History
The Toei Asakusa Line was the first subway line constructed by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Its planning name is Line 1: it was later named after the famous Asakusa district of Tokyo. In its original plan form, the line would have actually bypassed Asakusa Station entirely. However, the plan was changed to take advantage of the existing Tōbu Isesaki Line and Tokyo Metro Ginza Line connections at Asakusa.
The initial 3.2 km segment between Oshiage and Asakusabashi opened on December 4, 1960. The line then opened in stages from north to south:
- May 1962: Asakusabashi to Higashi-Nihonbashi
- September 1962: Higashi-Nihonbashi to Ningyōchō
- February 1963: Ningyōchō to Higashi-Ginza
- December 1963: Higashi-Ginza to Shinbashi
- October 1964: Shinbashi to Daimon
- June 1968: Daimon to Sengakuji (Through service with Keikyū begins)
- November 15, 1968: Sengakuji to Nishi-Magome
From 1998 to 2002, the Asakusa Line was used as part of a rail connection between Tokyo's two major airports, Haneda and Narita. While a few trains still run between the airports (see below), the service has greatly diminished in frequency since 2002.
In 2005, a research group of government, metropolitan and railway company officials proposed that the Asakusa Line be connected to Tokyo Station via a spur to the north of Takarachō Station. This would provide Tokyo Station's first direct connection to the Toei subway network. It would also make it possible to reach Haneda Airport in 25 minutes (versus 35 minutes today) and Narita Airport in 40 minutes (versus 57 minutes today). This plan has yet to be finalized or formally adopted.
Read more about this topic: Toei Asakusa Line
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