The Tōzai Line was the first Tokyo Metro line on which express services run: two types of rapid trains skip some stations east of Toyocho. The Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line began services on June 14, 2008 and also features express services. Through services to via the JR EastChūō Line and via the Tōyō Rapid Railway run all day. During the morning and evening peak periods, through services run to via the JR East Sōbu Line.
Station list
Local trains stop at every station. Rapid trains stop at stations marked "●" and do not stop at those marked "｜". Some weekday westbound trains do not stop at stations marked "↑".
Rolling stock
Present
Tōzai Line trains are 10-car formations of 20-meter-long cars, with four doors per side and longitudinal seating. The maximum operating speed is 100 km/h. Newer trains feature wide doors to allow for faster boarding times.
The Tōzai Line was planned by a review committee of the then Ministry of Transportation in 1962 and numbered Line 5. Its name literally means "East-West Line", and it was primarily planned to relieve traffic on the busy Sōbu Main Line as well as provide a straight crosstown connection through north-central Tokyo. Although this corridor is now served by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of TransportationShinjuku Line and JR Keiyō Line as well, the Tōzai Line continues to operate beyond capacity due to its accessibility to other lines, as well as to growing condominium developments in eastern Tokyo. The to section opened in 1964, and the remainder opened in stages until its completion in 1969. Through service with the then Japanese National Railways – a first for a Tokyo subway line – began in 1969 connecting the Chūō and Sōbu lines. This is a rare situation in Tokyo, as the only other subway line with through services onto JR lines is the Chiyoda Line. The Tōyō Rapid Railway Line, effectively an eastward extension of the line, opened in 1996. It nevertheless remains a private entity to which the Tōzai lines offers through services with.
Chronology
March 16, 1966: The line is extended at both ends. It now runs between Nakano and Takebashi.
April 28, 1966: Through service to the Chūō Line of JNR commences as far as Ogikubo.
October 1, 1966: Takebashi to Ōtemachi section opens.
September 14, 1967: Ōtemachi to Tōyōchō section opens.
March 29, 1969: Tōyōchō to Nishi-Funabashi section opens and Rapid service begins.
April 8, 1969: Through service on the Chūō Line is extended to Mitaka, and through service begins on the Sōbu line to Tsudanuma.
April 8, 1972: Through service on the Sōbu Line is withdrawn except during rush hours.
1975: Another type of Rapid service is introduced, calling at Urayasu between Tōyōchō and Nishi-Funabashi.
October 1, 1979: Nishi-Kasai station opens.
March 27, 1981: Minami-Gyōtoku station opens.
1986: Commuter Rapid service is introduced, running non-stop between Urayasu and Nishi-Funabashi.
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1996: The Rapid service that runs non-stop between Tōyōchō and Nishi-Funabashi ceases.
April 27, 1996: Tōyō Rapid Line opens between Nishi-Funabashi and Tōyō-Katsutadai. Through service begins.
