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Narita Express
Narita Express E259 series train
Service type	Limited express
Operator	JR East
Maximum speed	130 km/h[1]
Started	1991
Rolling stock	253 series and E259 series EMUs

Narita Express (成田エクスプレス, Narita ekusupuresu^?), abbreviated as N'EX, is a limited express train service operated since 1991 by East Japan Railway Company (JR East), serving Narita International Airport from various Greater Tokyo Area stations. Services are approximately half-hourly in the mornings and evenings, and hourly through the middle of the day. The main competition for the Narita Express is Keisei Electric Railway's Skyliner.

Trains and destinations

Narita Express route map (253 series)
Legend 0:00 Narita Airport 0:02 Airport Terminal 2 0:16 Narita Rush hour only 0:32 Yotsukaidō Rush hour only 0:40 Chiba Rush hour only 0:59 Tokyo 1:09 Shinagawa 1:16 Shibuya 1:16 Shinjuku 1:19 Musashi-Kosugi 1:22 Ikebukuro 1:31 Yokohama 1:40 Kichijōji 1:43 Mitaka 1:52 Kokubunji 1:54 Totsuka 1:57 Ōmiya 1:58 Tachikawa 1:59 Ōfuna 2:07 Hachiōji 2:13 Takao

Narita Express trains serve various stations in the Greater Tokyo metropolitan area. Trains are formed of dedicated 253 series and E259 series 6-car EMU sets^[2], with all trains passing through Tokyo Station, where services are coupled or uncoupled. Usually, a train from Ōfuna or Yokohama will be coupled with a train from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro or Ōmiya to form one train set for the remainder of the journey to Narita Airport (via the Sōbu Main Line and Narita Line). On the return journey, the reverse is true.

The majority of Narita Express services do not stop between Tokyo and Airport Terminal 2 Station. In the morning and evening rush hours, however, the Narita Express serves as a commuter express, stopping at Chiba, Yotsukaidō and Narita. The average time between Tokyo and Narita Airport is between 55 minutes and an hour.

All seats are reserved, with both Standard and Green (first class) accommodation available.

History

Until 1991, rail service to Narita Airport was limited to the Keisei Skyliner, which at the time used a station separated from the terminal complex. JR had initially planned to run a high-speed line, the Narita Shinkansen, to a station underneath the main airport terminal. This plan was abandoned in the 1980s, and the space originally slated for the underground station and Shinkansen tracks was used to connect both the JR Narita Line and Keisei Main Line directly to the terminal. The Narita Express began service to the new station on 19 March 1991, and Skyliner switched its service to the new station at the same time.

Until March 2004, the Wing Express limited express service was introduced to complement the Narita Express with one return working a day between Ōmiya/Ikebukuro/Shinjuku and Narita Airport. This service was subsequently replaced by an additional Narita Express service.

From the start of the revised timetable on 10 December 2005, Narita Express services were made entirely no-smoking.^[3]

On October 1, 2009, nine new E259 series EMU trains were brought into service on 10 of 26 return Narita Express services, replacing the 253 series.^[4] By June 2010 all Narita Express trains will be operated by E259 series equipment.^[5]

From the start of the revised timetable on March 13, 2010, Narita Express service frequencies were increased with more splitting and combining of trains at Tokyo Station. Service is provided between Narita Airport and Tokyo, Shinjuku and Yokohama every 30 minutes during most of the day. All trains operating to/from Shinjuku now stop at Shibuya, and all trains to/from Yokohama now stop at the new Musashi-Kosugi Station.^[6]

Fares to major destinations

Narita Express 253 series train. These trains will be phased out of Narita Express services by June 2010.

Two 253 series trainsets prepare to couple at Tokyo Station for the onward journey to Narita Airport

Standard Class

From Narita Airport / Airport Terminal 2 to/from:

Green Car (First Class)

• An individual Green Car seat can be reserved at a cost of ¥1,490, regardless of destination, in addition to the standard class fare.

• A Green Car compartment (253 series only), which seats up to 4 people, can be reserved at a cost of ¥6,000 for the compartment, regardless of destination, in addition to the standard class fares. This will be phased out by June 2010, as the newer E259 series trains do not have compartments.

Discounted fares for foreigners

Passengers holding a non-Japanese passport can purchase a joint Narita Express-Suica card package for ¥3,500 (standard class) or ¥5,000 (green class). ¥1,500 of the package covers a discounted Narita Express one-way fare to the greater Tokyo metro area (¥3,000 for green class) while ¥1,500 yen is put on the Suica card. The other ¥500 is a refundable deposit for the card. The Suica card can be used for train and bus fares in virtually all of the Tokyo metro area, as well as for certain establishments that welcome the card as a form of payment.^[7]

The discounts only cover travel from Narita Airport. Return travel on the Narita Express to the airport requires the normal fare to be paid.

References

External links

• About N'EX (JR East) (English)
• 253 series Narita Express (JR East) (Japanese)
• E259 series Narita Express (JR East) (Japanese)

Named trains of East Japan Railway Company Shinkansen Asama · Hayate · Komachi · Nasuno · Tanigawa · Toki · Tsubasa · Yamabiko Limited express (daytime) Akagi · Ayame · Azusa · Fresh Hitachi · Hakuchō · Hakutaka · Hokuetsu · Hometown Tochigi · Inaho · Kaiji · Kamoshika · Kinugawa · Kusatsu · Minakami · Narita Express · Nikkō · Odoriko · Ohayō Tochigi · Sazanami · Shiosai · Spacia Kinugawa · Super Azusa · Super Hakuchō · Super Hitachi · Super View Odoriko · Tsugaru · Wakashio · Weekend Akagi Limited express (overnight) Akebono · Cassiopeia · Hokuriku · Hokutosei · Nihonkai Express Noto Rapid Airport Narita · Moonlight Echigo · Moonlight Nagara · Moonlight Shinshū (partial list) Liner Chūō Liner · Home Liner Odawara · Ohayō Liner Shinjuku · Ōme Liner · Shōnan Liner (partial list)