Asakusa. Construction of this line began on August 27, 1956 after years of delays, and the initial 3.2 km segment between Oshiage and Asakusabashi opened on December 4, 1960. The line then opened in stages from north to south: May 1962: Asakusabashi to Higashi-Nihombashi September 1962: Higashi-Nihombashi to Ningyōchō February 1963: Ningyōchō to Higashi-Ginza December 1963: Higashi-Ginza to Shimbashi October 1964: Shimbashi to Daimon June 1968: Daimon to Sengakuji (Through service with Keikyū begins) November 15, 1968: Sengakuji to Nishi-Magome The line was named Asakusa Line on July 1, 1978. From 1998 to 2002, the Asakusa Line was used as part of a rail connection between Tokyo's two major airports, Haneda and Narita. While a few trains still run between the airports, the service has greatly diminished in frequency since 2002. In 2005, a research group of government, metropolitan and railway company officials proposed that the Asakusa Line be connected to Tokyo Station via a spur to the north of Takarachō Station. This would provide Tokyo Station's first direct connection to the Toei subway network. It would also make it possible to reach Haneda Airport in 25 minutes (versus 35 minutes today) and Narita Airport in 40 minutes (versus 57 minutes today). This plan has yet to be finalized or formally adopted. Authorities are re-considering a similar plan as part of the infrastructure improvements for the 2020 Summer Olympics; the proposed line would cut travel time to Haneda from 30 minutes to 18 minutes, and to Narita from 55 minutes to 36 minutes, at a total cost of around 400 billion yen. References External links Bureau of Transportation, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Asakusa Railway lines in Tokyo Standard gauge railways in Japan Railway lines opened in 1960 1500 V DC railway electrification 1960 establishments in Japan