Tōbu Urban Park Line

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The Tobu Urban Park Line (東武アーバンパークライン, Tōbu Ābanpāku-rain), formally known as the Tobu Noda Line (東武野田線, Tōbu Noda-sen), is a 62.7 km (39.0 mi) long railway line in Saitama and Chiba Prefectures operated by the Japanese private railway company Tobu Railway. It connects the satellite cities of Tokyo, such as Saitama, Kasukabe, Noda, Nagareyama, Matsudo, Kamagaya, Kashiwa, and Funabashi.[2]

Tobu Urban Park Line
TD
Tobu 60000 series, August 2020
Overview
Other name(s)Tobu Noda Line
Native name東武アーバンパークライン
OwnerTobu Railway
LocaleKantō Region
Termini
Stations35
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Depot(s)Nanakōdai
Rolling stockTobu 8000 series, Tobu 10000 series, Tobu 60000 series
Daily ridership448,528 (FY2010)[1]
History
Opened1911; 113 years ago (1911)
Technical
Line length62.7 km (39.0 mi)
Number of tracks
  • Double (Ōmiya - Kasukabe, Unga - Funabashi)
  • Single (remainder)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead catenary
Operating speed100 km/h (60 mph)
Route map

0.0
Ōmiya
1.2
Kita-Ōmiya
2.2
Ōmiya-kōen
4.0
Ōwada
5.6
Nanasato
Kakura
abandoned in 1950
8.5
Iwatsuki
Shibue
10.9
Higashi-Iwatsuki
12.2
Toyoharu
14.1
Yagisaki
15.2
Kasukabe
LeftSkytree LineUp
Doi
abandoned in 1947
17.8
Fujino-ushijima
Naganuma
abandoned in 1956
20.6
Minami-Sakurai
22.9
Kawama
Nanakōdai depot
25.1
Nanakōdai
26.6
Shimizu-kōen
27.7
Atago
28.6
Nodashi
30.9
Umesato
33.2
Unga
35.1
Edogawadai
36.8
Hatsuishi
Nagareyama-Ōtakanomori
39.7
Toyoshiki
Kita-Kashiwa
abandoned in 1955
42.9
Kashiwa
45.8
Shin-Kashiwa
47.1
Masuo
48.0
Sakasai
50.2
Takayanagi
51.9
Mutsumi
53.3
Shin-Kamagaya
55.2
Kamagaya
57.7
Magomezawa
60.1
Tsukada
61.3
Shin-Funabashi
Kaijin
Bypass abandoned in 1934
62.7
Funabashi
UpKeisei Main LineRight

Operation

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All trains were initially operated as all-stations "Local" services. Most trains, excluding a few from/to train depots, originate or terminate at Kashiwa Station which has a switchback. During the daytime, six trains run per hour.

From 26 March 2016, limited-stop "Express" services were introduced on the line. During the daytime off-peak, these run at 30-minute intervals, stopping only at Iwatsuki between Ōmiya and Kasukabe, and all-stations between Kasukabe and Funabashi. The journey time between Omiya and Kasukabe is reduced by 6 minutes compared with all-stations "Local" services.[3]

Stations

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Abbreviations:

  •   L = Local (普通, Futsū)
  •   S = Section Express (区間急行, Kukan Kyūkō)
  •   E = Express (急行, Kyūkō)
  •   UPL = Urban Park Liner (アーバンパークライナー, Ābanpākurainā)
No. Station Japanese Distance L S E UPL Transfers Location
TD01 Ōmiya 大宮 0.0 km
0 mi
O O O O Ōmiya-ku, Saitama Saitama
TD02 Kita-Ōmiya 北大宮 1.2 km
0.75 mi
O | | |  
TD03 Ōmiya-kōen 大宮公園 2.2 km
1.4 mi
O | | |  
TD04 Ōwada 大和田 4.0 km
2.5 mi
O | | |   Minuma-ku, Saitama
TD05 Nanasato 七里 5.6 km
3.5 mi
O | | |  
TD06 Iwatsuki 岩槻 8.5 km
5.3 mi
O O O O   Iwatsuki-ku, Saitama
TD07 Higashi-Iwatsuki 東岩槻 10.9 km
6.8 mi
O | | |  
TD08 Toyoharu 豊春 12.2 km
7.6 mi
O | | |   Kasukabe
TD09 Yagisaki 八木崎 14.1 km
8.8 mi
O | | O  
TD10 Kasukabe 春日部 15.2 km
9.4 mi
O O O O TS Tobu Skytree Line
TD11 Fujino-ushijima 藤の牛島 17.8 km
11.1 mi
O O O O  
TD12 Minami-Sakurai 南桜井 20.6 km
12.8 mi
O O O O  
TD13 Kawama 川間 22.9 km
14.2 mi
O O O O   Noda Chiba
TD14 Nanakōdai 七光台 25.1 km
15.6 mi
O O O O  
TD15 Shimizu-kōen 清水公園 26.6 km
16.5 mi
O O O O  
TD16 Atago 愛宕 27.7 km
17.2 mi
O O O O  
TD17 Nodashi 野田市 28.6 km
17.8 mi
O O O O  
TD18 Umesato 梅郷 30.9 km
19.2 mi
O O O O  
TD19 Unga 運河 33.2 km
20.6 mi
O O O O   Nagareyama
TD20 Edogawadai 江戸川台 35.1 km
21.8 mi
O O | |  
TD21 Hatsuishi 初石 36.8 km
22.9 mi
O O | |  
TD22 Nagareyama-ōtakanomori 流山おおたかの森 38.4 km
23.9 mi
O O O O   Tsukuba Express
TD23 Toyoshiki 豊四季 39.7 km
24.7 mi
O O | |   Kashiwa
TD24 Kashiwa 42.9 km
26.7 mi
O O O O
TD25 Shin-Kashiwa 新柏 45.8 km
28.5 mi
O   |  
TD26 Masuo 増尾 47.1 km
29.3 mi
O |  
TD27 Sakasai 逆井 48.0 km
29.8 mi
O |  
TD28 Takayanagi 高柳 50.2 km
31.2 mi
O O  
TD29 Mutsumi 六実 51.9 km
32.2 mi
O |   Matsudo
TD30 Shin-Kamagaya 新鎌ヶ谷 53.3 km
33.1 mi
O O Kamagaya
TD31 Kamagaya 鎌ヶ谷 55.2 km
34.3 mi
O |  
TD32 Magomezawa 馬込沢 57.7 km
35.9 mi
O |   Funabashi
TD33 Tsukada 塚田 60.1 km
37.3 mi
O |  
TD34 Shin-Funabashi 新船橋 61.3 km
38.1 mi
O |  
TD35 Funabashi 船橋 62.7 km
39.0 mi
O O

Rolling stock

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Trains are formed of 6-car (or 4+2-car) 8000 series EMUs, introduced from 1997. New 6-car 60000 series EMUs were introduced on the line from 15 June 2013, replacing the older 8000 series sets.[5][6] Eight sets are scheduled to be delivered by the end of fiscal 2013.[7]

From 3 March 2012, test running using 10030 series EMUs commenced on the line,[8] with the first reliveried set entering revenue service from 20 April 2013.[9]

From 21 April 2017, new Tobu 500 series three-car EMUs operate on Urban Park Liner limited express services on the line. Services operate between Asakusa in Tokyo (Tobu Skytree Line) and Omiya and Nodashi on the Tobu Urban Park Line, with trains dividing and joining at Kasukabe. The 500 series trains are also used on Urban Park Liner services operating between Omiya and Unga on the Tobu Urban Park Line.[10]

Future rolling stock

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Tōbu Railway announced on 16 April 2024 that 25 new 80000 series 5-car EMUs are scheduled to be introduced on the line from 2025 onwards, replacing all remaining 8000 and 10000 series trains operated on the Urban Park Line. In addition, the 18 60000 series sets are expected to be shortened to 5 cars per trainset with one surplus car from each set being modified and incorporated into 18 of the 80000 series sets.[11][12]

Former rolling stock

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  • 1000 series 16 m long electric cars (1001–1004, 1101–1104,1201–1202), built in 1929 by Nippon Sharyo[4]
  • 6300 series 20 m long electric cars (former JNR 63000 series), from March 1947 until 1950[4]
  • 3200 series[4]
  • 7800 series 20 m long electric cars, from February 1958[4]
  • 7300 series 20 m long electric cars (rebuilt from 6300 series), from 1963[4]
  • 3000 series 6-car (including 2+4-car) EMUs, rebuilt from 3200 series, from May 1965 until 1992[13]
  • 5400 series EMUs, from November 1967 until 1972[4]
  • 3050 series EMUs, rebuilt from 5400 series, from March 1971 until 1992[4]
  • 3070 series EMUs, rebuilt from 5300 series, from 1974 until 1992[4]
  • 5000 series 6-car (including 2+4-car) EMUs, rebuilt from 7800 series, from March 1983 until November 1994[4][13]
  • 2080 series 6-car EMUs x2, from May 1988 until November 1992[4]

History

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The Chiba Prefectural Railway Noda Line

The line first opened as the Chiba Prefectural Railway Noda Line (千葉県営鉄道野田線, Chiba Ken'ei Tetsudō Noda-sen) on 9 May 1911, from Kashiwa to Nodamachi (now Nodashi), a distance of 14.7 kilometres (9 miles 10 chains) using steam haulage.[2] In 1923, the line was privatized and the operator was named Hokusō Railway (北総鉄道, Hokusō Tetsudō) (separate from the present Hokusō Railway), and also opened its own line from Funabashi Station to Kashiwa Station, a distance of 19.6 km (12 mi 14 ch).

The company gradually extended the line to Ōmiya, and changed its name in 1929 to Sōbu Railway (総武鉄道, Sōbu Tetsudō) (not to be confused with the present Sōbu Main Line). The line was completed in 1930 with the completion of the bridge over the Edo River.

On 1 March 1944, the company merged with the Tobu Railway, and the line became the Tobu Noda Line.[4] 6-car trains were introduced from November 1972.[2]

Electrification was commenced in 1929 between Kasukabe and Ōmiya,[2] and while the section from Kashiwa to Funabashi was still unelectrified when the operation of the line was taken over by Tobu in 1944, the remaining section was electrified by 1 March 1947.[4]

The Omiya to Kasukabe section was double-tracked between 1957 and 2011, the Nodashi to Umesato section in 2011, the Unga to Sakasai section between 1960 and 1991, and the Mutsumi to Funabashi section between 1964 and 1999.[citation needed]

Six-car 8000 series EMUs were phased in from 1997, displaced by new 30000 series EMUs introduced on the Tobu Isesaki Line.[14] The last remaining 5070 series EMUs were withdrawn from the start of the revised timetable on 19 October 2004, and the line's maximum speed was raised from 90 km/h to 100 km/h at the same time.[14]

From 17 March 2012, station numbering was introduced on all Tobu lines, with Noda Line stations receiving numbers prefixed with the letters "TD".[15]

From 1 April 2014, the line was rebranded the Tobu Urban Park Line (東武アーバンパークライン).[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Tobu ridership in 2010 Train Media (sourced from Tobu) Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d Terada, Hirokazu (July 2002). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. ISBN 4-87366-874-3.
  3. ^ 東武鉄道の野田線急行、大宮~春日部間で6分短縮…来春運行開始 [Tobu Noda Line express to start next spring – reducing time between Omiya and Kasukabe by 6 minutes]. Response (in Japanese). Japan: IID, Inc. 5 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Hanaue, Yoshinari (September 2013). 東武鉄道野田線を走った車両たち [Rolling stock that ran on the Tobu Noda Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 53, no. 629. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 104–111.
  5. ^ 野田線(大宮~船橋間)に新型車両「60000系」を導入します! [New 60000 series trains to be introduced on Noda Line] (PDF). Tobu News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 6 November 2012.
  6. ^ 東武60000系,野田線で営業運転開始 [Tobu 60000 series enters revenue service on the Noda Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  7. ^ a b 2014年4月1日(火)より東武野田線に路線愛称名「東武アーバンパークライン」を導入します! [Tobu Noda Line to be nicknamed "Tobu Urban Park Line" from 1 April 2014] (PDF). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 17 December 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  8. ^ 東武10030型が野田線で試運転 [Tobu 10030 series test run on Noda Line]. RM News (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing. 5 March 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  9. ^ 「10000系車両野田線デビュー記念乗車券」を4月20日(土)より発売します! [10000 series Noda Line debut commemorative ticket on sale from 20 April] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 18 April 2013. Retrieved 18 April 2013.
  10. ^ 東武 新型特急車輌500系の愛称名「Revaty」に決定 [Brand name "Revaty" chosen for new Tobu 500 series limited express trains]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 27 October 2016. Archived from the original on 27 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
  11. ^ "東武野田線に新形車両「80000系」を導入" [Tobu Noda Line to introduce new "80000 series" trains]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  12. ^ "東武野田線"新車"導入で大変化! 残る古い車両はどうなる? 東武鉄道に聞く" [Tobu Noda Line to undergo major changes with the introduction of new rolling stock! But what will happen with the old trains?]. Traffic News (in Japanese). Japan. 17 April 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  13. ^ a b Iijima, Iwao (July 2002). 私鉄の車両24 東武鉄道 [Private Railway Trains 24: Tobu Railway]. Tokyo, Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. p. 151. ISBN 978-4-87366-307-4.
  14. ^ a b 東武野田線ダイヤ改正で旧型5070系電車引退 [Old 5070 series EMUs withdrawn with Tobu Noda Line timetable revision]. Railway Journal. 39 (459). Japan: Tetsudō Journal: 102. January 2005.
  15. ^ 「東武スカイツリーライン」誕生! あわせて駅ナンバリングを導入し、よりわかりやすくご案内します [Tobu Sky Tree Line created! Station numbering to be introduced at same time] (pdf). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
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