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The Ohedo line of Metropolitan Subway was opened all through the line today. It was advocated widely from the very beginning of year.iOn the left subway map, a big deep red ellipse which connects to Hikarigaoka through the Front of Metropolitan Office Station at the west end of ellipse.) Afternoon, I took a new train from Azabujyuban station to Ueno Okachimachi Station. |
Before the end of Second World War, the government did not permit private railways in suburban of Metropolis to go inside the national railway's Yamate loop line. But after the war, the private lines from the outside Yamate loop line was permitted to enter the center of Metropolis with the result that many subway lines were built there. But all these lines get together to compose a big hub. The contribution of new Ohedo line to promote transportation efficiency within the Metropolis has been expected as a second loop of JR Yamate line. After a ride on the new line this afternoon, I found it was not built from the view point of the transportation economy but was made along the political demands. Years ago when they decided to move the main Metropolitan office to West Shinjuku, people complained it would be difficult access of the new location. In order to cope with such criticism, the Metropolitan Office decided to build the new line in haste. Although the necessity of new loop line had been studied from the Transportation Economy, they put top priority on rough and sloppy works over everything, I presume.
For example, the size of train is small. It looks like a tram of old subway line which was built before the first world war in city of London. It is small and narrow. It might not be exaggeration to say it looks like a toy. The Metropolitan Mita line or the Subway Corporation's Namboku line, both of them went in operation in late last month, has dual guarded doors on their platforms. When I rode on them first time, I was impressed that this is the trains for 21st century. But the Ohedo line, which was completed just after one month, has no such safe guards. The new line brought back to us to the early 20th century.
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| Azabujyuban station's ticket office of Ohedo line. It is a few ten meters under ground. It is very crowded.. | The train looks like toy.B | Inside of train is narrow. |
Many stations were built deep in under ground. Before passengers reach train platforms, they have to take a few escalators successively. When they transfer lines, they are forced to walk on long corridors, sometimes in mazes. If they have more time, they would be able to relocate old stations for more convenience of passengers. I presume they hasted the construction too fast.
I have another big doubt on this new line, When I left my home, the weather station said it would have strong north wind so that it might be cold. But I felt it was not so cold, I left my home without carrying coat or jacket. But I felt very warm within the train, at platforms or under ground corridors. I felt I was refreshed when I reached JR Okachimachi station's platform after a long walk through underground corridor. I am afraid the ventilating machine capacity is not big enough. They should put signs on every station to show temperature, humidity and cleanness of air. In the worst case, the underground city might become hotbeds for chronic oxygen deficient disease or influenza.
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| Okachimachi station's ticket gate of Ohedo line | A long under ground corridor between Ohedo line Okachimachi Station and JR Okachimachi Station | Shops at the exit of left underground corridor |