Akabane Line

Akabane Line
Saikyō Line 205 series train at Ikebukuro in 2007
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Tokyo
Termini	Ikebukuro Akabane
Stations	4
Operation
Opened	1885
Owner	JR East
Technical
Line length	5.5 km (3.4 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	95 km/h (60 mph)

The Akabane Line (赤羽線, Akabane-sen) is a railway line of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) in Tokyo, Japan. It connects Ikebukuro Station in Toshima Ward and Akabane Station in Kita Ward. Signs in the stations refer to the line as the Saikyō Line but the official name of this portion of the line is Akabane Line.

Stations

• All Saikyō Line trains, including rapid and commuter rapid services, stop at all four stations on the Akabane Line.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Location
Ikebukuro	池袋	0.0	Toshima, Tokyo
Itabashi	板橋	1.8	Itabashi, Tokyo
Jūjō	十条	3.5	Kita, Tokyo
Akabane	赤羽	5.5

Rolling stock

Present

The line uses 205 series and TWR 70-000 series 10-car electric multiple units.

Past

Akabane Line 103 series train in 1979

• 72 series 8-car EMUs (1953–1967)
• 101 series 8-car EMUs (1967–1978)
• 103 series 8/10-car EMUs (1978–1985)

History

The line opened on 1 March 1885 as a segment of the Nippon Railway Shinagawa Line. That company was nationalized in 1906. Electric service began in 1909. The line used the name Akabane Line from 1972 to 1985, giving up the status as a branch of Yamanote Line. Freight service ended in 1999.

From 30 September 1985, the Akabane Line was absorbed into the new Saikyō Line (between Shinjuku and Ōmiya) together with the newly-built section of the Tōhoku Main Line (between Akabane and Ōmiya). The Akabane Line name disappeared from daily use from this time.