Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line
The Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (東京メトロ日比谷線, Tōkyō Metoro Hibiya-sen) is a subway line in Tokyo, Japan, owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line was named after the Hibiya area in Chiyoda's Yurakucho district, under which it passes. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color silver (H), and its stations are given numbers using the letter "H".
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line | |||
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![]() A Tokyo Metro 13000 series at Akihabara station | |||
Overview | |||
Native name | 東京メトロ日比谷線 | ||
Owner | Tokyo Metro | ||
Locale | Tokyo | ||
Termini | Naka-Meguro Kita-Senju | ||
Stations | 22 | ||
Service | |||
Type | Rapid transit | ||
Depot(s) | Senju, Takenotsuka | ||
Rolling stock | Tokyo Metro 13000 series Tobu 70000 series | ||
Daily ridership | 1,213,492 (2017)[1] | ||
History | |||
Opened | March 28, 1961 | ||
Technical | |||
Line length | 20.3 km (12.6 mi) | ||
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead catenary | ||
Operating speed | 80 km/h (50 mph) | ||
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Overview

The Hibiya Line runs between Naka-Meguro in Meguro and Kita-Senju in Adachi. The line's path is somewhat similar to that of the Ginza Line; however, the Hibiya Line was designed to serve a number of important districts, such as Ebisu, Roppongi, Tsukiji, Kayabachō and Senju, which were not on an existing line.
The Hibiya Line became the first line operated by Tokyo Metro to offer through services with a private railway, and the second Tokyo subway line overall after the Toei Asakusa Line. It is connected to the Tobu Skytree Line at Kita-Senju, and through services operate between Naka-Meguro and Tōbu-Dōbutsu-Kōen on the Tobu Skytree Line, and onward to Minami-Kurihashi on the Tobu Nikko Line.[2] Some peak-hour services terminate at Takenotsuka, Kita-Koshigaya or Kita-Kasukabe on the Tobu Skytree Line.[2]
Prior to 16 March 2013, when through-running began between the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line and the Tokyu Toyoko Line, Hibiya Line trains also inter-ran via the Tokyu Toyoko Line to Kikuna.[3]
The line is the first subway line overall to use 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) narrow gauge (as previous lines used standard gauge), and all subsequent lines operated by Tokyo Metro were built to this gauge to accommodate through services. (Of all subway lines built since the Hibiya Line, only the Shinjuku and Ōedo Lines were not built to this gauge.)
According to the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation, as of June 2009 the Hibiya Line is the eighth most crowded subway line in Tokyo, running at 164%[a] capacity between Minowa and Iriya stations.[4]
On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color silver, and its stations are numbered with the prefix "H".
Now that all the old trains have been retired, platform gates are now being installed as of Apr 14, 2020, with standard door placements.
A reserved seat limited stop liner service known as the TH Liner commenced service since 6 June 2020 and stop at selected stations along the Hibiya Line and the Tobu lines.
Station list
- All stations are located in Tokyo.
- Naka-meguro is shared by both Tokyu and Tokyo Metro; Tokyu manages the station.
- Kita-senju is shared by both Tobu Railway and Tokyo Metro; Tobu Railway manages the station.
Rolling stock
- Tokyo Metro 13000 series (7-car EMUs, since 25 March 2017)[6]
- Tobu 70000 series (7-car EMUs, since 7 July 2017)[7]
- Tobu 70090 series (since 20 March 2020, for TH Liner)[8](also 7 cars)
- Tokyo Metro 13000 series
- Tobu 70000 series
- Tobu 70090 series
Past
- TRTA 3000 series (from 1961 until July 1994)
- Tobu 2000 series (from 1962 until 1993)
- Tokyu 7000 series (original) (from 1964 until 1991)
- Tokyu 1000 series (from 1991 until 2013)
- Tokyo Metro 03 series (from 1988 to 2020)[9]
- Tobu 20000 series (8-car EMUs, 1988 until February 2020)
- TRTA 3000 series in 1988
- Tokyo Metro 03 series
- Tobu 2000 series
- Tokyu 7000 series
- Tokyu 1000 series
History
The Hibiya Line was the fourth subway line built in Tokyo after the Ginza Line, Marunouchi Line, and Toei Asakusa Line.
Its basic plan was drawn up by a Ministry of Transportation committee in 1957. Called "Line 2" at the time, it was designed to connect Naka-Meguro in southwest Tokyo with Kita-Koshigaya in the northeast. The full northeastern extension of the line was never built, as the Tobu Railway upgraded to quadruple track within the same corridor to meet capacity demands.
Work began in 1959, with the first section opening in March 1961. The line opened in stages: the northern section, between Kita-Senju and Ningyōchō, was operational in May 1962; the southern section, between Naka-Meguro and Kasumigaseki, opened in March 1964. The final segment, bridging Higashi-Ginza and Kasumigaseki, opened on August 29, 1964, just weeks before the opening ceremony for the 1964 Summer Olympics. This was something of a coup for the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (the predecessor of today's Tokyo Metro), as the Toei Asakusa Line, which was also to be completed in time for the Olympics, had fallen behind schedule and remained under construction for the duration of the Games.
The Hibiya Line was one of the lines targeted in the 1995 Aum sarin gas attack.
On March 8, 2000, five people were killed and 63 were injured when a derailed Hibiya Line train was sideswiped by a second train near Naka-Meguro Station.[10]
Notes
a. ^ Crowding levels defined by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism:[11][12]
- 100% — Commuters have enough personal space and are able to take a seat or stand while holding onto the straps or hand rails.
- 150% — Commuters have enough personal space to read a newspaper.
- 180% — Commuters must fold newspapers to read.
- 200% — Commuters are pressed against each other in each compartment but can still read small magazines.
- 250% — Commuters are pressed against each other, unable to move.
References
- Tokyo Metro station ridership in 2010 Train Media (sourced from Tokyo Metro) Retrieved July 23, 2018.
- Tobu Timetable, 16 March 2013, p.177-188
- The 地下鉄 [The Subway]. Japan: Sansuisha. 2004. p. 27. ISBN 4-06-366218-7.
- Metropolis, "Commute", June 12, 2009, p. 07. Capacity is defined as all passengers having a seat or a strap or door railing to hold on to.
- 日比谷線新駅の名称を「虎ノ門ヒルズ駅」に決定しました! [The name for the Hibiya Line new station has been finalised to be "Toranomon Hills Station"!] (PDF). Tokyo Metro. 5 December 2018.
- 東京メトロ13000系が本格的な営業運転を開始 [Tokyo Metro 13000 series enters full revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 27 March 2017. Archived from the original on 27 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- 東武70000系が営業運転を開始 [Tobu 70000 series enters revenue service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 8 July 2017. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 9 July 2017.
- "東武70090形が営業運転を開始" [Tobu 70090 series starts commercial operation]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 March 2020. Archived from the original on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
- "東京メトロ日比谷線03系電車が引退 イベントもなく 営団地下鉄で初の新製冷房車". 乗りものニュース. 3 March 2020.
- Failure Knowledge Database 日比谷線の列車脱線衝突 Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 11 March 2009 (in Japanese)
- https://www.mlit.go.jp/tetudo/toshitetu/03_04.html
- Kikuchi, Daisuke (6 July 2017). "Tokyo plans new effort to ease commuter hell on rush-hour trains". The Japan Times. Archived from the original on 6 July 2017.