The is a mostly underground

rapid transit Rapid transit or mass rapid transit (MRT), also known as heavy rail or metro, is a type of high-capacity public transport generally found in urban areas. A rapid transit system that primarily or traditionally runs below the surface may be ...

line in Japan operated by the third sector operating company Saitama Railway Corporation. Funded by

Saitama Prefecture is a landlocked prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region of Honshu. Saitama Prefecture has a population of 7,338,536 (1 January 2020) and has a geographic area of 3,797 km2 (1,466 sq mi). Saitama Prefecture borders Tochigi Prefecture ...

, local municipal governments, and

Tokyo Metro The is a major rapid transit system in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the Tokyo Metro Co. With an average daily ridership of 6.84 million passengers, the Tokyo Metro is the larger of the two subway operators in the city; the other being the Toe ...

, it forms a continuation of the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line, starting at

Akabane-iwabuchi Station is a subway station in Kita, Tokyo, Japan, operated jointly by the Tokyo subway operator Tokyo Metro and the third-sector railway operator Saitama Railway Corporation. Lines Akabane-iwabuchi Station is the northern terminus of the Tokyo Me ...

Tokyo Tokyo (; ja, 東京, , ), officially the Tokyo Metropolis ( ja, 東京都, label=none, ), is the capital and largest city of Japan. Formerly known as Edo, its metropolitan area () is the most populous in the world, with an estimated 37.46 ...

and ending at Urawa-Misono Station in Saitama. The line is used as the main means of transportation to

Saitama Stadium 2002 , often called or simply , is a football stadium located in Midori-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Currently, J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds use this stadium for home games. It is the largest football-specific stadium in Jap ...

. On 27 November 2015, the route was nicknamed the "Saitama Stadium Line". The line symbol used in the station numbering is "SR".

Overview

This line allows trains from the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line to operate beyond

into

and ending at Urawa-Misono Station. Most of the line is underground, only Urawa Misono Station and adjacent depots are on the surface. It connects the eastern and northern part of Kawaguchi to Tokyo; areas that were previously only served by buses. Planning for the line stated in 1972 as an extension of the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line. The original alignment was planned to serve eastern Urawa and central Kawaguchi in Saitama. In 1985, the alignment was shifted east to Hatogaya. In 1992, the third sector Saitama Railway Corporation was established by Saitama Prefecture, and construction began in 1995. The line opened on 28 March 2001, ahead of the 2002

FIFA World Cup The FIFA World Cup, often simply called the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the ' ( FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The tournament has ...

, which held several matches at the

Saitama Stadium , often called or simply , is a football stadium located in Midori-ku, Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Currently, J1 League club Urawa Red Diamonds use this stadium for home games. It is the largest football-specific stadium in Japan an ...

, half an hour on foot from the terminating Urawa-Misono Station. The total cost of construction is 256.1 billion yen, making the cost per kilometer at 17.5 billion yen. Since its opening, the line used six-car trains with all stations (except Urawa-Misono Station) equipped with platforms long enough support future expansion into eight-car trains. Urawa-Misono Station was built as a temporary terminal as the line was planned to be extended further north in the future so it only has platforms long enough for six car trains. A further northern extension beyond Urawa Misono Station connecting

Iwatsuki Station is a passenger railway station located in Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Tōbu Railway. The station is numbered "TD-06". Lines Iwatsuki Station is served by the 62.7 km 62.7 km Tōbu Urban Park L ...

of the

Tobu Urban Park Line is a Japanese commuter railway and ''keiretsu'' holding company in the Greater Tokyo Area as well as an intercity and regional operator in the Kantō region. Excluding the Japan Railways Group companies, Tobu's rail system is the second long ...

and Hasuda Station of the JR Utsunomiya Line ( Tohoku Line) is currently being proposed.

Stations

Rolling stock

* Saitama Rapid Railway 2000 series 6-car EMUs * Tokyo Metro 9000 series 6-car EMUs *

Tokyu 3000 series The is a Japanese commuter electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by Tokyu Corporation in the Tokyo area of Japan. Introduced into service on 16 April 1999 on the Tokyu Toyoko Line as a sole eight-car set, a total of 78 vehicles, whic ...

6/8-car EMUs * Tokyu 3020 series 8-car EMUs * Tokyu 5080 series 8-car EMUs Future * Sotetsu 21000 series 8-car EMUs

Shareholders

As of 2013, the main shareholders in Saitama Railway Corporation are as follows.

Ridership

Ridership figures for the line are as follows.

History

The third sector company, Saitama Railway Corporation, was established on 25 March 1992. The entire line from Akabane-Iwabuchi to Urawa-Misono opened on 28 March 2001. Through services to and from on the

Tokyu Meguro Line Tokyu may refer to: * Tokyu Group, a group of companies centered on Tokyu Corporation ** Tokyu Corporation, a Japanese railway company, the largest member and parent company of the group ** Tokyu Car Corporation, a former Japanese railway vehicle ...

commenced on 22 June 2008. On 1 April 2022, eight-car trains began operating on the line.

Future developments

In the future, the line may be extended north from Urawa-Misono through

Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama is one of ten wards of the city of Saitama, in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, and is located in the northeastern part of the city. , the ward had an estimated population of 112,862 and a population density of 2,300 persons per km². Its total area w ...

to Hasuda Station (in

Hasuda, Saitama is a city located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 61,540 in 27,461 households and a population density of 2300 persons per km². The total area of the city is . Geography Located in east-central Saitama Pr ...

) on the

JR East The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters ar ...

Utsunomiya Line The Utsunomiya Line ( ja, 宇都宮線, ) is the name given to a 163.5 kilometer section of the Tōhoku Main Line between Tokyo Station in Tokyo and Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi, Japan. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company ...

, but financial problems have prevented construction of the extension.

References

External links

*
Saitama Prefectural Government information
{{Tokyo transit Railway lines in Japan 1067 mm gauge railways in Japan Railway lines opened in 2001 Underground rapid transit in Japan Japanese third-sector railway lines 2001 establishments in Japan Railway lines in Tokyo Rail transport in Saitama Prefecture