History
Right now, there are two metro networks in Tokyo. The first subway line was opened in 1927 by the Teito Rapid Transit Authority (TRTA or "Eidan"), which currently operates 8 lines, 148 stations, 162 kilometres of track, and 2,355 vehicles. The Tokyo Metropolitan Transportation Bureau (TBTMG or "Toei") operates 4 lines covering 68 kilometres of track, 69 stations, and 624 metro cars. The number of passengers carried by these two networks is enormous: of Tokyo's total population of 11 million, 7.4 million ride the metro daily; 5.8 million passengers are carried by Eidan and 1.6 million by Toei.

Although the construction of the two subway systems was originally modelled after its European and American antecedents, it soon evolved into a unique underground city. In the bigger stations, underground concourses started to unfold and underground markets and shopping centres grew to unprecedented seizes. Many of Tokyo's metro stations are now in fact transformed into underground cities complete with shopping centres and multi-level streets. The scale on which this is done is unprecedented in the whole world.

The congestion during rush hours inside the Tokyo mass transit system is probably another world record. Nevertheless, it works well due to the deployment of efficient crowd management techniques and the disciplined attitude of the Japanese travellers. Trains run frequent and stop exactly at the pre-arranged positions. Waiting passengers form systematic rows and politely grant incoming passengers the opportunity to alight. During the notorious rush hours, the passengers are packed inside the trains like sardines in a tin and sometimes even pressed in more tightly by professional pushers.

Source: López, M.J.J., Crime Prevention Guidelines for the Construction & Management of Metro Systems, Den Haag: RCM-advies 1996, pg. 23-25.

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