Keiyō Line


The Keiyō Line is a railway line connecting Tokyo and Chiba in Japan, paralleling the edge of Tokyo Bay. It is operated by the East Japan Railway Company. The line forms part of what JR East refers to as the "Tokyo Mega Loop" around Tokyo, consisting of the Keiyo Line, Musashino Line, Nambu Line, and Yokohama Line. It provides the main rail access to the Tokyo Disney Resort and the Makuhari Messe exhibition center. The terminus at Tokyo Station is located underground, some distance to the south of the main station complex approximately halfway to Yūrakuchō Station. This means transfer between other lines at Tokyo Station can take between 15 and 20 minutes. The name "Keiyō" is derived from the second characters of the names of the locations linked by the line, Tokyo and Chiba. It should not be confused with the Keiō Line, a privately operated commuter line in western Tokyo.

Services

There is a new station construction plan between Shin-Narashino Station and Kaihimmakuhari Station.

Rolling stock

All Keiyō Line and Musashino Line rolling stock is based at the Keiyō Rolling Stock Center near Shin-Narashino Station.

Keiyō Line

Keiyō Line

Inter-running from the Musashino Line to the Keiyō Line commenced on 1 December 1988.
The Keiyo Line was initially planned as a freight-only line. Its first section opened on 10 May 1975 as a 6.5 km link between the Chiba Freight Terminal and the freight yard next to Soga Station. Passenger service began on 3 March 1986 between and, and was extended eastward to Soga and westward to Shin-Kiba on 1 December 1988.
The final section of the Keiyo Line between Tokyo and Shin-Kiba opened on 10 March 1990. The platforms at Tokyo Station were originally built to accommodate the Narita Shinkansen, a planned high-speed rail line between central Tokyo and Narita International Airport.
Planners originally envisioned the Keiyo Line interfacing with the Rinkai Line at Shin-Kiba, thus providing a through rail connection between Chiba and the Tokyo Freight Terminal in eastern Shinagawa, and also completing the outer loop for freight trains around Tokyo formed by the Musashino Line. This original plan would also allow through service with the Tokaido Main Line, allowing freight trains from central and western Japan to reach Chiba and points east.
However, in the 1990s, as the artificial island of Odaiba began developing as a commercial and tourist area in the middle of the Rinkai Line route, the Rinkai Line was re-purposed for use as a passenger line. While there is a through connection between the Rinkai Line and the Keiyo Line, it is only used by passenger trains in charter service, usually carrying groups to the Tokyo Disney Resort.

Timeline