Narita Express
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| Franchise(s): | Not subject to franchising; service began 1991 |
| Main route(s): | Omiya Station - Narita International Airport |
| Other route(s): | Takao Station - Shinjuku Station (Chūō Line) Ofuna Station - Shinagawa Station (Yokosuka Line) |
| Fleet size: | -- 253 series sets |
| Stations: | -- |
| Parent company: | East Japan Railway Company |
| Web site: | www.jreast.co.jp/e/nex/ |
Narita Express (成田エクスプレス Narita ekusupuresu?), abbreviated as N'EX, is a limited express (特急 tokkyu?) train operated by East Japan Railway Company, serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations. Services are approximately half-hourly in the mornings and evenings, and hourly through the middle of the day. The main competition for the Narita Express is Keisei Electric Railway's Skyliner.
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[edit] Trains and destinations
Narita Express trains serve various stations in the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area:
Northbound using the Saikyo Line
Westbound using the Chūō Line
Southbound using the Yokosuka Line
Trains are formed of dedicated 253 series EMUs, with all trains passing through Tokyo Station, where services are coupled or uncoupled. Usually, a train from Ofuna or Yokohama will be coupled with a train from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro or Omiya to form one train set for the remainder of the journey to Narita Airport (via the Sobu Line and Narita Line). On the return journey, the reverse is true.
The majority of Narita Express services do not stop between Tokyo and Airport Terminal 2 Station. In the morning and evening rush hours, however, the Narita Express serves as a commuter express, stopping at Chiba, Yotsukaido and Narita. The average time between Tokyo and Narita Airport is between 55 minutes and an hour.
In December 2004, Narita Express service began to and from the hot springs resort of Odawara on a seasonal basis. Every day during holiday and high-travel periods, one train is extended past Ofuna, stopping at Fujisawa, Chigasaki and Hiratsuka before arriving at Odawara. The time between Odawara and Narita Airport is approximately 2 1/2 hours.
All seats are reserved, with both Standard and Green (first class) accommodation available.
[edit] History
Until 1991, rail service to Narita Airport was limited to the Keisei Skyliner, which at the time used a station separated from the terminal complex. JR had initially planned to run a high-speed line, the Narita Shinkansen, to a station underneath the main airport terminal. This plan was abandoned in the 1980s, and the space originally slated for the underground station and Shinkansen tracks was used to connect both the JR Narita Line and Keisei Main Line directly to the terminal. Narita Express began service to the new station on March 19, 1991, and Skyliner switched its service to the new station at the same time.
Until March 2004, another Limited Express service complemented the Narita Express. This train, the Wing Express, had one return working a day between Omiya/Ikebukuro/Shinjuku and Narita Airport. This service ended in March, and was replaced by an additional Narita Express service.
In December 2005, smoking became prohibited on all Narita Express trains.
[edit] Fares to major destinations
As of December, 2005
[edit] Standard Class
From Narita Airport / Airport Terminal 2 to/from:
| Destination | Fare |
|---|---|
| Chiba | ¥1,890 |
| Tokyo | ¥2,940 |
| Shinjuku / Ikebukuro / Shibuya | ¥3,110 |
| Omiya | ¥3,740 |
| Yokohama | ¥4,180 |
| Ofuna / Hachioji / Takao | ¥4,500 |
[edit] Green Car (First Class)
- An individual Green Car Seat can be reserved at a cost of ¥1490, regardless of destination, in addition to the standard class fare.
- A Green Car Compartment, which seats up to 4 people, can be reserved at a cost of ¥6000 for the compartment, regardless of destination, in addition to the standard class fares.
