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Rinkai Line

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Rinkai Line
TWR 70-000 series train on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway, heading towards Ōsaki
Overview
OwnerTokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit
LocaleTokyo
Termini
Stations8
Service
Depot(s)Yashio
Rolling stockTWR 70-000 series, etc.
Daily ridership200,200[1]
History
Opened1996
Technical
Line length12.2 km (7.6 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 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.

Overview

While not part of the Tokyo subway network (as it was built to JR specifications), the Rinkai Line is fully grade separated and 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. The Shinonome – Shin-Kiba segment (which uses the former Keiyō Freight line) is elevated.

Station list

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 ■ Keiyo Line
Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (Y-24) 		Kōtō
Tokyo 東雲 2.2 2.2  
Kokusai-Tenjijō 国際展示場 1.3 3.5 ■ Yurikamome (Tokyo: 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-Tohoku Line
Tokyu Oimachi Line
Ōsaki 大崎 1.7 12.2 ■ Saikyo Line (through via Saitama to Kawagoe on the Kawagoe Line), Yamanote Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line

Rolling stock

Yashio Depot, January 2010

The TWR 70-000 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains are based at Yashio Depot, which is accessed via a spur located between Tennōzu Isle Station and Tokyo Teleport Station (the spur track also provides access to Tokyo Freight Terminal), while the 205 and E233 series trains are based at Kawagoe Depot.

The first of a fleet of 31 new 10-car E233-7000 series sets were introduced on Saikyō Line, Kawagoe Line, and Rinkai Line services between Kawagoe and Shin-Kiba from 30 June 2013, displacing the fleet of 205 series EMUs.[3][4] As of February 2015, one 205 series set, 28, remains in service while the E233-7000 series fleet undergoes modifications.[5]

  • TWR 70-000 series EMU
    TWR 70-000 series EMU
  • A JR East 205 series EMU on the Rinkai Line, April 2015
    A JR East 205 series EMU on the Rinkai Line, April 2015
  • A JR East E233-7000 series EMU
    A JR East E233-7000 series EMU

History

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).[6] 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.[6] In 2005, the Rinkai Line's average ridership was 140,000 passengers per day[6] and, in 2006, the line finally registered its first operational profit, although interest payments on ¥389 billion yen in debt have resulted in a consistent net loss since 1991. 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.[7]

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.

Operating company

Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit
東京臨海高速鉄道株式会社
Company typeStock company (KK)
IndustryRail transport
FoundedMarch 12, 1991
Headquarters
Kōtō, Tokyo
,
Japan
Area served
Tokyo
Key people
Hiroyasu Kawasaki, Representative Director and CEO
ServicesRinkai Line rail service
Revenue15.588 billion yen (FY2008)[8]
1.623 billion yen (FY2008)[8]
-2.503 billion yen (FY2008)[8]
Total assets303.408 billion yen (FY2008)[8]
OwnerTokyo Metropolitan Government (91.32%)
JR East (2.41%)
Shinagawa Ward (1.77%)
Mizuho Bank (0.70%)
(as of 1 April 2014)
Number of employees
247
Websitewww.twr.co.jp

Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, Inc. (東京臨海高速鉄道株式会社, Tōkyō Rinkai Kōsoku Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha) was founded on March 12, 1991 for the express purpose of constructing and operating the railway line. It is a third-sector company, and, as of 1 April 2013, 91.32% of shares are held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2.41% by JR East, 1.77% by Shinagawa Ward, 0.70% by Mizuho Bank, 0.46% by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, 0.34% by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and the remaining 3% by 41 other companies.[9]

In spite of its severe financial situation, TWR was discovered to have made a five million yen donation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on October 16, 2009 to encourage the city's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.[10] The company stood to benefit financially if the games were held in Tokyo, as several of the proposed venues were located along the Rinkai Line.

In addition to its ownership and operation of the Rinkai Line, TWR is also involved in real estate and subcontracting/management of station- and building-related design.

Future plans

In August 2014, it was revealed that JR East was in negotiations to buy out the Rinkai Line.[9] This would make it easier to incorporate the line into its plans for a direct line to Haneda Airport as well as providing through services to and from the Keiyo Line.[9]

References

  1. ^ http://www.twr.co.jp/enterprise/gaiyou_h22_final_outline.pdf
  2. ^ JR電車編成表 2012冬 . Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2011. p. 66. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5. {{cite book}}: templatestyles stripmarker in |title= at position 1 (help)
  3. ^ 秋田新幹線用車両と埼京線・横浜線用車両の新造について (PDF) (in Japanese). JR East. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ 新型車両で快適に　埼京・川越線、３０日から導入 (in Japanese). Japan: The Saitama Shimbun. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ JR通勤電車 最新事情. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55, no. 648. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. April 2015. p. 16. {{cite magazine}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c JRTR 38: Rapid Transit and Related Urban Development in Tokyo Waterfront Area
  7. ^ JRTR 16: Tokyo’s New Waterfront Transit System
  8. ^ a b c d 東京臨海高速鉄道（株） Accessed March 9, 2010. Template:Ja icon
  9. ^ a b c "JR東日本のりんかい線買収でどう変わる？" (in Japanese). Japan. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 30 August 2014. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  10. ^ 報道特集NEXT, Tokyo Broadcasting System. November 7, 2009.
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