Nanakuma_Line

Nanakuma Line

Nanakuma Line

Metro line in Fukuoka prefecture, Japan

The Nanakuma Line (七隈線, Nanakuma-sen) is a subway line, part of the Fukuoka City Subway system in Fukuoka, Japan. It runs from Hashimoto Station in Nishi Ward to Hakata Station in Hakata Ward, all within Fukuoka. The line's color on maps is green. Officially, the line is called Line 3 (Nanakuma Line) (3号線(七隈線), San-gō-sen (Nanakuma-sen)). Like other Fukuoka City Subway lines, stations are equipped with automatic platform gates, and trains are automatically operated by ATO system.

Quick Facts Overview, Locale ...

Overview

The line is 12 km (7.5 mi) long and serves eight stations across four wards in Fukuoka. All stations are equipped with platform screen doors.[1]

Unlike the Airport Line and the Hakozaki Line which both run at 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), the Nanakuma line runs on 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge.

Station numbering for all stations on the Fukuoka City Subway was introduced in March 2011.[2]

During peak hours, the frequency is one train every 3 minutes 45 seconds. Starting on 11 March 2023, the interval was increased to every 3 minutes 30 seconds.[3]

Stations

All stations are in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture.

More information No., Station ...

History

This is the fourth linear motor subway line to be built in Japan, opening on 3 February 2005. The Nanakuma Line was originally conceived in the 1960s to provide access to Nakamura Gakuen University and Fukuoka University, and in 1975 it was planned to run from Tenjin-Minami Station to Jōnan Station as a linear-motored subway, but the plan was subsequently amended for the line to end at Hashimoto Station.

The name for the line was selected in a naming contest.[4] "Nanakuma Line", which finished third, was selected over the first-place "Jonan Line" and runner-up "Fukudai Line" because of its stronger historical connotations as well as being more geographically accurate compared to the other names. Nanakuma is a district in Jōnan ward which is close to the center of the line.[4]

The line links the Central business district and the southwestern part of the city which previously did not have a railway line.

Construction on a 1.6 km (0.99 mi) extension from Tenjin-Minami to Hakata station via Canal City received its final planning permissions in 2014. The plan also included a new station in the area of the Kushida Shrine. Construction was initially scheduled to be completed by 2020, but delays after a sinkhole opening up in front of JR Hakata Station pushed the schedule up by three years.[5] On 7 January 2021, Fukuoka City announced the planned opening of the extension by March 2023.[6] The city also reported that there were no delays as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The extension to Hakata Station via Kushida Shrine Station began operation on 27 March 2023.[7]

Future Plans

Fukuoka Airport extension

On 21 November 2022, Fukuoka mayor Sōichirō Takashima announced plans to extend the Nanakuma line to Fukuoka Airport.[8] The extension is expected to head east from the terminus at Hakata Station and run for around 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the international terminal at the airport.[9] Currently, the domestic terminal at Fukuoka Airport is served by the Kūkō Line on the subway network. However, the international terminal lacks a rail connection. A free shuttle bus currently connects the two terminals.[8]

Rolling Stock

Main article: Fukuoka Subway 3000 series

The line currently employs four-car long 3000 series trains purchased in 2005 for the start of revenue service. There are 17 sets accounting for 68 cars.[10]

A further four sets were ordered in 2021. These sets, designated as 3000A series, feature a blue and green livery and were intended for an increase in service when the Nanakuma Line was extended from Tenjin-Minami to Hakata in March 2023.[11]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Movable Platform Doors: Make the station platform a safe and comfortable space". mitsubishielectric.co.jp. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  2. [2]
    "駅ナンバリング(駅番号制)の導入について" [About the introduction of station numbering (station numbering system)]. subway.city.fukuoka.lg.jp (in Japanese). 10 October 2011. Archived from the original on 19 January 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. [3]
    "福岡市地下鉄，3月11日に七隈線でダイヤ改正を実施" [Fukuoka Subway Nanakuma Line Prepares for a Timetable Revision Scheduled for 11 March]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 5 February 2023. Archived from the original on 5 February 2023. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  4. [4]
    "３号線 愛称は「七隈線」 福岡市営地下鉄" [Line 3 Nicknamed "Nanakuma Line" Fukuoka Municipal Subway]. nishinippon.co.jp (in Japanese). 21 June 2006. Archived from the original on 18 November 2005. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  5. [5]
    "七隈線延伸工事に係る道路陥没事故報告 福岡市交通局 （報告資料）" [Report of Road Collapse Accident Related to Nanakuma Line Extension Work Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau (Report Material)] (PDF). subway.city.fukuoka.lg.jp (in Japanese). 12 May 2017. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2020. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. [6]
    "【速報】地下鉄七隈線の博多駅延伸 23年3月開業、福岡市が方針固める" [[Breaking news] Fukuoka City announces the extension to Hakata Station of the Subway Nanakuma Line to open in March 2023]. Nishi Nippon Shimbun (in Japanese). 7 January 2022.
  7. [7]
    "福岡市交通局，七隈線延伸区間（天神南—博多間）の開業は2023年3月27日に" [Fukuoka City Transportation Bureau, Nanakuma Line extension section (Tenjin Minami - Hakata) will open on 27 March 2023]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 1 September 2022. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
  8. [8]
    "地下鉄七隈線、福岡空港国際線へ延伸検討…高島市長：地域ニュース" [Nanakuma Line Extension to Fukuoka Airport Under Consideration: Mayor Takashima]. Yomiuri Shimbun Online (in Japanese). 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  9. [9]
    "福岡地下鉄七隈線「次の延伸」は福岡空港の国際線か 市長「総合的に検討」" [Mayor Considers Rail Extension to International Terminal at Fukuoka Airport]. news.railway-pressnet.com (in Japanese). 21 November 2022. Archived from the original on 21 November 2022. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  10. [10]
    "福岡市地下鉄事業概要 令和2年" [Fukuoka City Subway Business Overview 2019] (PDF). city.fukuoka.lg.jp (in Japanese). 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  11. [11]
    "Fukuoka City Subway orders sky and mountain liveried trainsets". railwaygazette.com/metro-report. DVV Media International. 13 July 2021. Retrieved 27 March 2023.
Share this article:

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Nanakuma_Line, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.