The Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line (東京メトロ有楽町線, Tōkyō Metoro Yūrakuchō-sen) is a subway line in Japan owned and operated by Tokyo Metro. The line connects Wakōshi Station in Wakō, Saitama and Shin-Kiba Station in Kōtō, Tokyo. On maps, diagrams and signboards, the line is shown using the color "gold", and its stations are given numbers using the letter "Y".
The line was named after the Yūrakuchō business district in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The proper name as given in an annual report of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is Line No. 8 Yūrakuchō Line (8号線有楽町線, Hachi-gō-sen Yūrakuchō-sen).[2] According to the Tokyo urban transportation plan, however, it is more complicated. The line number assigned to the section south from Kotake-Mukaihara to Shin-Kiba is Line 8, but that north of Kotake-Mukaihara to Wakōshi is Line 13, which indicates the section is a portion of Fukutoshin Line which shares the same number.[citation needed]
Semi-express (準急) services ran on the Yūrakuchō Line between 14 June 2008 and 6 March 2010, operating twice hourly between Wakōshi and Shin-Kiba. Between Wakōshi and Ikebukuro, semi-express trains stopped only at Kotake-Mukaihara; between Ikebukuro and Shin-Kiba, trains stopped at all stations. The semi-express trains ran between rush hours during weekdays and more frequently on weekends and holidays. These services were abolished and replaced with local services on 6 March 2010.[4]
In 1968, it was later revised to run between Chikatetsu-narimasu Station in the northwest and Shintomichō Station in the southeast; the extensions to Wakoshi and Shin-kiba were not confirmed at the time.
Line 8 was planned to serve areas that were not served by the Tokyo subway network such as Nerima and Koto Wards, while providing an adequate bypass for the overcrowding Marunouchi Line from Ikebukuro to Ginza-itchōme.[6] This initial section began construction in 1970 and opened for revenue service on 30 October 1974 as the Yūrakuchō Line. In the late 1970s, the extensions towards Wakoshi and Shin-kiba were authorized. On 27 March 1980, the second section between Ginza-itchōme and Shintomichō section opened, while the third section between Eidan-narimasu (now Chikatetsu-narimasu) and Ikebukuro opened on 24 June 1983.
Through services with the Seibu RailwaySeibu Yūrakuchō Line began on 1 October 1983 with the opening of the Kotake-Mukaihara – Shin-Sakuradai section.[7] The northwestern extension to Wakōshi opened on 25 August 1987, allowing through service with the Tōbu Tōjō Line.[8] The final section from Shintomichō to Shin-kiba opened on 8 June 1988, completing the current line.
On 18 March 1993, 07 series EMUs introduced. On 7 December 1994, the "Yūrakuchō New Line" (now the Fukutoshin Line) opened from Kotake-mukaihara to Ikebukuro. All trains on it made Ikebukuro their terminus and did not stop at Senkawa or Kanamechō. Through service from Shin-kiba or Ikebukuro (on the New Line) to Nerima on the Seibu Yūrakuchō Line began on that same day, with through operation to the Seibu Ikebukuro Line beyond Nerima beginning on 26 March 1998.
On 1 April 2004, the owner of the line changed from Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA, Eidan) to Tokyo Metro due to the former's privatization.[9]Women-only cars were introduced on 31 October 2005. 10000 series were introduced to the line on 1 September 2006.
On 3 May 2008, Limited Express "Bay Resort" (operated first from/to Odakyu Line) services began operating. On 14 June 2008, the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line began service, and the Yūrakuchō New Line was absorbed into it. The Yūrakuchō Line shares tracks with the Fukutoshin Line between Wakōshi and Kotake-Mukaihara. Semi-Express services began running until they were abolished on 6 March 2010.
In October 2008, automatic train control was enabled on the Yūrakuchō Line. On 10 September 2012, 10-car 5050-4000 series sets entered revenue service on the Yūrakuchō Line, with inter-running through to the Tobu Tojo Line.[10] Since 26 March 2017, Seibu operates the S-Train limited-stop express service between Toyosu and Tokorozawa on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line on weekday mornings and evenings.
S-Train services stop at the stations indicated by "●" and "↑" (alighting only during the morning, boarding only during the evening) and pass all stations indicated by "|".
A 7000 series undergoing inspection at Shin-Kiba Depot
Wakō Depot (和光検車区) (main depot)
Shin-Kiba Depot (新木場検車区) (responsible for minor inspections; for major ones, EMUs are forwarded to the Ayase Depot (綾瀬車両基地) on the Chiyoda Line via underground connecting tracks)
Shin-Kiba Car Renewal (新木場CR) (specializes in railcar refurbishment: also used for Chiyoda and Hanzōmon Line railcars)
Future developments
In 2021, plans were announced to branch the Yūrakuchō Line at Toyosu Station, traveling north for 5.2km (3.2mi) connecting with Toyocho on the Tozai Line and Sumiyoshi Station on the Shinjuku Line and Hanzomon Line. An additional two stations (Edagawa and Sengoku) would also be added in the Koto Ward serving the Sengoku and Toyo districts.[13][14] Tentative names for the new stations were determined in August 2022.[15] The branch line (nicknamed the Toyozumi Line according to official city documents) is intended to aid in redevelopment efforts in Koto Ward.[15] As of 28 January 2022 the expected cost of construction is ¥269 billion (2021). There are also plans for a spur branching off from the planned Tokyo Rinkai Subway line at Kachidoki to link up to the future Toyozumi Line (Yūrakuchō Line branch) platforms at Toyosu Station. The branch line is expected to be in service in the mid-2030s.
On 17 April 2025, Tokyo Metro and Tobu Railway announced plans to introduce through services via the Yūrakuchō Line branch and Hanzomon Line to Tobu's Skytree, Isesaki, and Nikko lines.[16]
↑3月6日（土）有楽町線・副都心線のダイヤ改正[Yurakucho and Fukutoshin Line timetable changes from 6 March (Saturday)]. Tokyo Metro (in Japanese). Japan. 3 February 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2010.
↑"埼玉県和光市と東京のウォーターフロントを結ぶ有楽町線の計画から全線開通まで"[From the planning of the Yurakucho Line connecting Wako City, Saitama Prefecture and the waterfront of Tokyo to the opening of the entire line]. Metro Archive. 3 June 2024.
↑西武有楽町線 新桜台-小竹向原間開通[Seibu Yurakucho Line opens between Shin-Sakuradai and Kotake-Mukaihara]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol.23, no.272. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. December 1983. pp.62–63.
↑営団地下鉄有楽町線和光市延長[Eidan Subway Yurakucho Line extension to Wakoshi]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol.27, no.319. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. November 1987. pp.59–61.
↑"「営団地下鉄」から「東京メトロ」へ"[From "Teito Rapid Transit Authority" to "Tokyo Metro"]. Tokyo Metro Online. 27 January 2004. Archived from the original on 16 May 2012. Retrieved 29 May 2022.
↑東急5050系4000番台が東武東上線・地下鉄有楽町線で営業運転開始[Tokyu 5050-4000 series enters service on the Tobu Tojo Line and Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 11 September 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
↑"有楽町線小竹向原駅～新木場駅間でワンマン運転を開始します"[One-man operation will start between Kotake-Mukaihara Station and Shin-Kiba Station on the Yurakucho Line.]. tokyometro.jp. 20 July 2022. Archived from the original on 20 July 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
↑Shiina, Takayuki (February 2009). 東京地下鉄07系 転籍計画の概要[Outline of Tokyo Metro 07 series reallocation plan]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol.49, no.574. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp.80–83.
↑"有楽町線延伸（豊洲・住吉間）及び南北線延伸（品川・白金高輪間）の鉄道事業許可を申請しました。"[Yurakucho Line extension (between Toyosu and Sumiyoshi) and Namboku Line extension (between Shinagawa and Shirokane Takanawa) application for a Business Permit](PDF). Tokyo Metro (in Japanese). 28 January 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
12"東京メトロ「豊住線」のルート詳細を公表…途中駅は仮称・枝川、東陽町、千石 2030年代半ば開業"[Details of the Tokyo Metro "Toyozumi Line" Route Announced, Intermediate Stations Tentatively Named Edagawa, Toyocho, and Sengoku to Open in the Mid-2030s]. Response.jp (in Japanese). 5 August 2022. Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
↑東京メトロ有楽町線延伸、開業後は半蔵門線＆東武線と相互直通運転[Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line to operate through services following extension with Hanzomon Line and Tobu Line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). 17 April 2025. Retrieved 18 April 2025.
↑新たなネットワークを担う地下鉄整備の実現に向けて[Toward the realization of subway development that will carry a new network](PDF). City of Koto, Tokyo. 2010. Archived from the original(PDF) on 1 June 2010.
Shaw, Dennis and Morioka, Hisashi, "Tokyo Subways", published 1992 by Hoikusha Publishing
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