passenger levels 2013, Osaka, Tokyo, and Nagoya

[miyakoji]

Did anyone post this yet?

 

http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/09/07/the-most-crowded-train-lines-during-rush-hour-in-tokyo-osaka-and-nagoya-are/

 

Pretty interesting, data is apparently from MLIT, so I think it's trustworthy.  I never lived in Kanto, so the figures for those lines don't mean a lot to me, other than explaining why JR East buys so many new trains .

 

The figures for Osaka and Nagoya, however, help me picture train interiors, platforms, and seas of people at the gates :).  The private railways really take the prize in Osaka, and in Nagoya, the municipal subway system appears the most in the list.  Also interesting to see how Meitetsu places.  JR Central only appears once, at number 5, further reinforcing my impression that they probably don't want to worry about the zairai lines too much :).

[railsquid]

 

Keihin Tohoku Line (from Ueno to Okachimachi), JR East: 200%

 

This will be relieved by the re-connection of the Tohoku line tracks to Tokyo station (the track looks complete and they've been running test trains, I think the opening will be early 2015).

 

Meanwhile, glad I don't commute any more :)

[bikkuri bahn]

Here's the actual data from the MLIT:

http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001050444.pdf

*it includes average train length during the rush hour measured, the number of trains/hour, and the passenger throughput. Interesting.

 

A bit older group of slides, in the first one you can see that crowding has actually decreased quite a bit in all three metro areas since the Showa period. Also, the goal is to reduce crowding to an average of 150% for all lines.  In the third slide, you can see how the introduction of the E233 has reduced crowding on the Keihin Tohoku Line, from 209% to 194% between Ueno and Okachimachi, and from 197% to 183% between Oimachi and Shinagawa.

http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000225773.pdf

 

Blog post with a ranking from #1 to #126.  Also the bottom feeders for private railways (under 59%), I think this excludes third sector railways and lines that receive considerable public assistance, which likely have even lower figures.

http://ameblo.jp/cometoknow/entry-11524886524.html

Edited September 8, 2014 by bikkuri bahn

[Sean]

I live in Nagoya and am not surprised that the Higashiyama line is the busiest.  I usually commute by bicycle but when its raining I take that line and at rush hour it is crazy packed.

 

Actually, 14 years ago I used to commute by the busiest line in the Kansai area (JR Kobe line) and well remember the standing room only ride home even at 10 or 11PM.  Makes me a bit nostalgic.

[Sacto1985]

It's going to be very interesting to see what happens the Yamanote Line between Ueno and Shinagawa Stations and the Keihin Tōhoku Line between Omiya and Shinagawa once the new Ueno-Tokyo Line opens in March 2015. That new line will allow trains coming in from Toride on the Jōban Line, Utsunomiya on the Utsunomiya Line portion of the Tōhoku Main Line, and Takasaki on the Takasaki Line to go as far as Shinagawa initially and eventually to Yokohama. That right there could result in much emptier trains especially on the Keihin Tōhoku Line.