Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation

Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
Name	Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation
Formed	1943
Jurisdiction	Tokyo
Headquarters	Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan
Chief1 name	Hideaki Ōmiya
Chief1 position	Director
Parent department	Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Website	https://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/

Contents

History
Operations
Rolling stock
Facilities
Fares and ticketing
See also

Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation. It is a public agency of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government responsible for operating major public transport services within the special wards of Tokyo and surrounding areas. Commonly known as Toei (都営), the bureau manages a significant portion of the city's rapid transit network, including subways and bus lines, as well as other public services. Its operations are integral to the daily commute of millions, functioning alongside other major carriers like the Tokyo Metro and the East Japan Railway Company.

History

The bureau's origins trace back to the municipalization of Tokyo's streetcar network, which began under the Tokyo City government in the early 20th century. Following the consolidation of Tokyo's administration in 1943, which created the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the transportation functions were formally organized into the present bureau. Post-war, it focused on developing a modern rapid transit system to alleviate congestion, opening the first line of the Toei Subway in 1960. Key expansions followed, such as the inauguration of the Toei Mita Line in 1968 and the Toei Shinjuku Line in 1978, significantly shaping the city's urban development. The bureau also absorbed and rationalized the city's extensive bus and tram operations, eventually phasing out the latter in the 1970s in favor of subway and bus services.

Operations

The bureau operates four lines of the Toei Subway network: the Toei Asakusa Line, Toei Mita Line, Toei Shinjuku Line, and Toei Ōedo Line, which interconnect with the Tokyo Metro network and JR East lines at major hubs like Shinjuku Station and Tokyo Station. Its extensive bus network covers over 130 routes throughout the 23 special wards and parts of adjacent cities like Mitaka and Musashino. Additionally, it operates the Tokyo Toden Arakawa Line, the city's sole surviving tram line, and the Nippori-Toneri Liner, an automated guideway transit system. These services are coordinated under the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's overall transport strategy, which includes integration with other operators such as Keio Corporation and Odakyu Electric Railway.

Rolling stock

The bureau maintains a diverse fleet of electric multiple unit trains for its subway lines, with models like the Toei 6300 series serving the Toei Ōedo Line and the Toei 10-300 series operating on the Toei Mita Line. Its bus fleet consists primarily of low-floor, accessible vehicles, including models from manufacturers like Hino Motors and Isuzu. The Tokyo Toden Arakawa Line utilizes historic tram cars such as the Tokyo Toden 7500 series, preserved for their cultural value. Rolling stock procurement and maintenance are conducted at major depots including the Magome Depot and the Senju Depot, ensuring interoperability standards are met for through-services with lines operated by Tokyo Metro and Tobu Railway.

Facilities

Primary operational facilities include the Magome Depot in Ōta Ward for the Toei Asakusa Line and the Senju Depot in Adachi Ward for the Toei Mita Line. The bureau's headquarters are located in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku. It also manages numerous bus garages, such as the Ōji Bus Garage, and the Arakawa Depot for the Tokyo Toden Arakawa Line. Key interchange stations like Shinjuku Station and Oshiage Station feature complex, integrated concourses developed in partnership with other railway companies like Keisei Electric Railway and Toei Subway.

Fares and ticketing

Fares are based on a distance-based system, integrated seamlessly with other major networks in the Tokyo area through the IC card system, primarily Suica and PASMO. The bureau participates in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's common ticketing scheme, allowing transfers between its services, Tokyo Metro, and JR East lines. Special passes like the Tokyo Free Kippu and the Toei Marunouchi Pass are offered for tourists. Ticket vending machines and automated gates at stations like Daimon Station and Roppongi Station accept both IC cards and magnetic paper tickets.