Leading up to the Birth of the Tokyo Metro

Tokyo’s first subway opened in December 1927 and was operated by the Tokyo Subway Corporation. The line, which serviced the 2.2km between Asakusa Station and Ueno Station was Japan’s first subway system. A further 5.8km was added to the line by the company, from Ueno Station to Shinbashi Station, with the Tokyo High-speed Rail Corporation extending this by a further 6.3km to Shibuya station. In its entirety, this line forms the current Ginza Line that covers a total of 14.3km from Shibuya to Asakusa. In July 1941, the Teito Rapid Transit Authority was founded. The authority was transferred the line and started the operation of the line in September of the same year.

Route Expansion

In the post-war period, the Teito Rapid Transit Authority opened for the first time the Marunouchi Line between Ochanomizu Station and Ikebukuro Station. Following this, the Hibiya, Tozai (East-West), Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Hanzomon, Namboku (North-South), and Fukutoshin Lines were opened – forming the current Tokyo Metro subway system that covers 195.61km in total, comprises 9 lines, holds 2766 cars, and carries an average of 7.07 million passengers a day. Excluding the Ginza and Marunouchi lines, the remaining seven lines provide mutual direct operations with a number of other train services in the city, meaning the Tokyo Metro and other railroad companies provide through services network that covers roughly 532.6km.

In February 1995, the Japanese government decided a plan to reorganize and consolidate semi-governmental organizations. In accordance with this plan, in December 2002, Tokyo Metro Co., Ltd. , a special company, was established, and in April 2004 the Teito Rapid Transit Authority was replaced by this special company whose abbreviated name is the Tokyo Metro. From this point onwards, the overarching aim of the company is to establish a sound business foundation as a private enterprise, with a view to bringing about the complete privatization as quickly as possible.

Facilities for Safety and Peace of Mind

Ongoing work is being done to install movable platform fences in order to reduce accidents caused by falling from the platform or accidental contact with the trains. In terms of natural disaster countermeasures, both ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ measures are being promoted to ensure that damage enlargement and service disruption are minimized with the utmost priority in passenger safety.

Towards impediment removal

In order that all passengers can use the subway with peace of mind, continued impediment removal progress is being made. We finished at least one stair-free access route from platform to street level in every station. Work is being promoted to make further progress such as providing multiple routes or providing one route with elevators. Braille guidance block, braille fare displays, audio-guided and tactile information boards, inclined ticket machines and fare adjustment machines, and multipurpose toilets are being introduced. In addition to these facilities, impediment removal measures inside cars such as providing free space necessary to accommodate a wheelchair are being introduced when new cars are made or when existing cars are being refitted.

For comfort and ease of use

For the comfort and convenience of passengers not accustomed to the subway system including foreign visitors to Japan, the principal stations of the Tokyo Metro are provided with Service Managers and Passenger Information Centers. In station premises and inside carriages, operational information is displayed in a number of languages – on LCD screens at ticket gates, and automatic passenger information points. For passengers who register in advance, operation updates are sent to mobile phones and smartphones as part of an email service.

Service Managers/Service Managers are deployed in major stations. Managers are provided tablet devices to assist guide passenger, providing information about the areas surrounding the station, and translation services for non-Japanese speakers.

Ticket gate displays/Ticket gates in all stations are fitted with 40–65 inch display screens to relay information relating to service delays, accidents, and other changes to passengers. In the event of an emergency, NHK emergency broadcasts are displayed. Information is also offered in English, Mandarin, and Korean.
* Excluding stations at which service is provided in cooperation with another company and which are administered by the another company, and stations currently being renovated.