The Birth of the Subway in Japan

The first full-fledged subway line in Japan opened in 1927: The Tokyo Metro line between Ueno and Asakusa (approximately 2.2km). During a time in which steam trains were still the main form of locomotion, Tokyo Metro began developing the 1000 Series electric train for underground use.

【The 1000 Series Electric Locomotive】

Routes Expansion

In 1933 the first publicly managed underground railway – The Midosuji Line operated by Osaka City –began operation between Umeda and Shinsaibashi. From this point onwards, the subway systems in Japan began developing their routes expansion and commencement of new lines coinciding with urban development of Japanese cities, thus, in the 1950s and 60s, the development centered on large urban cities of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. Then, new routes began operation in regional hub cities later.

These days, subways play a vital role in urban transportation infrastructure. From Hokkaido area down to Kyushu area, there are subway systems, with route length of 764km in total, transporting over 1.7million people each day.

Regularity and High Speed

Subway systems are unaffected by severe weather conditions, such as typhoons, and as such can be relied upon to provide a regular service all year round. Furthermore, because they have the benefit of being able to take a comparatively direct route from A to B, they are a fast method of transport.

Safety

Due to the existence and continued development of advanced operation management controls systems including ATC (automatic train control), and the fact that there is no direct contact with pedestrians or road vehicles, the subway is a safe mode of transport with a low rate of accidents.

Consideration for the Environment

The amount of CO2 emitted by a train or subway train in carrying one passenger over a distance of one kilometer is eight times lower than the emission for an equivalent journey by a privately owned automobile, meaning the subway is an environmentally friendly mode of transportation.

The Weakness of the Subway

Relatively high Cost of Construction and Operation

However, despite these positives, there are downsides to the subway as a form of transport. Due to the specialized methods required, constructions costs are high, and daily inspection and maintenance requires significant labor. This means that subway systems are sustainable only for large urban centers.