Rinkai Line りんかい線 |
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TWR 70-000 series train on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway, heading towards Ōsaki |
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| Overview | |
| Locale | Tokyo |
| Termini | Shin-Kiba Ōsaki |
| Stations | 8 |
| Daily ridership | 200,200 [1] |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 1996 |
| Owner | Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit |
| Rolling stock | TWR 70-000 series, etc. |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 12.2 km (7.58 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead catenary |
The Rinkai Line (りんかい線 Rinkai-sen) is a railway line located in Tokyo, Japan. It is the only line operated by the third-sector company Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit. It connects central Tokyo to the artificial islands of Aomi and Odaiba. The line is served by some trains on the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Saikyō Line which continue on to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ōmiya, and Kawagoe.
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While usually not considered an official part of the Tokyo subway network, the Rinkai Line runs underground for nearly 10 km of its 12.2 km distance, going as low as 40 meters below the ground when crossing under the Port of Tokyo. Only the Shinonome – Shin-Kiba segment (which uses the former Keiyō Freight line) is elevated.
Construction of the line started in 1992, with the eastern end of the line using the right-of-way of the Keiyō Freight line (abandoned in 1983).[2] The first portion of the line between Shin-Kiba and Tokyo Teleport opened for service on March 30, 1996, initially under the name Rinkai Fukutoshin Line (臨海副都心線 Rinkai-fukutoshin-sen). The name was officially changed to the Rinkai Line on September 1, 2000. The extension to Tennōzu Isle opened on March 31, 2001 and the final portion to Osaki on December 1, 2002.
The project ran severely over budget, with an estimated final cost of over ¥440 billion.[2] In 2005, the Rinkai Line's average ridership was 140,000 passengers per day[2] and, in 2006, the line finally registered its first operational profit, although it still suffers from interest payments on ¥389 billion yen in debt. By comparison, the competing elevated Yurikamome line is profitable, thanks to lower construction expenses, higher ticket prices and popularity among tourists and leisure visitors for its scenic views.[3]
However, the Rinkai Line's ridership has steadily increased since, reaching 200,200 passengers per day in 2010. The ridership is forecast to increase further due to future development planned for the area served by the line.
All stations are located in Tokyo. All trains stop at every station on the line.
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between Stations |
Total | ||||
| Shin-Kiba | 新木場 | - | 0.0 | Keiyō Line Tokyo Metro Yūrakuchō Line (Y-24) |
Kōtō |
| Shinonome | 東雲 | 2.2 | 2.2 | ||
| Kokusai-Tenjijō | 国際展示場 | 1.3 | 3.5 | Yurikamome (Ariake: U-12) | |
| Tokyo Teleport | 東京テレポート | 1.4 | 4.9 | Yurikamome (Odaiba-Kaihinkōen: U-06, Aomi: U-10) | |
| Tennōzu Isle | 天王洲アイル | 2.9 | 7.8 | Tokyo Monorail | Shinagawa |
| Shinagawa Seaside | 品川シーサイド | 1.1 | 8.9 | ||
| Ōimachi | 大井町 | 1.6 | 10.5 | Keihin-Tōhoku Line Tōkyū Ōimachi Line |
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| Ōsaki | 大崎 | 1.7 | 12.2 | Saikyō Line (through via Ōmiya to Kawagoe on the Kawagoe Line), Yamanote Line, Shōnan Shinjuku Line | |
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