Railway Operators in Japan 4
Central Tokyo
Makoto Aoki

Overview of Tokyo Region

Development of Inner-city Rail Network

Early development
Cities and their transportation systems generally expand outward as people and industry move in, and then outward towards the newly developing suburbs. Until about 1890, Tokyo's railways were constructed to the capital from distant cities but the tracks stopped at terminals on the outskirts of built-up areas, rather than reaching the city core. These termini were located at Shimbashi (government railways), Ueno (Nippon Railway), Iidamachi—near Iidabashi—(Kobu Railway), and Ryogokubashi (Sobu Railway).
Nippon Railway constructed and opened (March 1885) the first line from Akabane to Shinagawa linking these termini. In these early days, the steam locomotives only played a small transportation role in central Tokyo. However, with time, the track became part of the busy Yamanote Line.
The Tokyo Horse Tramway was Tokyo's first urban transit system. When operations began in June 1882, the trams linked Shimbashi with Nihombashi, and by the following October 1882 they were running successfully in a loop through Shimbashi, Ueno, Asakusa, Asakusabashi, Hongokucho and Nihombashi.
In 1890, a demonstration electric tram was built for the Third Industrial Exposition in Ueno Park (Tokyo). This provided the impetus for development of an electric tram network for Tokyo. Three companies—Tokyo Electric Tramway, Tokyo City Tramway and Tokyo Electric Railway—began construction after obtaining the required licences. By 1906, the three companies operated a total of 919 trams on 143.3 km of track in the city. Average daily ridership was 352,225. In September 1906, the companies amalgamated under the name Tokyo Railway, after pressure from the high cost of fares when transferring from one tramway to another.
As the electric railway network grew, so did the consensus that a private, profit-seeking company should not control an essential public service. Reflecting this change in opinion, the Tokyo city government purchased Tokyo Railway's operations in August 1911. The new transit authority was owned and operated by the city, and named Tokyo Shiden (Tokyo Municipal Electric Railway). The name was changed to Tokyo Toden (Tokyo Metropolitan Electric Railway) in 1943 when the city was amalgamated with Tokyo Prefecture to form Metropolitan Tokyo. (The city was located in an area now generally encompassed by the current Yamanote Line.) Electric tramways remained Tokyo's main mode of urban transport until Tokyo Metropolitan Electric Railway ceased to exist in the late 1960s and construction of subway lines began in earnest.
Spurred by the creation of Tokyo Municipal Electric Railway in 1911, tramway lines continued to be extended and ridership grew. In 1924, the system carried more than 496.27 million passengers over 155.8 km of track. This was the greatest pre-war ridership. Ridership declined sharply with the end of WWII, but picked up again as chaos gave way to order. Tokyo's postwar golden age of tramways lasted from the 1950s until the early 1960s—during this time, more than 200 km of track was in operation and annual ridership peaked at more than 500 million. Only 8 of the 28 Yamanote Line stations did not offer direct connections with the municipal tramway system. The system criss-crossed Tokyo's core and monopolized public transport inside the Yamanote Line.

Construction of rapid railways—completion of Yamanote loop
Rapid railways came to Tokyo soon after electric tramcars began operating in the city. By the end of the 19th century, steam locomotives were linking Tokyo with major cities but policymakers did not seriously consider using the urban parts of these lines for mass transport. This was probably because the built-up area was relatively small and there was little need for an urban transit system at the time. But as Tokyo began growing steadily around 1890, the first suburbs sprang up within an area now mostly enclosed by the Yamanote Line. Then housing projects for white-collar workers became common outside the loop starting in the mid-1920s. These new suburbs prompted the development of electric railways carrying residents to terminals on the Yamanote Line.
The first rapid electric railway in Tokyo began running in August 1904 between Iidamachi and Nakano. The Kobu Railway had run a steam shuttle service between Iidamachi and Shinjuku that attracted many passengers and this section was the first one electrified to accommodate rapid services. Soon, electric trains were running between Nakano and Ochanomizu. When Kobu Railway was nationalized in October 1906, the section became the first electrified track under government ownership.
After the government nationalized many railways in 1906, it began planning to electrify the track connecting Tokyo's major rail terminals. By December 1909, electric trains were running from Karasumori (now Shimbashi) to Ueno in a circular route via Shinagawa, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro—today's Yamanote Line was starting to take shape. Another track section, between Ikebukuro and Akabane, was electrified at the same time. Then in March 1919, the Chuo Line was extended from Mansebashi to Tokyo Station, permitting through services to the Yamanote Line. In the early days, trains travelled easterly from Nakano to Shinjuku and Tokyo Station, southerly to Shinagawa, northerly back to Shinjuku and on to Ikebukuro, then easterly to Ueno. On a map, this path resembles the Japanese hiragana character ‘の’ which is read ‘no.’ Several years later, in November 1925, the elevated track section between Kanda and Ueno opened to wide acclaim, giving the Yamanote Line the general type of operations we see today.

Subway construction
Tokyo's first subway line, running 2.2 km from Ueno to Asakusa, opened in December 1927. It was operated by Tokyo Underground Railway. This was the beginning of Tokyo's subway network and the inspiration of Noritsugu Hayakawa (1881–1942), Japan's pioneer of subway construction.
For a long period, the general policy was that only the municipal government should own and operate transportation infrastructure in the older part of the city (the part mainly within today's Yamanote Line). Due to this policy, private businesses were not given licences to build or operate railways in the inner city, explaining why even today private railway lines terminate at major stations on the Yamanote Line instead of continuing into the central business district. An exception was made for Tokyo Underground Railway, probably because the municipal government's poor finances prevented it building a large and costly subway. Even so, debate on construction and ownership of a subway system for Tokyo dragged on until after WWII.
Despite a long period of economic depression, Tokyo Underground Railway pushed on with construction and extended its Asakusa–Ueno line to Shimbashi (opened in June 1934). Meanwhile, another company called Tokyo Rapid Transit Railway obtained permission for an 8.4-km line between Tokyo Station and Shibuya, and for a 7.3-km line between Shinjuku and Tsukiji. The subway line opened in January 1939 joined Shibuya and Shimbashi so both companies were operating one line terminating in Shimbashi. However, they disagreed strongly on how to link the lines. The lack of through services became a matter of public discontent, prompting the Ministry of Railways to step in and mediate a settlement. Finally, through services linking Shibuya and Asakusa were launched in September 1939.
The 1938 Land Transport Business Coordination Law integrated subways operation in Tokyo into TRTA—a public corporation—that would go on to construct a subway network. TRTA was funded and capitalized at ¥60 million by the national government (¥40 million), Tokyo's municipal government (¥10 million), and the private railways and the government railway's mutual benefit fund (¥10 million).
After WWII, the TMG wanted to see TRTA broken up, but the national government did not agree and subway construction proceeded under TRTA's direction. The first line constructed by TRTA was the 6.4-km Marunouchi Line linking Ikebukuro and Ochanomizu (opened in January 1954).
Government subway policy was clarified by the 1953 recommendations of the National Capital Construction Committee (an extra-ministerial body of the Prime Minister's Office). The recommendations to the Minister of Construction, Minister of Transport, and the Governor of Tokyo, called for:

•	Through connections for suburban electric trains and urban subways
•	Increase in TRTA's capital and large increase in TMG investment in capital
•	TRTA to facilitate subway construction, TMG and other groups to construct any lines TRTA not intending to construct immediately

These recommendations opened the door for construction of subways by TMG itself—TRTA was no longer alone. The recommendations also noted that private railways should be permitted access to the inner city by providing through services to subway lines and such services soon became available on many lines.
In December 1960, the TMG opened its first line between Oshiage and Asakusabashi with through connections to the Keisei Electric Railway.
A new phase in subway construction had begun with TRTA and the TMG rushing to construct an underground network for the inner city. Before long, many suburban lines were offering through connections via subway lines to the central business district. Since the projects were handled simultaneously by two quite different entities, some problems occurred.
Subway construction requires huge capital. To take a recent example, the construction cost for the Namboku Line under the inner city (Akabane-iwabuchi–Meguro) averaged ¥23.8 billion/km.
Investment was made easier in 1951 by the issue of transport bonds and loans from the Trust Fund Bureau. Subsidies for subway construction were made available from 1962. The subsidy system introduced in FY1978 provided national and local government subsidies over a period of 10 years for up to 70% of the cost of eligible projects. In fiscal 1999, TRTA received ¥9.85 billion while the TMG received ¥32.86 billion. The subsidy level has risen over time and there are calls to increase it further for a longer period, because high construction costs are a severe burden on the finances of operators.
As the subway lines attracted more users, the tramways declined. At one time, trams were the mainstay of public transit in central Tokyo, but they were abandoned as road congestion increased and tramway finances worsened. Under a metropolitan financial restructuring plan approved in August 1967, trams were to be removed entirely from service between 1967 and 1971, but there is still one remaining line—the 12.2-km Arakawa Line between Minowabashi and Waseda. It survived mainly because most of its track is on its own right-of-way.

Through services linking subway and railway suburban lines
In line with the recommendations of the National Capital Construction Committee, many through services began between subway and suburban railway lines in Tokyo. The railway lines were operated by both Japanese National Railways (JNR—now the JRs) and private companies. Table 3 shows that most subway lines now offer through connections; the exceptions are TRTA's Ginza and Marunouchi lines, which were constructed in the early days, and the TMG's Oedo Line, which uses the latest linear motor technology. Perhaps no other subway system in the world offers such extensive through services to electrified suburban track.
Through services have several advantages: they permit suburban residents to travel easily into the inner city without transfer, and they reduce congestion on parallel lines and in terminal stations.
However, Tokyo's through services were provided only after a number of technical problems requiring coordination and massive investment were solved. The carriers had to adopt uniform standards not only for safety equipment but also for rolling stock size, function and structure. The cross-sections of some subway tunnels had to be enlarged for installing overhead catenary wires. Different track gauges between operators also required coordinated efforts, especially in the case of the TMG subway, which uses three different gauges. In fact, the gauge of TMG track is determined by the gauge of the private railway that the subway connects to. Consequently, the gauge of the Asakusa Line is 1435 mm, the Mita Line is 1067 mm, and the Shinjuku Line is 1372 mm. Furthermore, schedules must be coordinated and fare revenues apportioned fairly. In Japan, each operator has its own fare system. A passenger travelling on through services provided by different companies may have to pay separate fares, even for a relatively short journey. Discounts have been introduced to reduce the inequalities but better solutions are still required.

Planning for future
Finding ways to reduce congestion is one of the biggest challenges facing railway operators in Greater Tokyo. A policy statement of the Transport Policy Council has set a benchmark for peak congestion rate of no more than 150% by 2015. To meet this goal, railway companies are quadrupling suburban lines into the inner city and increasing train lengths. More subway lines are being planned to offer more seamless links between the central business district and suburban lines. Through connections are important because they reduce transfers and shorten travel times.
Another partial solution is to move some services and functions from Central Business District (CBD). This is the goal of waterfront development projects in Tokyo Bay and redevelopment projects near terminal stations. A rail development project is now being planned for the Tokyo waterfront.
Transportation experts also predict a growing need to provide more convenient links for domestic and international travel. The focus here is on better access to airports and shinkansen stations. Development of a line connecting Haneda and Narita airports via Tokyo Station is now at the concept stage, and plans call for increasing the capacity of two lines offering direct access to Haneda Airport—the Tokyo Monorail, and the Keikyu Haneda Airport Line operated by Keihin Electric Express Railway.
More elevators, escalators and other aids are needed to increase accessibility for the disabled and growing number of elderly people. Rail and intermodal (rail–rail, rail–bus, rail–automobile) connections should also be easier. Some possible solutions are station modifications, fares based on total distance travelled rather than distance per carrier, and pre-paid cards for both train and bus fares.

Major Lines Serving Central Tokyo

The following section provides an overview of various railway lines in central Tokyo—JR East's Yamanote Line, TRTA's subway network, TMG ‘s subway system and Arakawa tramway, the Tokyo Monorail, and Yurikamome, an AGT system.

Yamanote Line
A large proportion of Tokyo's inner city is enclosed by the Yamanote Line and ridership on the line is very high, even for Japan. JR East officially regards the Yamanote Line not as a single line but as three entities: the 20.6-km Yamanote Line from Shinagawa through Ikebukuro to Tabata; a small section of the Tokaido main line between Shinagawa and Tokyo Station; and a small section of the Tohoku main line between Tokyo Station and Tabata. The total length of the loop is 34.5 km. Some stations like Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro and Ueno are terminals for a network of radiating lines. The Yamanote Line uses Series 205 commuter carriages. During the rush hours, trains run at a headway of 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Images of the awful peak congestion have been broadcast worldwide and JR East began operating 11-car train sets (EMU) in December 1991 to alleviate the problem. Some cars have six doors on each side and all seats on these cars are folded automatically into the vertical position until 10:00 to accommodate more standing passengers.

Teito Rapid Transit Authority subways
TRTA now operates eight subways with a total length of 171.5 km. Along with the TMG lines, they form a closely-knit network serving the inner city.

Ginza Line
The 14.3-km Ginza Line links Asakusa and Shibuya. It is Japan's oldest subway. Many of the 19 stations serve busy commercial districts, including Asakusa, Ueno, Nihombashi, Ginza and Shibuya. An average of 1.02 million passengers use the line each day (FY1999). During the rush hours, 6-car train sets run at headways of just 2 minutes. Electric power is supplied by a third-rail system, preventing through connections to other lines.
The name of Mitsukoshi-mae Station indicates its proximity to the famous Mitsukoshi Department Store; it is the only TRTA station named after a retailer. The station was named by Tokyo Underground Railway (TRTA's predecessor) in appreciation of Mitsukoshi's payment for the station construction.

Marunouchi Line
This was the first subway constructed in Tokyo after WWII. The 24.2-km main line links Ikebukuro and Ogikubo, while a 3.2-km spur runs from Nakano-sakaue to Honancho. The main line passes under Kasumigaseki, the location of many government offices, and many important commercial districts, including Ginza and Shinjuku. An average of 1.11 million passengers use the line each day (FY1999). The line has 28 stations and during rush hours, 6-car train sets run at a headway of just 1 minute and 50 seconds. Like the Ginza Line, electric power is supplied by a third-rail system, preventing through connections to other lines.

Hibiya Line
The 20.3-km Hibiya Line traverses Tokyo's central district between Kita Senju (with through connection to Tobu's Isezaki Line) and Naka Meguro (with through connection to Tokyu's Toyoko Line). The line became fully operational with 21 stations in August 1964. Through connections to the Isezaki Line began in May 1962, establishing TRTA's first through service. Today, the Hibiya Line offers through connections as far as Tobu Dobutsu-koen (Isezaki Line) in the north, and Kikuna (Toyoko Line) in the south. An average of 1.12 million passengers use the line each day (FY1999).
Rush-hour congestion at Kita Senju Station is legendary; before the Hibiya Line opened, many Tobu passengers transferred to JR East's Joban Line at Kita Senju, an inconvenient transfer because the Joban Line offers no direct access to the inner city (Ginza, Kasumigaseki, etc.). This access is provided by the Hibiya Line which has changed traffic patterns on the Isezaki Line. The Hibiya Line is one of TRTA's most congested lines and cars with 5 doors on each side were introduced in 1990 to help alleviate the problem.

Tozai Line
The 30.8-km Tozai Line traverses central Tokyo in an east–west direction. When it opened in March 1969, it was TRTA's first line to offer rapid services (with limited stops between Toyocho and Nishi Funabashi). The western end connects with Nakano on JR East's Chuo Line, while the eastern end connects with Nishi Funabashi on JR East's Sobu Line. There are through trains beyond each terminal, to Mitaka and Tsudanuma, respectively, relieving JR East's overcrowded Chuo and Sobu lines. Since April 1996, through services have operated from Nishi Funabashi to Toyo Katsutadai on track owned by Toyo Rapid Railway.
The Tozai Line has 23 stations. Six stations (Urayasu, Minami Gyotoku, Gyotoku, Myoden, Baraki-nakayama and Nishi Funabashi) at the east end of the line are in Chiba Prefecture—TRTA's first stations outside Tokyo. For example Urayasu City is just in Chiba Prefecture on the border with Metropolitan Tokyo; this area supported little more than fishing villages until the opening of line prompted large housing developments. Since this area was sparsely developed before construction, the subway line runs on elevated track for most of the 15.0-km section between Toyocho and Nishi Funabashi. An average of 1.21 million passengers use the line each day (FY1999). To alleviate congestion, cars with wider doors were introduced in 1991.

Chiyoda Line
When the Chiyoda Line opened in December 1969, it ran only from Kita Senju to Otemachi. It now extends 21.9 km from Ayase to Yoyogi-uehara, with a 2.1-km spur from Ayase to Kita Ayase. There are 20 stations and the line offers through services for subways and trains. It connects with JR East's Joban Line at Ayase to continue on to Toride, and with Odakyu's line at Yoyogi-uehara to continue on to Hon Atsugi. Consequently, the Chiyoda Line offers through connections from the northeast and southwest suburbs to the inner city. It is TRTA's most congested line with a rate of 212% for trains travelling from Machiya to Nishi Nippori during the busiest hours (1998 survey). An average of 1.10 million passengers use the line each day (FY1999).
Rolling stock on the Chiyoda Line's was technically advanced for its time with Series 6000 thyristor-chopper-controlled EMUs and an on-board signalling system.

Yurakucho Line
The Yurakucho Line was the fifth subway line constructed by TRTA. It stretches 28.3 km from Wako-shi to Shin Kiba. The first section began operations from Ikebukuro to Ginza-itchome in October 1974. One of its initial purposes was to reduce congestion on the Marunouchi Line. When the Eidan-narimasu/Wako-shi extension opened in August 1987, through services to the Tobu Tojo Line became possible and now extend as far as Shinrin-koen. The last extension of the Yurakucho Line to Shin Kiba was completed in June 1988. Through services are also offered to the Seibu Ikebukuro Line at Kotake-mukaihara after a new section from Ikebukuro to Kotake-mukaihara was opened in December 1994 where the track was quadrupled. An average of 744,000 passengers use the line each day (FY1999). Another extension under construction, now called Line 13, will link Ikebukuro to Shibuya.

Hanzomon Line
The 10.8-km Hanzomon Line runs from Shibuya to Suitengu-mae. When it opened in August 1978, it ran only from Shibuya to Aoyama-itchome (2.7 km), but was later extended to Nagatacho, Hanzomon and Mitsukoshi-mae. One reason for the construction was to reduce congestion on the Ginza Line. It offers through services for both a subway and private railway, connecting with Tokyu's Den'en Toshi Line at Shibuya. Ongoing construction of an extension from Suitengu-mae will lengthen the line to Oshiage. Once this section is completed, subway carriages will offer through services to Tobu's Isezaki Line. An average of 559,000 passengers use the Hanzomon Line each day (FY1999).

Namboku Line
TRTA's newest line, the 21.3-km Namboku Line, runs north–south through central Tokyo from Akabane-iwabuchi to Meguro. It offers through services for both subways and trains, connecting with Saitama Railway's line at Akabane-iwabuchi, and with Tokyu's Meguro Line at Meguro. The Namboku Line shares track with TMG's Mita Line between Meguro and Shirogane-takanawa. The line and rolling stock are billed as a new rail transport system for the 21st century—innovations include platform doors and TRTA's first driver-only operation.

Transit systems operated by TMG Transportation Bureau
Tokyo's subway network is unusual in that two groups operate their own respective parts of the system—TRTA and TMG. This arrangement permitted the network to take shape quickly but the disadvantage for passengers is that each company sets its own fares and requires payment at transfers between systems.
Most TMG lines do not pass through the CBD and its inefficient management has placed its finances in difficulties with a FY1999 deficit of ¥24.9 billion.

Asakusa Line
TMG's oldest line, the Asakusa Line, began operations in December 1960. In the early days, it only ran 3.2 km from Oshiage to Asakusabashi. The southern section between Nishi Magome and Sengakuji opened in November 1968, completing the 18.3 km between Nishi Magome and Oshiage. One reason for the line's construction was to reduce congestion on JR East's Sobu Line. Through services to and from the Keisei main line at Oshiage were another measure to reduce congestion. The track connects with the Keihin main line at Sengakuji to provide through services linking Chiba Prefecture to Kanagawa Prefecture through Tokyo.
The Asakusa Line bypasses the CBD, so ridership was lower than on many other lines for some years (average of 574,000 passengers each day in FY1999). But it was given a new role in November 1998 when Keikyu trains began through services from Haneda Airport. This has made it possible to provide 4 daily return direct services between Haneda and Narita airports using the Airport Express. Demand for convenient airport-to-downtown access will undoubtedly grow and there are plans to connect the Asakusa Line to Tokyo Station, creating a single line linking the two airports and the shinkansen terminus.

Mita Line
The 26.5-km Mita Line between Meguro and Nishi Takashimadaira links Takashimadaira New Town in north Tokyo with the inner city. The first section to open (December 1968) runs 10.4 km from Sugamo to Takashimadaira. The line was later extended in both directions and measured 22.5 km in May 1976 when it began operations between Mita and Nishi Takashimadaira. An average of 455,000 passengers use the line each day (FY1999).
The newest section from Mita to Meguro was opened in September 2000. As mentioned above, the line shares 2.3 km of track with TRTA's Namboku Line between Meguro and Shirogane-takanawa, making the TMG a category-2 operator. Subway trains from both the Namboku Line and the Mita Line now join Tokyu's Meguro Line at Meguro, offering through connections to the south.

Shinjuku Line
The 23.5-km Shinjuku Line from Shinjuku to Moto Yawata was opened in March 1989 and traverses central Tokyo in an east–west direction. Keio trains and TMG subway cars can use each other's tracks at Shinjuku and most subway trains offer through connections to Keio stations. The Shinjuku Line makes it possible for commuters from Tama New Town in west Tokyo to enjoy direct services to the inner city. The west end of the line runs almost parallel with JR East's Chuo Line. The eastern section was constructed parallel to JR East's Sobu Line to alleviate congestion. An average of 595,000 passengers use the line each day (FY1999).

Oedo Line
The Oedo Line opened to full service in December 2000. It links Hikarigaoka in northwest Tokyo to Nerima and Shinjuku and then loops through the inner city. It offers convenient access from Hikarigaoka New Town in Nerima Ward to Shinjuku. The loop line has connections to many older JR East and subway stations in the inner city, making commuting easier. The tunnels were constructed with a small cross section to reduce costs. The linear-motor powered trains boast the latest technology.

TMG Arakawa Tramway
Despite the plan to abolish all tramway lines by 1972, the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly decided in 1973 that the 12.2-km Arakawa Line between Minowabashi and Waseda should remain in operation in perpetuity. The two main reasons were because the trams were popular with local residents and much of the track is on its own right-of-way.
Trams run at intervals of 2 minutes and 30 seconds during rush hours and every 5 minutes during other daytime hours. There are 29 stops.
The line goes back to August 1911 when Oji Electric Railway began operating trams between Asukayama and Otsuka. The entire line was completed in January 1932. In 1942, Oji amalgamated with Tokyo Municipal Tramway and the section between Minowabashi and Oji Eki-mae was called Line 27, while the section between Arakawa Shako-mae and Waseda was called Line 32. After the decision to retain the service, Lines 27 and 32 were consolidated to form the Arakawa Tramway.
To rationalize costs, the trams have used single-driver operation since 1977. Air-conditioning was installed from 1984, platforms were raised above ground level from 1996 and slopes have been installed to eliminate steps between platforms and ground level. An average of 57,000 passengers use the line each day (FY1999) but ridership is declining gradually.

Tokyo Monorail
Tokyo Monorail's 16.9-km line links Haneda Airport with Hamamatsucho. The line was opened in September 1964 by Hitachi Un'yu Tokyo Monorail. Operations were transferred to a new group in 1981 and renamed Tokyo Monorail. The system is an early example of a straddle-type monorail in Japan. The initial purpose was to offer fast connection between the airport and Hamamatsucho, close to the inner city so almost no intermediate stations were constructed. Seven new stations were added later because of trackside development and the need to attract more users.
Haneda Airport's terminal building was relocated and opened in September 1993, creating the need to construct a new station and new track from Haneda Seibijyo. When the new section opened, the old section between Haneda Seibijyo and the former Haneda Station was abandoned. The New East Terminal is now being constructed and when it is completed, the monorail line will be extended 0.7 km from Haneda Airport Station to the new terminal.
The travel time from Hamamatsucho to Haneda Airport is 22 minutes with trains at every 3 minutes and 20 seconds during rush hours, and about 4 minutes during other daytime hours. As a result, the service has earned the nickname, ‘No-Wait Monorail.’ An average of 147,000 passengers use the line each day (FY1999).
The monorail was the main link to the airport for many years, but in November 1998, Keikyu began its own services to the airport, robbing the monorail of part of its role. The percentage of airport users taking the monorail has declined in recent years, dropping to 37.3% in 2000. On the other hand, more commuters are using intermediate monorail stations, especially Tennozu Isle, Oi Keibajyo-mae, and Ryutsu Center. The company plans to refurbish its Hamamatsucho Station in order to increase capacity.
Tokyo Monorail is now under JR East's control since buying 70% of the shares in February 2002.

Yurikamome—Tokyo's new waterfront transit system
The Yurikamome AGT was built to satisfy demand for a better link between the inner city and waterfront. The operator is a public–private joint partnership between TMG and business interests. The 12.0-km line started operations between Shimbashi and Ariake in November 1995. (A 2.8-km extension from Ariake to Toyosu is now under construction.) An average of 97,000 passengers use the line each day (FY1999).
The medium-capacity AGT is computerized and trains and stations are unmanned. The line cost ¥170.2 billion to construct but received ¥115.1 billion in new-transit-system subsidies from the national and metropolitan governments.