Tokyo subway line to have retro look from spring 2012

Tokyo, Feb 18 (Kyodo) The Tokyo Metro Ginza Line willhave in spring of 2012 a new car resembling ones that ran onthe line when it opened in 1927 as Japan''s first subway line,its operator said here.

The new car will be painted yellow except for itschocolate-colored roof, the same as the cars that ran betweenUeno and Asakusa, Tokyo Metro Co said. The line was laterextended gradually and it now connects Asakusa and Shibuya.

But despite its retro look, the new vehicle will beloaded with a number of latest technologies to reduce noiseand vibrations, and cut down on electricity use, the companysaid. It will also have a 46-centimer-wide seating space perpassenger, or 3 cm wider than the current train cars onthe line.

After one such rolling stock is introduced, the companywill replace the remaining 37 Ginza Line cars with new cars instages beginning in spring of 2013.

The original Ginza Line cars were made of steel, whichwas epoch-making at the time when railway cars were usuallymade of wood. The subways were also equipped with an automatictrain-stop system. They were decommissioned in 1968. (Kyodo)