Chūō-Sōbu Line

Chūō-Sōbu Line
An E231-500 series EMU on the Chuo-Sobu Line in August 2022
Overview
Native name中央・総武緩行線
StatusOperational
OwnerJR East
Line numberJB
LocaleTokyo, Chiba Prefecture
Termini
Stations39
Color on map  Yellow
Service
TypeCommuter rail
DepotMitaka
Rolling stock
Daily ridership2,359,390 (2015)
History
Opened1 July 1932; 94 years ago (1 July 1932)
Technical
Line length60.2 km (37.4 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationOverhead line, 1,500 V DC
Route map

The Chūō-Sōbu Line (Japanese: 中央・総武緩行線, Hepburn: Chūō-Sōbu-kankō-sen) is a railway service that runs through Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network, the service operates on separate tracks along the right-of-way of the Chūō Main Line (Chūō Line (Rapid)) and Sōbu Main Line (Sōbu Line (Rapid)), providing continuous travel between Mitaka Station in the cities of Mitaka and Musashino and Chiba Station in Chiba.

The term Kankō (緩行, lit. "slow run") distinguishes local trains on the Chūō-Sōbu line from rapid service trains running on the Chūō Main Line between Mitaka and Ochanomizu and on the Sōbu Main Line between Kinshichō and Chiba.

Service patterns

Chūō-Sōbu Line

Tōzai Line through service

All through service trains enter the Tōzai Line at either Nakano, or Nishi-Funabashi. These trains operate within the following routes:

Limited express

Prior to March 2024, seasonal Limited Express Shinjuku Wakashio and Shinjuku Sazanami trains stopped at Akihabara on the Chūō-Sōbu Line "mainly on weekends and holidays when service is heavy". As of March 2024, these trains no longer stop at Akihabara.

Former Early morning / Late night

At around 9 -10pm, a few westbound trains headed beyond Mitaka onto the Chūō Line (Rapid), with some terminating at Musashi-Koganei, and the others at Tachikawa. The other trains during the hour operated regularly.

At around 4 - 6am and 11pm - 1am, Chūō-Sōbu Line services were divided at Ochanomizu Station, into two sections.

This service pattern last operated on 13 March 2020. To prepare for the eventual installation of platform doors on Chūō-Sōbu Line platforms and the future addition of Green Cars on the Rapid line, Chūō Line Rapid service trains no longer regularly operate on the Chūō-Sōbu Line tracks.

Station list

Legend
Line No. Station Distance in km (mi) Local Rapid Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total Chūō-Sōbu Tozai Chūō Sōbu
Sōbu JB39 Chiba
千葉		 N/a From
Chiba:
0 (0)		 From
Tokyo:
39.2 (24.4)		 ● ↑
To Tokyo		 ●
Chūō-ku, Chiba Chiba
JB38 Nishi-Chiba
西千葉		 1.4 (0.87) 1.4 (0.87) 37.8 (23.5) ● ｜  
JB37 Inage
稲毛		 1.9 (1.2) 3.3 (2.1) 35.9 (22.3) ● ● Sōbu Line (JO27) Inage-ku, Chiba
JB36 Shin-Kemigawa
新検見川		 2.7 (1.7) 6.0 (3.7) 33.2 (20.6) ● ｜   Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba
JB35 Makuhari
幕張		 1.6 (0.99) 7.6 (4.7) 31.6 (19.6) ● ｜ Icon for the Keisei Chiba Line. Chiba Line (Keisei Makuhari: KS53)
JB34 Makuharihongō
幕張本郷		 2.0 (1.2) 9.6 (6.0) 29.6 (18.4) ● ｜ Icon for the Keisei Chiba Line. Chiba Line (Keisei Makuharihongō: KS52)
JB33 Tsudanuma
津田沼		 2.9 (1.8) 12.5 (7.8) 26.7 (16.6) ● ● ●
Narashino
JB32 Higashi-Funabashi
東船橋		 1.7 (1.1) 14.2 (8.8) 25.0 (15.5) ● ● ｜   Funabashi
JB31 Funabashi
船橋		 1.8 (1.1) 16.0 (9.9) 23.2 (14.4) ● ● ●
JB30 Nishi-Funabashi
西船橋		 2.6 (1.6) 18.6 (11.6) 20.6 (12.8) ● ● ｜
JB29 Shimōsa-Nakayama
下総中山		 1.6 (0.99) 20.2 (12.6) 19.0 (11.8) ● Through to Tōzai Line ｜  
JB28 Moto-Yawata
本八幡		 1.6 (0.99) 21.8 (13.5) 17.4 (10.8) ● ｜ Shinjuku Line (S-21) Ichikawa
JB27 Ichikawa
市川		 2.0 (1.2) 23.8 (14.8) 15.4 (9.6) ● ● Sōbu Line (JO24)
JB26 Koiwa
小岩		 2.6 (1.6) 26.4 (16.4) 12.8 (8.0) ● ｜   Edogawa Tokyo
JB25 Shin-Koiwa
新小岩		 2.8 (1.7) 29.2 (18.1) 10.0 (6.2) ● ● Sōbu Line (JO23) Katsushika
JB24 Hirai
平井		 1.8 (1.1) 31.0 (19.3) 8.2 (5.1) ● ｜   Edogawa
JB23 Kameido
亀戸		 1.9 (1.2) 32.9 (20.4) 6.3 (3.9) ● ｜ Kameido Line (TS44) Kōtō
JB22 Kinshichō
錦糸町		 1.5 (0.93) 34.4 (21.4) 4.8 (3.0) ● ●
Sumida
Sōbu Branch From
Kinshichō:
0 (0)
JB21 Ryōgoku
両国		 1.5 (0.93) 35.9 (22.3) 1.5 (0.93) ● To Tokyo and Yokosuka Line
↓		 Ōedo Line (E-12)
JB20 Asakusabashi
浅草橋		 0.8 (0.50) 36.7 (22.8) 2.3 (1.4) ● Asakusa Line (A-16) Taitō
AKBJB19
 Akihabara
秋葉原		 1.1 (0.68) 37.8 (23.5) 3.4 (2.1) ●
Chiyoda
JB18 Ochanomizu
御茶ノ水		 0.9 (0.56) 38.7 (24.0) 4.3 (2.7) ● ●
Chūō From
Tokyo:
2.6 (1.6)
JB17 Suidōbashi
水道橋		 0.8 (0.50) 39.5 (24.5) 3.4 (2.1) ● ｜ Mita Line (I-11)
JB16 Iidabashi
飯田橋		 1.1 (0.68) 40.6 (25.2) 4.5 (2.8) ● ｜
JB15 Ichigaya
市ケ谷		 1.3 (0.81) 41.9 (26.0) 5.8 (3.6) ● ｜
JB14 Yotsuya
四ツ谷		 0.8 (0.50) 42.7 (26.5) 6.6 (4.1) ● ●
Shinjuku
JB13 Shinanomachi
信濃町		 1.3 (0.81) 44.0 (27.3) 7.9 (4.9) ● ｜  
JB12 Sendagaya
千駄ケ谷		 0.7 (0.43) 44.7 (27.8) 8.6 (5.3) ● ｜ Ōedo Line (Kokuritsu-kyogijo: E-25) Shibuya
JB11 Yoyogi
代々木		 1.0 (0.62) 45.7 (28.4) 9.6 (6.0) ● ｜
Yamanote
SJKJB10
 Shinjuku
新宿		 0.7 (0.43) 46.4 (28.8) 10.3 (6.4) ● ●
Shinjuku
Chūō
JB09 Ōkubo
大久保		 1.4 (0.87) 47.8 (29.7) 11.7 (7.3) ● ｜ Yamanote Line (Shin-Ōkubo: JY16)
JB08 Higashi-Nakano
東中野		 1.1 (0.68) 48.9 (30.4) 12.8 (8.0) ● ｜ Ōedo Line (E-31) Nakano
JB07 Nakano
中野		 1.9 (1.2) 50.8 (31.6) 14.7 (9.1) ● ● ■
JB06 Kōenji
高円寺		 1.4 (0.87) 52.2 (32.4) 16.1 (10.0) ● ● ▲ Chūō Line (JC07) Suginami
JB05 Asagaya
阿佐ケ谷		 1.2 (0.75) 53.4 (33.2) 17.3 (10.7) ● ● ▲ Chūō Line (JC08)
JB04 Ogikubo
荻窪		 1.4 (0.87) 54.8 (34.1) 18.7 (11.6) ● ● ■
JB03 Nishi-Ogikubo
西荻窪		 1.9 (1.2) 56.7 (35.2) 20.6 (12.8) ● ● ▲ Chūō Line (JC10)
JB02 Kichijōji
吉祥寺		 1.9 (1.2) 58.6 (36.4) 22.5 (14.0) ● ● ■
Musashino
JB01 Mitaka
三鷹		 1.6 (0.99) 60.2 (37.4) 24.1 (15.0) ● ● ■ Chūō Line (JC12; for Takao) Mitaka

Rolling stock

Chūō-Sōbu Line

Trains used on the line are based at Mitaka Depot.

Tozai Line - Toyo Rapid Line through service

Trains run between Mitaka and Tsudanuma (Chūō-Sōbu Line) or Toyo-Katsutadai (Toyo Rapid Line), all via the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line between Nakano and Nishi-Funabashi.

Former rolling stock

Chūō-Sōbu Line

Tozai Line - Toyo Rapid Line through service

  • 301 series 10-car EMUs (light blue stripe) (on Tozai Line inter-running services from 1966 until 2003)

Chūō Line (Early morning / Late night)

Future rolling stock

Timeline

101 series
103 series
201 series
205 series
209-500 series
209-950 / E231-900 series
E231-0 series
E231-500 series
301 series
103-1000, 103-1200 series
E231-800 series
TRTA/Tokyo Metro 5000 series
TRTA 8000 series
TRTA/Tokyo Metro 05 series
Tokyo Metro 07 series
Tokyo Metro 15000 series
│
1965
│
1970
│
1975
│
1980
│
1985
│
1990
│
1995
│
2000
│
2005
│
2010
│
2015
│
2020
Rolling stock transitions since 1965

History

A Chūō–Sōbu Line train crosses a bridge in Chiyoda, Tokyo, 2021

Women-only cars, designed to prevent gropers, were introduced on this line during morning peak periods starting on 20 November 2006.

On 20 August 2016, station numbering was introduced to the Chuo-Sobu line with stations being assigned station numbers between JB01 and JB39. Numbers increase towards in the eastbound direction towards Chiba.

On March 2027, one-person operation commences on a wholy line excluding Tozai Line trains which run as though-service between Funabashi and Tsudanuma, and between Nakano and Mitaka. Therefore, E231-0 series which is not corresponded to one-person operation will withdraw from Chuo-Sobu Line.

References

  1. ↑ "平成27年 大都市交通センサス 首都圏報告書" (PDF). P.92. 国土交通省.
  2. 1 2 "20231215_c01.pdf" (PDF). East Japan Railway Company. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  3. ↑ "2020年3月ダイヤ改正について (Schedule changes for March 2020)" (PDF). 13 December 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 JR首都圏通勤電車図鑑. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 48, no. 570. Koyusha Co., Ltd. October 2008. p. 27.
  5. ↑ 中央総武緩行線でE231系500番台が営業運転を開始 [E231-500 series enters revenue service on Chuo-Sobu Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  6. ↑ 特集 209系 第２章へ [209 series - The second chapter]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 49, no. 576. Koyusha Co., Ltd. April 2009. pp. 9–47.
  7. ↑ About future of E231-0 series runs on Chuo-Sobu Line
  8. ↑ One-person operation commences on Chuo-Sobu Line since March 2027
  9. ↑ "⾸都圏エリアへ 「駅ナンバリング」を導⼊します" [Introduce “station numbering” to the Tokyo metropolitan area] (PDF). jreast.co.jp (in Japanese). 6 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  10. ↑ Kusamachi, Yoshikazu (7 April 2016). "JA・JK・JT・AKB…JR東日本、首都圏で駅ナンバリングなど導入へ" [JA, JK, JT, AKB … JR East to introduce station numbering in the Tokyo metropolitan area]. Response Automotive Media (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.