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A 9000 series train on the Namboku Line.

Namboku Line

The Namboku Line (南北線, Nanboku-sen^?) is a subway line, part of the Tokyo Metro system in Tokyo, Japan. The name of the route means South-North Line, and it runs from Meguro Station in the south through 17 intermediate stations to Akabane-Iwabuchi Station in the north. The Namboku Line color on maps is emerald green. Its stations carry the letter N followed by a number. The Namboku Line was referred to as Line 7 during the planning stages, thus the official name which is seldom used is Line 7 Namboku Line (7号線南北線, 7 gōsen Namboku sen^?).

Namboku Line trains interoperate with the Meguro Line of Tokyu Corporation past Meguro Station, and with the Saitama Rapid Railway Line beyond Akabane-Iwabuchi Station.

The 21.3 km Namboku Line is Tokyo Metro's newest line, featuring advanced technology including full automatic train operation and platform screen doors. Although the line was originally proposed in 1968, construction did not begin until the 1980s, partly due to the right-of-way to meguro with Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation Mita Line. The first segment from Komagome to Akabane-Iwabuchi opened on November 29, 1991.

The line initially operated with four-car EMUs. Upon its extension to Yotsuya in 1996, the formations were extended to six cars. All stations are fitted to handle eight-car, but the length have yet to be used.

The extension to Tameike-Sannō was completed in 1997, and the last stretch from Tameike-Sanno to Meguro was completed on September 26, 2000. The right-of-way and stations between Shirokane-Takanawa and Meguro are shared with the Toei Mita Line. Under an agreement between Tokyo Metro and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the fare for this section is calculated on the Toei fare system for passengers traveling to stations on the Mita Line past Shirokane-Takanawa, on the Metro fare system for passengers traveling to stations on the Namboku Line past Shirokane-Takanawa, and on the system "most beneficial to the passenger" (presently the Metro schedule) for travel solely on the shared sector.

Through service with the Saitama Rapid Railway line commenced in 2001 and accommodated traffic to and from Saitama Stadium during the 2002 World Cup. There are plans to eventually extend this service to the Utsunomiya Line through the Tōbu Noda Line.