Meijō Line

The Meijō Line (名城線) is a subway line forming part of the Nagoya Municipal Subway system in Nagoya, Japan, operated by Transportation Bureau City of Nagoya. It is a loop line that runs from Kanayama, via Sakae, Ōzone, Nagoya Daigaku, and back to Kanayama, all within Nagoya. The Meijō Line color on maps is wisteria purple. Its stations are numbered with the prefix "M". Officially, the line consists of Nagoya City Rapid Railway Line 2 (名古屋市高速度鉄道第2号線), the western part, and Line 4 (第4号線), the eastern part. All the stations accept manaca, a rechargeable contactless smart card.

The Meijō Line is the second loop subway line built in Japan, after Toei Ōedo Line. The Ōedo Line, however, is not a true loop line as it is operated like a 6 lying on its side, with trains from the western Hikarigaoka terminus running anticlockwise around the loop and terminating at Tochōmae Station and then returning around the loop to Hikarigaoka. Thus the Meijō Line is the first (and currently the only) true loop subway line in the nation. The line is longer than the JR Ōsaka Loop Line (21.7 km), but shorter than the JR Yamanote Line (34.5 km). It takes 48 minutes to complete the loop.

The name Meijō is derived from the abbreviated kanji form of Nagoya Castle (名古屋城).

Stations

 * 1: Planned lines.
 * 2: Through service to/from Meijō Line.

Meikō Line
The Meikō Line (名港線) is a subway line forming part of the Nagoya Municipal Subway system in Nagoya, Japan, operated by Transportation Bureau City of Nagoya. It runs from Kanayama Station in Naka Ward to Nagoyako Station in Minato Ward, all within Nagoya. The Meikō Line color on maps is a stripe of wisteria purple and white. Its stations are numbered with the prefix "E". Officially, the line is part of Nagoya City Rapid Railway Line 2 (名古屋市高速度鉄道第2号線). All the stations accept manaca, a rechargeable contactless smart card. The line has through services with the Meijō Line.

History
The line was originally the part of Meijō Line. When Line 4, the eastern part of the current loop line, was completed in 2004, the whole of the loop (consisting of part of Line 2 and line 4) was renamed the Meijō Line, and the remaining section between Kanayama and Nagoyakō, outside the loop, became the Meikō Line. The name Meikō derives from the abbreviated kanji form of Nagoya Port (名古屋港).

Women-only cars were introduced on the line on 4 July 2016, operating in the mornings until 09:00.

Current

 * 2000 series (since 1989)

Former

 * 1000/1100/1200 series (from 1965 until 2000)

History
The first section of Line 2, between Sakae-machi (now named Sakae) and Shiyakusho (now named Nagoyajo), opened in 1965. The line was named Meijō Line in 1969, and the extension was completed in 1971. Line 4 opened its first section between Aratama-bashi and Kanayama in 1974. The line extension was completed in 2004, making a loop line together with Line 2. At the same time, the whole loop line was renamed the Meijō Line, and the section of Line 2 between Kanayama and Nagoyakō, outside the loop, became the Meikō Line.

Women-only cars were introduced on the line on 4 July 2016, operating in the mornings until 09:00.