement date: 2020

A People-friendly Subway

In order that the subway provides a smooth, accessible service for all passengers, efforts are being made to introduce universal design principles in stations and on trains. In addition to all stations being fitted with escalators, elevators, multipurpose toilets, inclined ticket machines, and other facilities, to improve convenience for foreign travellers using the subway system, touch panel ticket machines can be found in all stations, offering four different languages. With the aim of creating a people-friendly subway, designated wheelchair spaces, and priority spaces for strollers are available on train carriages.

In Pursuit of Safety and Peace of Mind

To ensure the safety and peace of mind of passengers, Automatic Train Operation (ATO) and Automatic Train Control (ATO) systems are in place – controlling movement and stoppage of trains automatically. In addition to this, platforms at every station are fitted with moveable barriers, and station concourses and platforms are monitored by surveillance cameras. These thorough measures help ensure the safety of subway users, and aid in accident prevention.