Haneda Airport Access Line: JR East will open direct train service between Haneda and Tokyo Station

[@jmstransit]

Pretty sure some people will make comments against keeeping the monorail: may I present 1) There are still areas on the monorail route that still see sizeable demand, E.g. Seibijo and Shin-Seibijo (airline/tourist offices). Contrary to that, you might argue that layoffs from COVID will/might reduce demand at this station. 2) Some have stated the monorail's profitability 3) Not to mention there are areas undergoing development, another station in the Hamamatsucho area (1km south) would be ideal

[@Bencentre]

Really enjoying this channel. I always want to know more about Japanese railway development but often information in English is incomplete. Support from Hong Kong 👍👍

[@pakchi70]

Same here

[@AISPs]

Rinkai Line was supposed to be the big ring (plus Musashino line) to divert freight trains from the interior of city, so the tunnel exit for waterfront route is built back then by National Railway, I guess. For the Yamanote route, I believe JR-East has to absorb Rinkai's railway company to solve the issue caused by service interruptions when digging the new tunnel

[@tonamiplayman4305]

This is the most detailed explanation of the Haneda Airport Access line I have come across. I especially liked the explanation of how the Oshio line will be used for portions of this line. Awesome work Takeshi.

[@jonathanvogt2]

Excellent video. Thanks very much!!

[@kuanysh_sartay]

Great video!

[@tomsmith5584]

Interesting. I'm sure JR East would want to run the Narita Express directly to Haneda. The weakness with this line is the difficulty in getting to the International terminal at Haneda.

[@Sacto1654]

They need to build the Haneda Airport Access Line all the way to Terminal 3, the new International Terminal. That way, foreign passenger can directly go to the Tokyo and Ueno Stations with its many important transfers much easier, and can do it with an activated Japan Rail Pass.

[@TheNewGreenIsBlue]

To be fair... foreign passengers don't care TOO much about convenience on their trips, compared to those that use it frequently... which are the main priority. I find the MOST interesting thing about this plan is the potential for Hitachi, Joba, and Tokiwa not running to Shinagawa any longer. In 2027/2028 the Chuo Shinkansen will open at Shinagawa... and I'm sure JR East would prefer people to transfer at Tokyo station to other lines in Tokyo, where they own more land. Before the Haneda Access Line opens, JR must shuttle passengers to Shinagawa to get to Haneda, further strengthening Shinagawa as one of the more important stations in Tokyo... and this contributes to JR Central... which is kind of a frenemy of JR East. After the HAL opens JR East can skip Shinagawa completely to get to Haneda, reducing Shinagawa's importance slightly, and cementing Tokyo station's importance. Right now, Tokyo and Shinagawa stations have about the same number of boardings... number 9 and 10 busiest in Japan... I'm sure JR Central would LOVE to Shinagawa to edge out Tokyo Station as a busier station... and I'm sure JR East REALLY doesn't want Shinagawa to become busier than Tokyo Station.

[@starrwulfe]

I love your channel, I’m also living in Japan and doing some 電車男 articles and videos about the transport system here for some time. Can you talk about Tokyu’s vision to run trains from Tokyu/JR Kamata station into Haneda by dual-gauging the Keikyu Haneda Access Line?

[@pizrw]

6:03 the table at the bottom should be comparing Keikyū & not Tōkyō Monorail

[@JPRailcom]

Thanks for correctinng.

[@rbrbirbi]

Good video

[@magical_catgirl]

I used to use Narita Airport almost every time I traveled to Japan until Australia got Haneda international slots. After Qantas started flights to Haneda, I've preferred Haneda over Narita. When I'm staying in Tokyo, I normally stay in Ikebukuro or Shinagawa and have in most cases used the Keikyū line then changed to Yamanote if needed. I've made the Hamamatsuchō to Daimon station (Odeo line) transfer once, but that is somewhat of a pain when you have large bags. If JR East builds the connection through the Rinkai Line to the Keiyō Line, would they then be able to run through services between Haneda and Narita via the Keiyō Line, Sōbu Main Line and Narita Line, changing to the Sōbu Main Line at Nishi-Funabashi Station?

[@arcitytransspottermy897]

land at narita airport, take the nex to tokyo, then change for haneda access line to haneda airport for next trip perfect for airline-to-airline transit....

[@33jtm33]

There are already some direct trains between the airports, via Narita Skyaccess line > Asakusa line > Keikyu line. Might save 10 minutes or so with this new line.

[@magical_catgirl]

Whenever I've needed to transfer between the airports, I've always used the bus.

[@lars7935]

Would it be possible to connect the Chuo line at Tokyo station to the Ueno Tokyo line? I think it would be theoretically possible to build a ramp on the south side of Tokyo station. This would also enable direct connections to Shinjuku station and beyond.

[@JPRailcom]

No. Chuo line is not connected at Tokyo station.

[@ThatSolidworksGuyVC]

At first glance this looks redundant since the monorail and Keikyu Airport Line exists, but after explanation this might work, given it's like 2 stops between Tokyo Station and the airport. Also weren't there talks of building a Shinkansen link to the airport? In my opinion, on paper the Access New Line (if built to the Shinkansen) might check out but tight schedules might be a problem

[@JPRailcom]

The Shinkansen will not be built on the route to Haneda Airport. The distance between Tokyo Station and Haneda Airport is too close. In addition, the Shinkansen depot that can be seen in the middle of the Haneda Access Line is that of the Tokaido Shinkansen, which is owned by JR Central. The Haneda Access Line will be constructed by JR East, so these are separate companies even for the same JR. And, the relationship between the two companies is not good, so the two companies will not cooperate unfortunately.

[@patrickhalbeisen1440]

Why not extending the monorail to tokyo station instead

[@mikkieugenio]

Just watched the Haneda Access on NHK last night. Was wondering if it's possible for JR to just pay a fee to Keikyu to connect to Haneda but I just found they have different gauges... Anyway will NEX connect Haneda and Narita directly like Keisei-Toei-Keikyu through service? Or maybe via the Seaside route?

[@JPRailcom]

NEX cannot enter the Haneda Access Line. Currently, NEX enters the underground station in Tokyo from the Sobu Main Line. And since it runs the underground line from Tokyo Station to just before Shinagawa Station, NEX cannot enter the Haneda Access Line. Also, NEX will not run on the Seaside line. Because, if NEX goes through this route, NEX will not be able to go to Tokyo Station. According to JR East, there is no plan to run a direct train because the demand for direct connection between Haneda and Narita is not so great.

[@遠見志雄]

@@JPRailcom It is too bad, the Asakusa Bypass line has its merits but will probably not be built now.

[@kouichishammiekawakami3604]

鐵坊主さんですね! 英語もお上手で｡

[@mrrobotnica]

This line will directly benefit JR competitors in airline industry, especially Sapporo or Itami passengers, as this line does not connect to international terminal. Not sure why JR wants to do this.

[@cheungjason4597]

Hokkaido Shinkansen is operated by JR Hokkaido and Tokaido Shinkansen is operated by JR Central.

[@pakchi70]

Ok so this new access line to haneda airport will not stop at Takanawa gateway So how the hell is that station a gateway 🤓

[@00crashtest]

This is a wasted opportunity to not add stops at Tamachi (to transfer to Yamanote Line and Keiyku and Toei at Mita) and Hamasutcho (to transfer to Tokyo Monorail and Toei at Daimon) for both the Ueno-Tokyo Line and Haneda Airport Access Line.

[@flierfy]

This projects aims to improve connections to Haneda aiport and not to replicate existing ones. That means direct links for key stations to Haneda airport which don't have one yet. Keikyu already does connect Tamachi directly to Haneda Airport.