Keisei Main Line

The Keisei Main Line(京成本線, Keisei Honsen) is a railway line of Japanese private railway company Keisei Electric Railway connecting Tokyo and Narita, Japan. It is the main line of Keisei's railway network. Built as an interurban between Tokyo and Narita in the early 20th century, the line has served as a main access route to Narita International Airport since 1978. It also serves major cities along the line such as Funabashi, Narashino, and Sakura.

In 2010, the Narita Sky Access opened as a bypass of the line, reducing the role of the main line in the airport access.

Service patterns

• S = Skyliner

The airport access train connecting Keisei Ueno and Narita Airport Terminal 1 runs on the Main Line between Keisei Ueno and Keisei Takasago. Between Keisei Takasago and Narita Airport Terminal 1, it runs on the Narita Sky Access Line. Runs the entire length of the route in 44 minutes (36 minutes from Nippori to Narita Airport Terminal 2·3).

• Cityliner (unscheduled)

From Keisei Ueno to Keisei Narita. Trains call at Nippori, Aoto, Keisei Funabashi, and Keisei Narita.

• M = Morningliner

Runs only in the morning from Narita Airport Terminal 1 and Keisei Narita to Keisei Ueno.

• E = Eveningliner

Runs only in the evening from Keisei Ueno to Keisei Narita and Narita Airport Terminal 1.

• L = Limited Express(快速特急, Kaisoku Tokkyū)

Non-charged. Runs from Keisei Ueno or Oshiage Line to Narita Airport Terminal 1. Runs during morning and evening times only. Runs from Keisei Ueno or Oshiage Line to Hokusō, Narita Airport Terminal 1 or Shibayama Chiyoda.

• A = Access Express(アクセス特急, Akusesu Tokkyū)

Non-charged. Runs from Keisei Ueno or Oshiage Line to Narita Airport Terminal 1, via the Narita Sky Access Line between Keisei Takasago and Narita Airport Terminal 1.

• L = Limited Express(特急, Tokkyū)

Non-charged. Runs only from the late morning to the early evening. Runs from Keisei Ueno or Oshiage Line to Hokusō, Narita Airport Terminal 1 or Shibayama Chiyoda.

• C = Commuter Express(通勤特急, Tsūkin Tokkyū)

Runs from Keisei Ueno or Oshiage Line to Narita Airport Terminal 1 or Shibayama Chiyoda. Runs only in the morning and evenings.

• R = Rapid(快速, Kaisoku)

Runs from Keisei Ueno or Oshiage Line to Narita Airport Terminal 1 or Shibayama Chiyoda.

• Local(普通, Futsū)

Sometimes called Kakueki-Teisha(各駅停車).

Stations

Legend

• ● : All trains stop
• │ : All trains pass
• ◇ : Some limited express trains stop when horse racing is held in Nakayama Racecourse.
• ▲ : Some Skyliner trains stop.

Notes

• Local trains stop at every station.

History

All sections opened as electrified dual track unless noted otherwise. The initial section opened between Takasago and Edogawa as 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in) gauge in 1912, and the line was progressively extended in both directions, reaching Narita in 1930 and Ueno in 1933.

In 1959, the line was regauged to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in). In 1978, it was extended to Narita Airport (now Higashi-Narita). The single track extension to Terminal 1 was opened in 1992.

There are numerous closed and abandoned stations listed in the route map above.

Former connecting lines

• Funabashi-Keibajō Station: A 1 km 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in) gauge line electrified at 600 V DC opened to the Yatsu amusement park in 1927, with the voltage being raised to 1,200 V DC the following year. The line closed in 1934.[citation needed]

See also

• List of railway lines in Japan
• Home Liner

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.

• (PDF). Keisei Electric Railway.