The Keisei Electric Railway operates over the entire line, while other companies operate over certain sections of it, such as Hokuso Railway. The new line is used by Skyliner limited express services operating at up to 160 km/h (100 mph) using Keisei AE series EMUs.
Operations
Trains utilize the Keisei Electric Railway's Main Line between Keisei Ueno and Keisei-Takasago. Trains run at a maximum speed of 160 km/h (100 mph), thus completing the run from Nippori to Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 in a minimum of 36 minutes, 15 minutes faster than the previous Skyliner route, which took 51 minutes. The reserved-seat Keisei Skyliner limited express fare for the route between Narita airport and either Nippori or Ueno stations is ¥2,580 and takes 36-41 min., but the Access Express commuter fast train costs ¥1,280 and takes about 63–69 min.[1][2] Express trains also operate towards Haneda Airport from Narita Airport (in a long chain of through-service via Keisei-Takasago, Aoto, Oshiage, Sengakuji/Shinagawa, Keikyū-Kamata), connecting the two airports in 92–109 min. for a fare of ¥1,850.
Service on this line commenced on July 17, 2010.[5] The line involved the refurbishment of 32.3 km (20.1 mi) of existing track on the Hokusō Line, as well as the construction of 19.1 km (11.9 mi) of new dual track to Narita Airport, partly using disused rights-of-way originally planned for the cancelled Narita Shinkansen project. The total cost, according to the Narita Rapid Rail Access website, was estimated to be ¥126 billion, or about US$1.3 billion.[6] From the timetable revision on February 26, 2022, Toei 5500 series trains began operating on the line on weekdays.[7]
Future plans
In October 2022, Keisei announced that certain Skyliner trains would begin serving Shin-Kamagaya Station with the intent of improving access to Kashiwa and Matsudo in Chiba Prefecture.[8] The planned implementation date is scheduled for 26 November 2022.
References
This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.
^"京成電鉄「成田スカイアクセス」開業にともない7月17日にダイヤ改正を実施" [Timetable Revisions to take place on Keisei Railway on 17 July for Opening of the Narita Airport Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 28 May 2010. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 31 January 2024.
^"都営浅草線などでダイヤ改正 〜都交5500形がアクセス特急に〜" [Toei Asakusa Line timetable revision]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 2022-02-28. Archived from the original on 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-03-01.
^"京成,11月26日にダイヤ改正を実施" [Keisei implements timetable revision on November 26]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 24 October 2022. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 October 2022.