Sean: 副都心線

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Posted by Sean:
副都心線
http://whiteperil.com/posts/1213750696.shtml


   It would be very unkind to laugh at the [1]difficulties the new subway
   line in Tokyo is experiencing:

     Services on the newly opened Fukutoshin (Subcenter) Subway Line in
     downtown Tokyo have been disrupted for four consecutive days since
     its inauguration on Saturday due to technical problems and errors,
     its operator said.
     "A series of problems were caused by workers' inexperience. We'll
     assign experienced workers to help out in an effort to ensure
     punctual operations," said a spokesman for the line's operator,
     Tokyo Metro Co.
     At around 7:30 a.m. on Tuesday, circuit breakers at Wako and Asaka
     power substations in Saitama Prefecture were tripped, forcing
     trains to stop for 30 seconds, according to Tokyo Metro officials.
     The trouble delayed trains on the Fukutoshin Line as well as the
     Yurakucho Line and Tobu Railway Tojo Line, which operate through
     trains with the trouble-plagued new line, by up to 30 minutes.

   The Fukutoshin Line is of special meaning to me, since I walked
   between Shibuya and Shinjuku Stations via Meiji Avenue several nights
   a week for years. It was my constitutional. I loved looking at the
   cranes and earth-moving equipment in the street. I didn't always love
   the zig-zag temporary sidewalks necessitated by the tunnel
   construction, but progress requires inconvenience. Much of the hard
   thinking I did while deciding whether I wanted to stay in Japan took
   place during these walks.
   The new train line probably will help to relieve congestion on the
   Yamanote Line. I'm not sure I [2]agree (on this as on many other
   things) with Tokyo Metro Governor Shintaro Ishihara, though:

     Prior to its inauguration, an opening ceremony was held at
     Shinjuku-Sanchome Station in Shinjuku-ku on Friday morning,
     attended by Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara and other officials.
     "Whether an urban area can mature depends on efficient means of
     transportation. The new line will lead to the vitalization of
     Tokyo," Ishihara said in his speech.

   Yes, of course, he had to say something upbeat. Still, the idea that
   western Tokyo, along the major artery of Meiji Avenue, needs a new
   train line to help it "mature," is pretty inane. Makes it faster for
   gay guys to get from Shibuya to Shinjuku 2-chome, though!

References

   1. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080617p2a00m0na006000c.html
   2. http://mdn.mainichi.jp/national/news/20080613p2a00m0na012000c.html