Opened 1897 Electrification 1,500 V DC overhead | Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | |
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Type Heavy rail/Commuter rail | ||
Jr narita line driver s view from abiko to narita in japan
The Narita Line (成田線, Narita-sen) is the name for a combination of three railway lines located in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
Contents
- Jr narita line driver s view from abiko to narita in japan
- Narita airport station narita line jr east narita sky access kesei main line
- Main line and Airport branch line
- Abiko branch line
- Rolling stock
- Past
- History
- Former connecting lines
- Accidents
- References
The main line connects Sakura Station and Matsugishi Station (as an alternate route to the Sōbu Main Line), and is sometimes referred to as the Samatsu Line (佐松線, Samatsu-sen). A branch line from Abiko Station to Narita Station is often called the Abiko Line (我孫子線, Abiko-sen), and a second branch, known as the Airport Line (空港線, Kūkō-sen) connects Narita to Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station. The first two lines are owned and operated by JR East; the Airport Line is owned by a separate company, Narita Airport Rapid Railway, which allows JR East and Keisei Railway to use the line for passenger services.
Narita airport station narita line jr east narita sky access kesei main line
Main line and Airport branch line
Narita Express trains travel on the Narita Line but stop only at Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 and Narita Airport Terminal 1 stations, except during morning and evening rush hours when some trains stop at Narita Station.
Rapid commuter trains run between Tokyo and Narita Airport Terminal 1, stopping at all stations between Tsuga and Narita Airport Terminal 1.
Abiko branch line
Rapid service trains on the Abiko branch line stop at all stations.
Rolling stock
Past
History
The Sakura - Narita - Namegawa section of the line was opened on 19 January 1897, by Sobu Railway Co., extended to Sawara the following year. The Narita - Abiko branch opened in 1901. The company was nationalised in 1920, and the Sawara - Matsugishi section opened between 1931 and 1933.
The Sakura - Narita section was electrified (at 1,500 V DC overhead) in 1968, with automatic signalling commissioned at the same time. CTC signalling was commissioned between Narita and Katori in 1970, and the Abiko branch was electrified from 1 October 1973. The Natira - Matsugishi section was electrified in 1974, and freight services ceased between 1984 and 1986.
The Sakura - Narita section was duplicated in 1986, and the Airport branch opened in 1991 as an electrified, CTC-signalled line.
Former connecting lines
The Narita Electric Railway Co. operated a 5km 1372mm gauge line electrified at 600 VDC from Fudoson (adjacent to the Narita temple) to Sogo between 1910 and 1944 that connected at this station.
In 1911 the Narita Railway Co. opened a 21km, 600mm (~1'11.5") gauge line to Tako. The line closed in 1918. In 1917 the company opened a 14km, 600mm gauge line from Sanrizuka (9km from Narita) to Yachimata on the Sobu Main Line. Between 1926 and 1928 the Narita Railway Co. reopened the Tako line, converted it to 1067mm gauge, and extended it 9km to Youkaichiba, also on the Sobu Main Line. The line to Yachimata was also converted to 1067mm gauge in 1928, and closed in 1940. The Tako line closed in 1944.
Accidents
In the early hours of 10 March 2011, a freight train carrying ethylene oxide derailed and overturned on the Narita Line near Namegawa Station.