Wikipedia

Tsukuba Express

TheTsukuba Express(つくばエクスプレス,Tsukuba Ekusupuresu),orTX,is a Japanese railway line operated by thethird-sectorcompanyMetropolitan Intercity Railway Company,which linksAkihabara StationinChiyoda, TokyoandTsukuba StationinTsukuba, Ibaraki.The route was inaugurated on 24 August 2005.[2]

Tsukuba Express
A Tsukuba Express train (TX-2000 series)
Overview
Native nameつくばエクスプレス
StatusIn operation
OwnerMetropolitan Intercity Railway Company
LocaleKanto Region
Termini
Stations20
Service
TypeCommuter rail
Operator(s)Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company
Depot(s)Moriya
Rolling stockTX-1000 series/TX-2000 series/TX-3000 series
Daily ridership431,060 (daily 2015)[1]
History
Opened24 August 2005
Technical
Line length58.3 km (36.2 mi)
CharacterUrban
Track gauge1,067 mm(3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DCoverhead catenary(Akihabara–Moriya)
20 kV AC, 50 Hz (Moriya–Tsukuba)
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)

(video) Tsukuba Express line train
Platform level ofTsukuba Station

History

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A comparison of Tsukuba Express withJōban Lineand express bus service between Tokyo and Tsukuba

TheMetropolitan Intercity Railway Company(Thủ đô quyển tân đô thị thiết đạo chu thức hội xã,Shuto-ken Shin Toshi Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha)was founded on 15 March 1991 to construct the Tsukuba Express, which was then provisionally called theJōban New Line(Thường bàn tân tuyến,Jōban Shinsen).The new line was planned to relieve crowding on theJōban Lineoperated byEast Japan Railway Company(JR East), which had reached the limit of its capacity. However, with the economic downturn in Japan, the goal shifted to development along the line. This was facilitated by the enactment of the Special Measures Law in September 1989 which allowed the expedition of large housing projects as well as the expansion and construction of new and existing railway lines.[2]

During the early stages of construction, the construction company (Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency,or JRTT) as well as associatedkeiretsuand associates in the public sector purchased land situated on the alignment of the route. Eventually, all the lots would be joined continuously, completed or not, and their ownership transferred to the eventual railway operator, MIRC.[2]Construction of all stations were centered around the theme ofuniversal design.[2]

Also, the initial plan called for a line fromTokyo Stationto Moriya, but expenses forced the planners to start the line at Akihabara instead of Tokyo Station, and pressure from the government of Ibaraki Prefecture resulted in moving the extension from Moriya to Tsukuba into Phase I of the construction.

The original schedule called for the line to begin operating in 2000, but delays in construction pushed the opening date to summer 2005. The line eventually opened on 24 August 2005.[3]

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 October 2012, new "Commuter rapid"(Thông cần khoái tốc,tsūkin kaisoku)services were introduced in the morning (inbound services) and evening (outbound services) peak periods.[4]

Future plans

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In September 2013, a number of municipalities along the Tsukuba Express line inIbaraki Prefecturesubmitted a proposal to complete the extension of the line to Tokyo Station at the same time as a new airport-to-airport line proposed as part of infrastructure improvements for the2020 Summer Olympics.[5]

On 31 March 2023, four proposals for possible northern extensions were submitted to Ibaraki Prefecture governorKazuhiko Ōigawa.[6]The proposals included plans to extend the line to either:

According to the proposals, the plan for the extension to Tsuchiura Station produced the most favourable cost-benefit analysis.

Driving

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The Tsukuba Express is operated as aone-man (conductorless) train.The driver opens and closes the doors manually, but operation of the train is doneautomatically.The line has a top speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). The Rapid service reduced the time required for the trip from Akihabara to Tsukuba from the previous 1 hour 30 minutes (by theJōban Line,arriving in Tsuchiura, about 15 km (9.3 mi) from Tsukuba) or 70 minutes (by bus, under optimal traffic conditions) to 45 minutes. From Tokyo, the trip takes 50–55 minutes. The line features nolevel crossings.

Electrification and rolling stock

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To prevent interference with thegeomagneticmeasurements of theJapan Meteorological Agencyat its laboratory inIshioka,the portion of the line from Moriya to Tsukuba operates on alternating current. As a result, three train models are used on the line;TX-1000 seriesDC-only trains, which can operate only between Akihabara and Moriya,TX-2000 seriesandTX-3000 seriesdual-voltage AC/DC trains, both of which can operate over the entire line.[7]

Volume production of the line's initial rolling stock began in January 2004, following the completion in March 2003 of two (TX-1000 and TX-2000 series) six-car trains for trial operation and training. The full fleet of 84 TX-1000s (14 six-car trains) and 96 TX-2000s (16 six-car trains) was delivered by January 2005. New TX-3000 series trains built by Hitachi Rail entered service on 14 March 2020.

Operation

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Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company offers four types of train services on the Tsukuba Express:

  • :Local(Phổ thông,Futsū)
  • :Semi Rapid(Khu gian khoái tốc,Kukan Kaisoku)
  • :Commuter Rapid(Thông cần khoái tốc,Tsūkin Kaisoku)
  • :Rapid(Khoái tốc,Kaisoku)

Station list

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Trains stop at stations marked "●" and skip stations marked "|".

During the morningrush houron weekdays, Semi Rapid trains bound for Akihabara make an additional stop at Rokuchō (marked "▲" ).

No. Station name Distance Elec. Local Semi-Rapid Commuter
Rapid 		Rapid Transfers Location
Japanese English Ward / City Prefecture
TX01 Thu diệp nguyên Akihabara 0.0 km (0 mi) DC ● ● ● ●
Chiyoda Tokyo
TX02 Tân ngự đồ đinh Shin-Okachimachi 1.6 km (0.99 mi) ● ● ● ● Toei Oedo Line(E-10) Taitō
TX03 Thiển thảo Asakusa 3.1 km (1.9 mi) ● ● ● ● Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(atTawaramachi(G-18))
TX04 Nam thiên trụ Minami-Senju 5.6 km (3.5 mi) ● ● ● ● JJJoban Line (Rapid)
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line(H-21) 		Arakawa
TX05 Bắc thiên trụ Kita-Senju 7.5 km (4.7 mi) ● ● ● ●
Adachi
TX06 Thanh tỉnh Aoi 10.6 km (6.6 mi) ● | | |
TX07 Lục đinh Rokuchō 12.0 km (7.5 mi) ● ▲ ● |
TX08 Bát triều Yashio 15.6 km (9.7 mi) ● ● ● ● Yashio Saitama
TX09 Tam hương trung ương Misato-chūō 19.3 km (12.0 mi) ● ● | | Misato
TX10 Nam lưu sơn Minami-Nagareyama 22.1 km (13.7 mi) ● ● ● ● JMMusashino Line Nagareyama Chiba
TX11 Lưu sơn セントラルパーク Nagareyama-centralpark 24.3 km (15.1 mi) ● | | |
TX12 Lưu sơn おおたかの sâm Nagareyama-ōtakanomori 26.5 km (16.5 mi) ● ● ● ● TDTobu Urban Park Line
TX13 Bách の diệp キャンパス Kashiwanoha-campus 30.0 km (18.6 mi) ● ● ● | Kashiwa
TX14 Bách たなか Kashiwa-Tanaka 32.0 km (19.9 mi) ● | | |
TX15 Thủ cốc Moriya 37.7 km (23.4 mi) ● ● ● ● ■Jōsō Line Moriya Ibaraki
TX16 みらい bình Miraidaira 44.3 km (27.5 mi) AC ● ● | | Tsukubamirai
TX17 みどりの Midorino 48.6 km (30.2 mi) ● ● | | Tsukuba
TX18 Vạn bác ký niệm công viên Bampaku-kinenkōen 51.8 km (32.2 mi) ● ● | |
TX19 Nghiên cứu học viên Kenkyū-gakuen 55.6 km (34.5 mi) ● ● ● |
TX20 つくば Tsukuba 58.3 km (36.2 mi) ● ● ● ●

Ridership figures

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Fiscal year Passengers carried
(in millions) 		Days operated Passengers per day Source
2005 34.69 220 150,000 [8]
2006 70.69 365 195,000
2007 84.85 366 234,000
2008 93.21 365 258,000
2009 97.79 365 270,300 [9]
2010 102.22 365 283,000 [10]
2011 104.89 366 290,000 [11]
2012 110.66 365 306,000 [12]
2013 118.22 365 323,900 [13]
2014 118.84 365 325,600 [14]
2015 124.14 365 340,100 [15]
2016 129.64 366 354,200 [16]
2017 135.12 365 370,200 [17]
2018 139.74 365 386,000 [18]
2019 143.10 365 395,000 [19]
2020 100.44 365 278,000 [20]
2021 110.61 365 306,000 [21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^"Bình thành 27 niên đại đô thị giao thông センサス thủ đô quyển báo cáo thư"(PDF).P.93.Quốc thổ giao thông tỉnh.Archived(PDF)from the original on 26 August 2018.Retrieved29 September2018.
  2. ^abcdYamada, Kazunobu (December 2005)."Tsukuba Express – Introduction to Stations"(PDF).Japan Railway & Transport Review.42:50–59. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 29 March 2017 – via East Japan Railway Culture Foundation.
  3. ^"トピックス【TX tình báo 】"[Topics (TX information)]. Thủ đô quyển tân đô thị thiết đạo. 1 December 2005. Archived fromthe originalon 1 December 2005.Retrieved19 May2020.
  4. ^10 nguyệt 15 nhật ( nguyệt )にダイヤ cải chính を thật thi いたします.[15 October Timetable Revision].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 26 July 2012.Archivedfrom the original on 30 July 2012.Retrieved30 July2012.
  5. ^"TX đông kinh dịch diên thân で tì thành の duyên tuyến tự trị thể thị nghị hội が ý kiến thư".Nhật bổn kinh tế tân văn.21 September 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 24 August 2021.Retrieved24 September2013.
  6. ^"Tì thành huyện nội のTX diên thân tiên は “Thổ phổ phương diện” huyện đệ tam giả ủy “Thật hiện khả năng tính, thải toán tính で ưu vị” "[Proposals submitted for northern extension of the Tsukuba Express Line].Sankei Shimbun DIGITAL(in Japanese). 31 March 2023.Retrieved4 April2023.
  7. ^Barrow, Keith (12 June 2018)."Hitachi to supply extra trains for Tsukuba Express".railjournal.com.Simmons-Boardman Publishing.Archivedfrom the original on 29 October 2019.Retrieved29 October2019.
  8. ^"Khai nghiệp 3 chu niên を nghênh えるつくばエクスプレス ( TX )" (Tsukuba Express Celebrates its 3rd Anniversary). Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine, August 2008 issue, p.63
  9. ^Bình thành 21 niên độ thâu tống thật tích のお tri らせ[Transportation Figures for 2009](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 25 May 2010. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 4 March 2016.Retrieved28 November2013.
  10. ^Thủ đô quyển tân đô thị thiết đạo ( chu ) の bình thành 22 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company for 2010](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 6 June 2011.Archived(PDF)from the original on 3 December 2013.Retrieved28 November2013.
  11. ^Thủ đô quyển tân đô thị thiết đạo ( chu )の bình thành 23 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company for 2011](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 4 June 2012.Archived(PDF)from the original on 9 November 2013.Retrieved28 November2013.
  12. ^Bình thành 24 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2012].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 7 June 2013.Archivedfrom the original on 3 December 2013.Retrieved28 November2013.
  13. ^Bình thành 25 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2013].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 6 June 2014.Archivedfrom the original on 3 July 2014.Retrieved8 November2014.
  14. ^Bình thành 26 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2014].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 2 June 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 18 June 2015.Retrieved2 June2015.
  15. ^2015 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2015].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 8 June 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 15 August 2021.Retrieved10 August2021.
  16. ^2016 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2016].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 1 June 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 15 August 2021.Retrieved10 August2021.
  17. ^2017 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2017].News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2018.Archivedfrom the original on 15 August 2021.Retrieved10 August2021.
  18. ^2018 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2018](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2019.Retrieved20 September2022.
  19. ^2019 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2019](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 6 June 2020.Retrieved20 September2022.
  20. ^2020 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2020](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2021.Retrieved20 September2022.
  21. ^2021 niên độ 営 nghiệp thật tích[Business Performance for 2021](PDF).News Release(in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2022.Retrieved20 September2022.
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