Tōbu Tōjō Line

Infobox rail line
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name = Tōbu Tōjō Line
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caption = Tōbu 50090 series "TJ Liner"
type = Commuter rail
system =
status =
locale = Kantō region
start = Ikebukuro
end = Yorii
stations =
routes =
ridership =
open = 1 May 1914
close =
owner = Tōbu Railway
operator =
character =
depot = Shinrinkōen
stock =
linelength = 75.0 km
tracklength =
notrack =
gauge = 1,067 mm
el = 1,500 V DC, overhead catenary
speed = 100 km/h
elevation =


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The Nihongo|Tōbu Tōjō Line|東武東上線|Tōbu Tōjō-sen of Nihongo|Tobu Railway|東武鉄道|Tōbu Tetsudō is a 75.0 km suburban train line that runs from Ikebukuro Station in Toshima, Tokyo, Japan to Yorii Station in Yorii, Saitama. Its official name is the Nihongo|Tōbu Tōjō Main Line|東武東上本線|Tōbu Tōjō Honsen, but it is referred to as Nihongo|Tōbu Tōjō Line|東武東上線|Tōbu Tōjō Sen on Tōbu signage and publicity information.

The Tōjō Line and Tōbu Ogose Line branch are isolated from other Tōbu lines, such as the Isesaki Line and Nikkō Line. There was a plan to connect between Nishiarai on the Isesaki Line and Kami-Itabashi on the Tōjō Line, but this was never built.

The name of the line comes from the original plan to construct a line linking Tokyo (東京) with Jōshū (上州) (an ancient province now Gunma Prefecture).

History

On 1 May 1914, the Nihongo|Tōjō Railway|東上鉄道|Tōjō Tetsudō began operating, covering the 33.5 km stretch between Ikebukuro and Tanomosawa (located between the present stations of Kawagoeshi and Kasumigaseki). Two years later, the line was extended 9.2 km from Kawagoemachi (now Kawagoeshi) to Sakadomachi (now Sakado), and at the same time, the section between Kawagoemachi and Tanomosawa was abandoned.cite journal | last = Yamamoto | first = Tomoyuki | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = 東武東上線の神話時代（１）| journal = Japan Railfan Magazine| volume = 48| issue = 570| pages = 126-131| publisher = | location = | date = October 2008]

In 1920, the Tōjō Railway was absorbed into the Tōbu Railway, and in 1923, the line was extended 13.4 km from Sakadomachi to Ogawamachi. In 1925, the line was further extended 10.8 km from Ogawamachi to Yorii, completing the present-day Tōbu Tōjō Line. While the original plan had been to extend the line as far as Gunma Prefecture, the connection at Yorii did at least allow for through operations via the Chichibu Railway. The line from Ikebukuro to Yorii was electrified in 1929. The 10.9 km Ogose Line from Sakadomachi to Ogose was not opened until much later, in 1943. With the steadily growing population along the line, trains were gradually increased in length to the maximum 10 cars seen today, and the original single track was doubled and even quadrupled in some places (between Wakōshi and Shiki). The line from Ikebukuro to Yorii covers a total distance of 75 km.

Steam for freight haulage was finally withdrawn in 1959.

In 1987, the Yūrakuchō Line reached Wakōshi, allowing through-running from Kawagoeshi on the Tōbu Tōjō Line to the then terminus of Shintomichō (later extended further east to the present terminus of Shinkiba).

November 1993 timetable revision

* Fujimino station opens. Interchange between Express and Semi-express trains moved from Kawagoeshi to Fujimino.

March 1998 timetable revision

* Express services make an additional stop at Asakadai.

March 2005 timetable revision

(From 17 March 2005)
* Express trains extended from Musashi-Ranzen to Ogawamachi following completion of double-tracking
* Limited express trains terminated at Ogawamachi (rather than Yorii). Standardized as 10 cars, and include stop at Wakōshi.
* Driver-only operation starts on Ogawamachi to Yorii section. All trains are 4 cars.

June 2008 timetable revision

From the start of the revised timetable on 14 June 2008, new limited-stop evening "TJ Liner" services commenced using new 50090 series rolling stock. Six down services operate on weekdays, with four at weekends. Trains from Ikebukuro stop at Fujimino, Kawagoe, Kawagoeshi, Sakado, Higashi-Matsuyama, and Shinrinkōen, with some services continuing to Ogawamachi stopping at Tsukinowa and Musashiranzan stations. [ [http://www.tobu.co.jp/news/2007/11/071121.pdf Tobu News] , 21 November 2007] "Limited Express" services were discontinued and replaced by new "Rapid Express" (快速急行) services. All trains operating out of Ikebukuro are standardized as 10-car trains. [ [http://www.tobu.co.jp/file/1621/080514-4.pdf Tobu News] , 14 May 2008]

tations

Abbreviations:
*L = Local (普通)
*YF = Through train to the Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line or the Fukutoshin Line (直通)
*SE = Semi Express (準急)
*CE = Commuter Express (通勤急行)
*E = Express (急行)
*RE = Rapid Express (快速急行)
*TJ = "TJ Liner" (TJライナー)

Rolling stock currently used

*Tōbu 8000 series EMUs
*Tōbu 9000 series EMUs (also used on through-running services to Shin-Kiba on the Yūrakuchō Line and Shibuya on the Fukutoshin Line)
*Tōbu 9050 series EMUs (also used on through-running services to Shin-Kiba on the Yūrakuchō Line and Shibuya on the Fukutoshin Line)
*Tōbu 10000 series EMUs
*Tōbu 10030 series EMUs
*Tōbu 50000 series EMUs (between Ikebukuro and Ogawamachi)
*Tōbu 50070 series EMUs (also used on through-running services to Shin-Kiba on the Yūrakuchō Line and Shibuya on the Fukutoshin Line)
*Tōbu 50090 series EMUs (also used on "TJ Liner")
*Tōkyō Metro 7000 series EMUs (between Wakōshi and Shinrinkōen)
*Tōkyō Metro 10000 series EMUs (between Wakōshi and Shinrinkōen)

Past rolling stock

*Tōbu 3000 series EMUs
*Tōbu 5000 series EMUs
*Tōbu 7300 series EMUs
*Tōbu 7800 series EMUs
*Tōkyō Metro 07 series EMUs (between Wakōshi and Kawagoeshi, until October 2007)

References

* "Tōbu Tōjō Line Timetable", published 7 June 2008