Narita Rapid Railway

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The Narita Rapid Railway (成田新高速鉄道線, Narita Shin-Kōsoku Tetsudō-sen^?) is a new rapid rail link under construction between Tokyo and Narita Airport.

The project involves the refurbishment of 32.3 km of existing track on the Hokuso Line and the Chiba New Town Line, as well as the construction of 19.1 km of new 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 Railway website, is estimated to be ¥1.26 trillion, or about US$10.7 billion. ^[1]

When complete in 2010 (planned), trains will also utilize the Keisei Electric Railway's Main Line between Ueno and Keisei-Takasago. Trains are planned to run at a maximum speed of 160 km/h and could thus complete the run from Nippori to the airport in 36 minutes, 15 minutes faster than the current 51 minutes. There are also plans to build a spur from the Toei Asakusa Line to Tokyo Station, opening a (potentially) faster route from Tokyo Station to the airport through the Keisei Oshiage Line.

The line will be constructed using standard gauge (1435mm) tracks, as this is the gauge used by the existing networks with which it will connect.