Nanakuma Line

The line is long and serves eighteen stations across five wards in Fukuoka. All stations are equipped with platform screen doors. Unlike the Airport Line and the Hakozaki Line which both run at , the Nanakuma Line runs on standard gauge. Station numbering for all stations on the Fukuoka City Subway was introduced in March 2011. During peak hours, the frequency is one train every 3 minutes 45 seconds. Starting on 11 March 2023, the interval was increased to every 3 minutes 30 seconds. ==Stations==

All stations are in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. == History ==

This is the fourth linear motor subway line to be built in Japan, opening on 3 February 2005. The Nanakuma Line was originally conceived in the 1960s to provide access to Nakamura Gakuen University and Fukuoka University, and in 1975 it was planned to run from Tenjin-Minami Station to Jōnan Station as a linear-motored subway, but the plan was subsequently amended for the line to end at Hashimoto Station. The name for the line was selected in a naming contest. "Nanakuma Line", which finished third, was selected over the first-place "Jonan Line" and runner-up "Fukudai Line" because of its stronger historical connotations as well as being more geographically accurate compared to the other names. Nanakuma is a district in Jōnan ward which is close to the center of the line. On 7 January 2021, Fukuoka City announced the planned opening of the extension by March 2023. The city also reported that there were no delays as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. The extension to Hakata Station via Kushida Shrine Station began operation on 27 March 2023. Future Plans Fukuoka Airport extension On 21 November 2022, Fukuoka mayor Sōichirō Takashima announced plans to extend the Nanakuma line to Fukuoka Airport. The extension is expected to head east from the terminus at Hakata Station and run for around to the international terminal at the airport. Currently, the domestic terminal at Fukuoka Airport is served by the Airport Line on the subway network. However, the international terminal lacks a rail connection. A free shuttle bus currently connects the two terminals. == Rolling stock ==

The line currently employs four-car long 3000 series trains purchased in 2005 for the start of revenue service. There are 17 sets accounting for 68 cars. A further four sets were ordered in 2021. These sets, designated as 3000A series, feature a blue and green livery and were intended for an increase in service when the Nanakuma Line was extended from to in March 2023. ==See also==