Joban Line timetable changes July 9th


Services on the JR Joban Line will improve starting July 9th 2005 (Sat).
Affecting only one line, this is a rather unusual timetable change for
JR East. The company wants to keep Joban Line competitive as Tsukuba
Express (Akihabara - Tsukuba) opens August 24 2005. Even with these
improvements, JR East predicts losing 7% of Joban Line patronage, or
about 100,000 passengers daily, to Tsukuba Express.


1. New train type Tokubetsu Kaisoku ("special rapid")

This new train will run hourly between Ueno and Tsuchiura.

Stations served: Ueno, Nippori, Matsudo, Kashiwa, Toride and all stops
beyond. (Skips Kita-Senju Junction.)

Travel time: Ueno-Matsudo 13 min, Ueno-Tsuchiura 55 min.

Ueno departures: 10:10, 11:12 -(hourly)- 15:12
Tsuchiura departures: 10:57 -(hourly)- 14:57

Timetable:
http://www.geocities.jp/kkkc86/joban.htm (with station names in Romaji)


No changes for local services, which provides through operation to
Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line. However, the rapid (kaisoku), the default
service for much of the course (Ueno to Kita-Senju and beyond Toride)
is usually called "Joban-sen" or even "local". Beware.


2. New cars

All Special Rapid trains will use new cars, color chrome with a blue belt.
They will be the first JR East commuter cars to operate at 130km/h.
If riding long-distance, you may want to use the box-style seats on
cars 1, 2, 9, 10, 13, 14 and 15. All other cars have only longitudinal
benches. Cars 1, 10 and 15 have western-style lavatories. Car 1 is
the on the south end (=leading car nobori, Ueno bound).


3. Limited Express services improved

There are two limited express types on the Joban Line, the fast,
long-distance "Super Hitachi" and the slower "Fresh Hitachi".

One "Fresh Hitachi" run added in the morning.
Two "Fresh Hitachi" runs added in the evening.
(This includes upgrades from runs made only once a week now.)

More "Fresh Hitachi" stops. (See JR Mito page below.)

Currently, "Fresh Hitachi" serves one of either Matsudo, Kashiwa or Abiko.
>From July 9th Kashiwa will be the standard stop. Boarding opportunities
at Kashiwa will roughly double.

Official JR announcements in Japanese:
http://www.jrmito.com/train_info/050427/
http://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2005_1/20050407.pdf

Tsukuba Express (Japanese):
http://www.mir.co.jp/index.htm

Disclaimer:

This is a private translation of railroad announcements. Despite my
efforts, there may be errors in this writing. If you notice any error
herein, please let me know.


Bon Voyage,

Douso, The Prophet of the Way
.