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{{Short description|Railway line in Tokyo, Japan}}
{{Infobox rail line
{{Infobox rail line
| box_width =
| box_width =
| name = Tsukuba Express
| name = Tsukuba Express
| native_name = つくばエクスプレス
| native_name = つくばエクスプレス
| native_name_lang = ja
| native_name_lang = ja
| color = 000084
| color = 000084
| logo =
| logo = Tsukuba Express logo.svg
| logo_width =
| logo_width =
| image = Tsukuba-Express-TX-2000.jpg
| image = Tsukuba-Express-TX-2000.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| image_width = 300px
| caption = A Tsukuba Express train (TX-2000 series)
| caption = A Tsukuba Express train (TX-2000 series)
| type = [[Commuter rail]]
| type = [[Commuter rail]]
| system =
| system =
| status =
| status = In operation
| locale = [[Kanto Region]]
| locale = [[Kanto Region]]
| start = {{STN|Akihabara}}
| start = {{STN|Akihabara|x}}
| end = {{STN|Tsukuba}}
| end = {{STN|Tsukuba|x}}
| stations = 20
| stations = 20
| routes =
| routes =
| daily_ridership = 431,060 (daily 2015)<ref name =ridership>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001179760.pdf|title=平成27年 大都市交通センサス 首都圈報告書|website=P.93|publisher=国土交通省|access-date=2018-09-29|archive-date=2018-08-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826121200/http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001179760.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
| daily_ridership =
| open = 24 August 2005
| open = 24 August 2005
| close =
| close =
| owner = [[Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company]]
| owner = [[Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company]]
| operator =
| operator = Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company
| character =
| character = Urban
| depot = Moriya
| depot = Moriya
| stock = [[TX-1000 series]] / [[TX-2000 series]]
| stock = [[TX-1000 series]] / [[TX-2000 series]] / [[TX-3000 series]]
| linelength = {{convert|58.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| linelength = {{convert|58.3|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| electrification = 1,500 V DC [[overhead catenary]] (Akihabara &ndash; Moriya)<br/>20 kV AC, 50 Hz (Moriya &ndash; Tsukuba)
| electrification = 1,500 V DC [[overhead catenary]] (Akihabara–Moriya)<br/>20 kV AC, 50 Hz (Moriya–Tsukuba)
| speed = {{Convert|130|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=5}}
| speed = 130 km/h (81 mph)
| elevation =
| elevation =
| map =
| map =
| map_state =
| map_state =
}}
}}
{{Tsukuba Express RDT}}


{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{| {{Railway line header|collapse=yes}}
{{BS-header|Route map||#000084}}
{{BS-table}}
{{BS|||Station stops}}
{{BS|INT||Rapid}}
{{BS|BHF||Semi-Rapid}}
{{BS|HST||Local}}
{{BS-colspan}}
----
{{BS5|STRq|STRq|O2=tINT-L|tKINTa-M|STRq|O4=INT-R|STRq|0.0|[[Akihabara Station|Akihabara]]|[[Chuo-Sobu Line]]}}
{{BS3|tSTR|tSTR|STRl|||[[Yamanote Line]] / [[Keihin-Tōhoku Line]]|}}
{{BS3|tSTRl|tKRZt|tSTRq|||[[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]]|}}
{{BS3||tSTR|tSTR+l|||[[Toei Ōedo Line]]|}}
{{BS3||tINT-L|tINT-R|1.6|[[Shin-Okachimachi Station|Shin-Okachimachi]]||}}
{{BS3||tSTR|tSTRl|||Toei Ōedo Line|}}
{{BS3|tSTRq|tKRZt|tSTRq|||[[Tokyo Metro Ginza Line]]|}}
{{BS|tINT|3.1|[[Asakusa Station (Tokyo Metro, Toei, Tobu)|Asakusa]]|}}
{{BS3|STR+l|tKRZ|tSTRaq|||Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line}}
{{BS5|KDSTaq|KRZo|tKRZ|ABZq+l||||Sumidagawa Freight Terminal / [[Jōban Line]]}}
{{BS3|INT-L|tINT-M|INT-R|5.6|[[Minami-Senju Station|Minami-Senju]]}}
{{BS3|STR|tSTRe|STR||||}}
{{BS3|WBRÜCKE|WBRÜCKE|WBRÜCKE|||[[Sumida River]]|}}
{{BS5||KRZu|KRZu|KRZu|STRq|||[[Keisei Main Line]]}}
{{BS5||ABZg+r|STR|STR|tSTR+l|||[[Tōbu Isesaki Line]]/[[Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line]]|}}
{{BS5||INT-L|INT-M|INT-M|tINT-R|7.5|[[Kita-Senju Station|Kita-Senju]]||}}
{{BS5||STR|STR|STR|tSTRe||||}}
{{BS5||WBRÜCKE|WBRÜCKE|WBRÜCKE|WBRÜCKE|||[[Arakawa River (Kanto)|Arakawa]]|}}
{{BS5||HST|STR|STR|STR|||[[Kosuge Station|Kosuge]]}}
{{BS5||STR|tSTRa|STR|STR||||}}
{{BS5||STRl|tKRZ|KRZu|KRZu|||Tōbu Isesaki Line|}}
{{BS5||STRq|tKRZ|STRr|STR|||Jōban Line|}}
{{BS5||STRq|tKRZ|STRq|STRr|||[[Jōban Line]]/Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line|}}
{{BS|tHST|10.6|[[Aoi Station|Aoi]]}}
{{BS|tHST|12.0|[[Rokuchō Station|Rokuchō]]}}
{{BS|tKRZW|O1=GRZq|||[[Ayasegawa]]|{{BSsplit|[[Tokyo]]|[[Saitama Prefecture]]|line=1}}}}
{{BS|tSTRe||||}}
{{BS|BHF|15.6|[[Yashio Station|Yashio]]||}}
{{BS|WBRÜCKE|||[[Naka River (Saitama Tokyo)|Nakagawa]]}}
{{BS|BHF|19.3|[[Misato-chūō Station|Misato-chūō]]||}}
{{BS|WBRÜCKE|O1=GRZq|||[[Edo River|Edogawa]]|{{BSsplit|[[Saitama Prefecture]]|[[Chiba Prefecture]]|line=1}}}}
{{BS|tSTRa||||}}
{{BS3|STRq|STRq|O2=tINT|STRq|22.1|[[Minami-Nagareyama Station|Minami-Nagareyama]]|[[Musashino Line]]}}
{{BS3|STRq|tKRZ|STRq|||[[Nagareyama Line]]|}}
{{BS|tSTRe|||}}
{{BS|HST|24.3|[[Nagareyama-centralpark Station|Nagareyama-centralpark]]||}}
{{BS3|STRq|hKRZ|O2=INT|STRq|26.5|[[Nagareyama-ōtakanomori Station|Nagareyama-ōtakanomori]]|[[Tōbu Noda Line]]|}}
{{BS|BHF|30.0|[[Kashiwanoha-campus Station|Kashiwanoha-campus]]||}}
{{BS|HST|32.0|[[Kashiwa-Tanaka Station|Kashiwa-Tanaka]]||}}
{{BS|WBRÜCKE|O1=GRZq|||[[Tone River|Tonegawa]]|{{BSsplit|[[Chiba Prefecture]]|[[Ibaraki Prefecture]]|line=1}}}}
{{BS3|STRq|hKRZ|O2=INT|STRq|37.7|[[Moriya Station|Moriya]]|[[Jōsō Line]]|}}
{{BS3||ABZgl|KDSTeq|||Depot}}
{{BS|STR|O1=GRZq|||↑ 1500 V DC <br> 20 kV AC ↓||}}
{{BS|WBRÜCKE|||[[Kokaigawa]]|}}
{{BS|tSTRa||||}}
{{BS|tBHF|44.3|[[Miraidaira Station|Miraidaira]]||}}
{{BS|tSTRe||||}}
{{BS|BHF|48.6|[[Midorino Station|Midorino]]||}}
{{BS|BHF|51.8|[[Bampaku-kinenkōen Station (Ibaraki)|Bampaku-kinenkōen]]||}}
{{BS|BHF|55.6|[[Kenkyū-gakuen Station|Kenkyū-gakuen]]||}}
{{BS|tSTRa|||}}
{{BS|tKINTe|58.3|[[Tsukuba Station|Tsukuba]]||}}
|}
|}
[[File:Tsukuba Express train pulling into Kitasenju Station - June 13 2015.ogv|thumb|(video) Tsukuba Express line train]]
[[File:Tsukuba Express train pulling into Kitasenju Station - June 13 2015.ogv|thumb|(video) Tsukuba Express line train]]
[[File:TX Tsukuba Station platforms - 2020 11 23 various 18 32 42 433000.jpeg|thumb|right|Platform level of [[Tsukuba Station]]]]
The {{Nihongo|'''Tsukuba Express'''|つくばエクスプレス|Tsukuba Ekusupuresu}}, or '''TX''', is a Japanese railway line operated by the [[Public-Private_Partnerships_In_Japan|third-sector]] company [[Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company]], which links [[Akihabara Station]] in [[Chiyoda, Tokyo]] and [[Tsukuba Station]] in [[Tsukuba, Ibaraki]]. The route was inaugurated on 24 August 2005.<ref name=":02">{{Cite journal|last=Yamada|first=Kazunobu|date=December 2005|title=Tsukuba Express – Introduction to Stations|url=https://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr42/pdf/f50_tsu.pdf|journal=Japan Railway & Transport Review|volume=42|pages=50–59|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329055623/http://www.ejrcf.or.jp/jrtr/jrtr42/pdf/f50_tsu.pdf|archive-date=29 March 2017|via=East Japan Railway Culture Foundation}}</ref>


==History==
The {{Nihongo|'''Tsukuba Express'''|つくばエクスプレス|Tsukuba Ekusupuresu}}, or '''TX''', is a Japanese railway line of the [[Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company]] which links [[Akihabara Station]] in [[Chiyoda, Tokyo]] and [[Tsukuba Station]] in [[Tsukuba, Ibaraki]]. The route was inaugurated on August 24, 2005.
[[File:LineMap JobanAndTX English.svg|thumb|A comparison of Tsukuba Express with [[Jōban Line]] and express bus service between Tokyo and Tsukuba]]
The {{Nihongo|[[Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company]]|首都圏新都市鉄道株式会社|Shuto-ken Shin Toshi Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha}} was founded on 15 March 1991 to construct the Tsukuba Express, which was then provisionally called the {{nihongo|'''Jōban New Line'''|常磐新線|Jōban Shinsen}}. The new line was planned to relieve crowding on the [[Jōban Line]] operated by [[East 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.<ref name=":02" />


During the early stages of construction, the construction company ([[Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency]], or JRTT) as well as associated [[keiretsu]] and 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.<ref name=":02" /> Construction of all stations were centered around the theme of [[universal design]].<ref name=":02" />
==Speed==
The line has a top speed of 130&nbsp;km/h. Rapid service has reduced the time required for the trip from Akihabara to Tsukuba from the previous 1 hour 30 minutes (by the [[Jōban Line]], arriving in Tsuchiura, about 15&nbsp;km from Tsukuba) or 70 minutes (by bus, under optimal traffic conditions) to 45 minutes; from Tokyo, the trip requires 50 &ndash; 55 minutes. The line has no [[grade crossings]].


Also, the initial plan called for a line from [[Tokyo Station]] to 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.
An [[automatic train operation]] system allows a single individual to operate the train.

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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-12-01 |title=トピックス【TX情報】 |trans-title=Topics (TX information) |url=http://www.mir.co.jp/topics/topics_detail.php?topics_id=143 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201004903/http://www.mir.co.jp/topics/topics_detail.php?topics_id=143 |archivedate=2005-12-01 |accessdate=2020-05-19 |publisher=首都圏新都市鉄道}}</ref>

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 October 2012, new {{Nihongo|"Commuter rapid"|通勤快速|tsūkin kaisoku}} services were introduced in the morning (inbound services) and evening (outbound services) peak periods.<ref name="mir20120726">{{cite web|url= http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2012/1015.html|script-title= ja:10月15日(月)にダイヤ改正を実施いたします。|trans-title= 15 October Timetable Revision|date= 26 July 2012|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 30 July 2012|archive-date= 30 July 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120730084223/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2012/1015.html|url-status= live}}</ref>

=== Future plans ===
In September 2013, a number of municipalities along the Tsukuba Express line in [[Ibaraki Prefecture]] submitted 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 the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=TX東京駅延伸で茨城の沿線自治体市議会が意見書|url=http://www.nikkei.com/paper/article/?ng=DGKDZO59968730Q3A920C1L83000|access-date=24 September 2013|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=21 September 2013|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824105756/https://www.nikkei.com/pr/paper/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 31 March 2023, four proposals for possible northern extensions were submitted to Ibaraki Prefecture governor [[Kazuhiko Ōigawa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=31 March 2023 |title=茨城県内のTX延伸先は「土浦方面」 県第三者委「実現可能性、採算性で優位」 |trans-title=Proposals submitted for northern extension of the Tsukuba Express Line |url=https://www.sankei.com/article/20230331-TUQSU5GKORPCJPR7QHNR6BWZYU/ |access-date=4 April 2023 |website=Sankei Shimbun DIGITAL |language=ja}}</ref> The proposals included plans to extend the line to either:

* [[Tsuchiura Station]] on the [[Joban Line]]
* [[Ibaraki Airport]]
* [[Mito, Ibaraki|Mito]] (via [[Ishioka Station]]) on the Joban Line
* [[Mount Tsukuba]]

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

==Driving==
The Tsukuba Express is operated as a [[One-person operation|one-man (conductorless) train]]. The driver opens and closes the doors manually, but operation of the train is done [[Automatic train operation|automatically]]. The line has a top speed of 130&nbsp;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 the [[Jōban Line]], arriving in Tsuchiura, about {{Cvt|15|km}} from Tsukuba) or 70 minutes (by bus, under optimal traffic conditions) to 45 minutes. From Tokyo, the trip takes 50&ndash;55 minutes. The line features no [[Level crossing|level crossings]].


==Electrification and rolling stock==
==Electrification and rolling stock==
To prevent interference with the [[Earth's magnetic field|geomagnetic]] measurements of the [[Japan Meteorological Agency]] at its laboratory in [[Ishioka, Ibaraki|Ishioka]], the portion of the line from Moriya to Tsukuba operates on alternating current. For this reason, the trains include [[TX-1000 series]] DC-only trains, which can operate only between Akihabara and Moriya, and [[TX-2000 series]] dual-voltage AC/DC trains, which can operate over the entire line.
To prevent interference with the [[Earth's magnetic field|geomagnetic]] measurements of the [[Japan Meteorological Agency]] at its laboratory in [[Ishioka, Ibaraki|Ishioka]], 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 series]] DC-only trains, which can operate only between Akihabara and Moriya, [[TX-2000 series]] and [[TX-3000 series]] dual-voltage AC/DC trains, both of which can operate over the entire line.<ref name="irj12062018">{{cite web |last=Barrow |first=Keith |url=https://www.railjournal.com/rolling-stock/hitachi-to-supply-extra-trains-for-tsukuba-express/ |title=Hitachi to supply extra trains for Tsukuba Express |language=en |date=June 12, 2018 |website=railjournal.com |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing |access-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-date=October 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191029121513/https://www.railjournal.com/rolling-stock/hitachi-to-supply-extra-trains-for-tsukuba-express/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

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==
Volume production of the 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.
Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company offers four types of train services on the Tsukuba Express:
*{{Color box|Silver}} : {{nihongo|Local|普通|Futsū}}
*{{Color box|DodgerBlue}} : {{nihongo|Semi Rapid|区間快速|Kukan Kaisoku}}
*{{Color box|Orange}} : {{nihongo|Commuter Rapid|通勤快速|Tsūkin Kaisoku}}
*{{Color box|Crimson}} : {{nihongo|Rapid|快速|Kaisoku}}


==Stations==
===Station list===
Trains stop at stations marked "●" and skip stations marked "<nowiki>|</nowiki>".
* {{Color box|Silver}} : {{nihongo|Local|普通|Futsū}}
* {{Color box|DodgerBlue}} : {{nihongo|Semi-Rapid|区間快速|Kukan Kaisoku}}
* {{Color box|Orange}} : {{nihongo|Commuter-Rapid|通勤快速|Tsūkin Kaisoku}}
* {{Color box|Crimson}} : {{nihongo|Rapid|快速|Kaisoku}}


During the morning [[rush hour]] on weekdays, Semi Rapid trains bound for Akihabara make an additional stop at Rokuchō (marked "▲").
Trains stop at stations marked "●" and pass stations marked "<nowiki>|</nowiki>".


{|class="wikitable"
{|class="wikitable"
|-
|-
! rowspan="2" | No.
! rowspan="2" | No.
! colspan="2" |Station name
! colspan="2" | Station name
! rowspan="2" | Distance (km)
! rowspan="2" | Distance
! rowspan="2" | [[Railway electrification system|Elec.]]
! rowspan="2" | [[Railway electrification system|Elec.]]
! style="background-color:Silver;" rowspan="2" | Local
! style="background-color:Silver;" rowspan="2" | Local
! style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" rowspan="2" | Semi-Rapid
! style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" rowspan="2" | Semi-Rapid
! style="background-color:Orange;" rowspan="2" | Commuter
! style="background-color:Orange;" rowspan="2" | Commuter <br> Rapid
Rapid
! style="background-color:Crimson;" rowspan="2" | Rapid
! style="background-color:Crimson;" rowspan="2" | Rapid
! rowspan="2" | Transfers
! rowspan="2" | Transfers
Line 141: Line 106:
!Prefecture
!Prefecture
|-
|-
| 01
| TX01
|秋葉原
|秋葉原
|[[Akihabara Station|Akihabara]]
|[[Akihabara Station|Akihabara]]
| align="right" | 0.0
| align="right" | {{convert|0.0|km|abbr=on}}
| rowspan="15" style="text-align:center;" |[[Direct current|DC]]
| rowspan="15" style="text-align:center;" |[[Direct current|DC]]
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
Line 154: Line 119:
* {{JRLS|JK}} [[Keihin-Tohoku Line]]
* {{JRLS|JK}} [[Keihin-Tohoku Line]]
* {{JRLS|JY}} [[Yamanote Line]]
* {{JRLS|JY}} [[Yamanote Line]]
* [[File:Subway TokyoHibiya.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]] (H-15)
* [[File:Subway TokyoHibiya.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]] (H-16)
}}
}}
|[[Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda]]
|[[Chiyoda, Tokyo|Chiyoda]]
| rowspan="7" |[[Tokyo]]
| rowspan="7" |[[Tokyo]]
|-
|-
| 02
| TX02
|新御徒町
|新御徒町
|[[Shin-Okachimachi Station|Shin-Okachimachi]]
|[[Shin-Okachimachi Station|Shin-Okachimachi]]
| align="right" | 1.6
| align="right" | {{convert|1.6|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 170: Line 135:
| rowspan="2" |[[Taitō, Tokyo|Taitō]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Taitō, Tokyo|Taitō]]
|-
|-
| 03
| TX03
|浅草
|浅草
|[[Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express)|Asakusa]]
|[[Asakusa Station (Tsukuba Express)|Asakusa]]
| align="right" | 3.1
| align="right" | {{convert|3.1|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 180: Line 145:
|[[File:Subway TokyoGinza.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Ginza Line]] (at [[Tawaramachi Station (Tokyo)|Tawaramachi]] (G-18))
|[[File:Subway TokyoGinza.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Ginza Line]] (at [[Tawaramachi Station (Tokyo)|Tawaramachi]] (G-18))
|-
|-
| 04
| TX04
|南千住
|南千住
|[[Minami-Senju Station|Minami-Senju]]
|[[Minami-Senju Station|Minami-Senju]]
| align="right" | 5.6
| align="right" | {{convert|5.6|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Orange;" align="center" |●
| style="background-color:Orange;" align="center" |●
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" |●
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" |●
|{{JRLS|JJ}} [[Jōban Line|Joban Line (Rapid)]]<br />[[File:Subway TokyoHibiya.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]] (H-20)
|{{JRLS|JJ}} [[Jōban Line|Joban Line (Rapid)]]<br />[[File:Subway TokyoHibiya.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]] (H-21)
|[[Arakawa, Tokyo|Arakawa]]
|[[Arakawa, Tokyo|Arakawa]]
|-
|-
| 05
| TX05
|北千住
|北千住
|[[Kita-Senju Station|Kita-Senju]]
|[[Kita-Senju Station|Kita-Senju]]
| align="right" | 7.5
| align="right" | {{convert|7.5|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 203: Line 168:
* {{TBLS|TS}} [[Tobu Skytree Line]]
* {{TBLS|TS}} [[Tobu Skytree Line]]
* [[File:Subway TokyoChiyoda.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line]] (C-18)
* [[File:Subway TokyoChiyoda.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line]] (C-18)
* [[File:Subway TokyoHibiya.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]] (H-21)
* [[File:Subway TokyoHibiya.png|18px]] [[Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line]] (H-22)
}}
}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Adachi, Tokyo|Adachi]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Adachi, Tokyo|Adachi]]
|-
|-
| 06
| TX06
|青井
|青井
|[[Aoi Station|Aoi]]
|[[Aoi Station|Aoi]]
| align="right" | 10.6
| align="right" | {{convert|10.6|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
Line 216: Line 181:
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
|-
|-
| 07
| TX07
|六町
|六町
|[[Rokuchō Station|Rokuchō]]
|[[Rokuchō Station|Rokuchō]]
| align="right" | 12.0
| align="right" | {{convert|12.0|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ▲
| style="background-color:Orange;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Orange;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
|-
|-
| 08
| TX08
|八潮
|八潮
|[[Yashio Station|Yashio]]
|[[Yashio Station|Yashio]]
| align="right" | 15.6
| align="right" | {{convert|15.6|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Orange;" align="center" |●
| style="background-color:Orange;" align="center" |●
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | ●
|
|
|[[Yashio, Saitama|Yashio]]
|[[Yashio, Saitama|Yashio]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Saitama Prefecture|Saitama]]
|-
|-
| 09
| TX09
|三郷中央
|三郷中央
|[[Misato-chūō Station|Misato-chūō]]
|[[Misato-chūō Station|Misato-chūō]]
| align="right" | 19.3
| align="right" | {{convert|19.3|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 248: Line 213:
| [[Misato, Saitama (city)|Misato]]
| [[Misato, Saitama (city)|Misato]]
|-
|-
| 10
| TX10
|南流山
|南流山
|[[Minami-Nagareyama Station|Minami-Nagareyama]]
|[[Minami-Nagareyama Station|Minami-Nagareyama]]
| align="right" | 22.1
| align="right" | {{convert|22.1|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 260: Line 225:
| rowspan="5" |[[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
| rowspan="5" |[[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba]]
|-
|-
| 11
| TX11
|流山セントラルパーク
|流山セントラルパーク
|[[Nagareyama-centralpark Station|Nagareyama-centralpark]]
|[[Nagareyama-centralpark Station|Nagareyama-centralpark]]
| align="right" | 24.3
| align="right" | {{convert|24.3|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
Line 269: Line 234:
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
|-
|-
| 12
| TX12
|流山おおたかの森
|流山おおたかの森
|[[Nagareyama-ōtakanomori Station|Nagareyama-ōtakanomori]]
|[[Nagareyama-ōtakanomori Station|Nagareyama-ōtakanomori]]
| align="right" | 26.5
| align="right" | {{convert|26.5|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 279: Line 244:
|{{TBLS|TD}} [[Tobu Urban Park Line]]
|{{TBLS|TD}} [[Tobu Urban Park Line]]
|-
|-
| 13
| TX13
|柏の葉キャンパス
|柏の葉キャンパス
|[[Kashiwanoha-campus Station|Kashiwanoha-campus]]
|[[Kashiwanoha-campus Station|Kashiwanoha-campus]]
| align="right" | 30.0
| align="right" | {{convert|30.0|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 290: Line 255:
| rowspan="2" |[[Kashiwa, Chiba|Kashiwa]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Kashiwa, Chiba|Kashiwa]]
|-
|-
| 14
| TX14
|柏たなか
|柏たなか
|[[Kashiwa-Tanaka Station|Kashiwa-Tanaka]]
|[[Kashiwa-Tanaka Station|Kashiwa-Tanaka]]
| align="right" | 32.0
| align="right" | {{convert|32.0|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | |
Line 299: Line 264:
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
| style="background-color:Crimson;" align="center" | |
|-
|-
| 15
| TX15
|守谷
|守谷
|[[Moriya Station|Moriya]]
|[[Moriya Station|Moriya]]
| align="right" | 37.7
| align="right" | {{convert|37.7|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 311: Line 276:
| rowspan="6" |[[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]]
| rowspan="6" |[[Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki]]
|-
|-
| 16
| TX16
|みらい平
|みらい平
|[[Miraidaira Station|Miraidaira]]
|[[Miraidaira Station|Miraidaira]]
| align="right" | 44.3
| align="right" | {{convert|44.3|km|abbr=on}}
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |[[Alternating current|AC]]
| rowspan="5" style="text-align:center;" |[[Alternating current|AC]]
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
Line 323: Line 288:
|[[Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki|Tsukubamirai]]
|[[Tsukubamirai, Ibaraki|Tsukubamirai]]
|-
|-
| 17
| TX17
|みどりの
|みどりの
|[[Midorino Station|Midorino]]
|[[Midorino Station|Midorino]]
| align="right" | 48.6
| align="right" | {{convert|48.6|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 334: Line 299:
| rowspan="4" |[[Tsukuba, Ibaraki|Tsukuba]]
| rowspan="4" |[[Tsukuba, Ibaraki|Tsukuba]]
|-
|-
| 18
| TX18
|万博記念公園
|万博記念公園
|[[Bampaku-kinenkōen Station (Ibaraki)|Bampaku-kinenkōen]]
|[[Bampaku-kinenkōen Station (Ibaraki)|Bampaku-kinenkōen]]
| align="right" | 51.8
| align="right" | {{convert|51.8|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 344: Line 309:
|
|
|-
|-
| 19
| TX19
|研究学園
|研究学園
|[[Kenkyū-gakuen Station|Kenkyū-gakuen]]
|[[Kenkyū-gakuen Station|Kenkyū-gakuen]]
| align="right" | 55.6
| align="right" | {{convert|55.6|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 354: Line 319:
|
|
|-
|-
| 20
| TX20
|つくば
|つくば
|[[Tsukuba Station|Tsukuba]]
|[[Tsukuba Station|Tsukuba]]
| align="right" | 58.3
| align="right" | {{convert|58.3|km|abbr=on}}
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:Silver;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
| style="background-color:DodgerBlue;" align="center" | ●
Line 364: Line 329:
|
|
|}
|}

==History==
[[File:Inside tsukuba station.JPG|thumb|right|Platform level of [[Tsukuba Station]]]]
The {{Nihongo|[[Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company]]|首都圏新都市鉄道株式会社|Shuto-ken Shin Toshi Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha}} was founded on 15 March 1991 to construct the Tsukuba Express, which was initially going to be called the {{nihongo|New Joban Line|常磐新線|Jōban Shinsen}}. The reason for the line was to relieve crowding on the [[Jōban Line]] operated by [[East 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. Also, the initial plan called for a line from [[Tokyo Station]] to 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.

From the start of the revised timetable on 15 October 2012, new {{Nihongo|"Commuter rapid"|通勤快速|tsūkin kaisoku}} services were introduced in the morning (inbound services) and evening (outbound services) peak periods.<ref name="mir20120726">{{cite web |url= http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2012/1015.html|script-title=ja:10月15日(月)にダイヤ改正を実施いたします。|trans-title=15 October Timetable Revision|date= 26 July 2012|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= Japanese |archiveurl= |archivedate= |accessdate= 30 July 2012}}</ref>

In September 2013, a number of municipalities along the Tsukuba Express line in [[Ibaraki Prefecture]] submitted 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 the [[2020 Summer Olympics]].<ref>{{cite news|title=ＴＸ東京駅延伸で茨城の沿線自治体市議会が意見書|url=http://www.nikkei.com/paper/article/?ng=DGKDZO59968730Q3A920C1L83000|accessdate=24 September 2013|newspaper=日本経済新聞|date=21 September 2013}}</ref>

The line made worldwide news in November 2017 when an apology was issued by Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company due to a train departing 20 seconds earlier than scheduled.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apology after Japanese train departs 20 seconds early|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-42009839|accessdate=16 November 2017|date=16 November 2017}}</ref>


==Ridership figures==
==Ridership figures==
Line 385: Line 338:
! Days operated
! Days operated
! Passengers per day
! Passengers per day
!Source
|-
|-
| 2005
| 2005
Line 390: Line 344:
| 220
| 220
| 150,000
| 150,000
| rowspan="4" |<ref>"開業3周年を迎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</ref>
|-
|-
| 2006
| 2006
Line 410: Line 365:
| 365
| 365
| 270,300
| 270,300
|<ref name=":0">{{cite web|date=25 May 2010|script-title=ja:平成21年度 輸送実績のお知らせ|trans-title=Transportation Figures for 2009|url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20100526095104.pdf|access-date=28 November 2013|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304060134/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20100526095104.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2010
| 2010
Line 415: Line 371:
| 365
| 365
| 283,000
| 283,000
|<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=6 June 2011|script-title=ja:首都圏新都市鉄道（株）の平成22年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company for 2010|url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20110607114230.pdf|access-date=28 November 2013|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010426/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20110607114230.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2011
| 2011
Line 420: Line 377:
| 366
| 366
| 290,000
| 290,000
|<ref name=":2">{{cite web|date=4 June 2012|script-title=ja:首都圏新都市鉄道(株)の平成23年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company for 2011|url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20120605091157.pdf|access-date=28 November 2013|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=9 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109065329/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20120605091157.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2012
| 2012
Line 425: Line 383:
| 365
| 365
| 306,000
| 306,000
|<ref name=":3">{{cite web|date=7 June 2013|script-title=ja:平成24年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2012|url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2013/_55.html|access-date=28 November 2013|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203010556/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2013/_55.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| 2013
| 2013
| 117.17
| 118.22
| 365
| 365
| 324,000
| 323,900
|<ref name=":4">{{cite web|date=6 June 2014|script-title=ja:平成25年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2013|url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2014/post_34.html|access-date=8 November 2014|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=3 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703154220/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2014/post_34.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2014
| 118.84
| 365
| 325,600
|<ref name=":5">{{cite web|date=2 June 2015|script-title=ja:平成26年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2014|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2015/05157150.html|access-date=2 June 2015|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=18 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618225532/http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2015/05157150.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2015
| 124.14
| 365
| 340,100
|<ref name=":6">{{cite web|date=8 June 2016|script-title=ja:2015年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2015|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/sales.html|access-date=10 August 2021|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815093609/https://www.mir.co.jp/company/sales.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2016
| 129.64
| 366
| 354,200
|<ref name=":7">{{cite web|date=1 June 2017|script-title=ja:2016年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2016|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/sales.html|access-date=10 August 2021|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815093609/https://www.mir.co.jp/company/sales.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2017
| 135.12
| 365
| 370,200
|<ref name=":8">{{cite web|date=3 June 2018|script-title=ja:2017年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2017|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/sales.html|access-date=10 August 2021|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja|archive-date=15 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815093609/https://www.mir.co.jp/company/sales.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| 2018
| 139.74
| 365
| 386,000
|<ref name=":9">{{cite web|date=3 June 2019|script-title=ja:2018年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2018|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/pdf/sales_2018.pdf|access-date=20 September 2022|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja}}</ref>
|-
| 2019
| 143.10
| 365
| 395,000
|<ref name=":10">{{cite web|date=6 June 2020|script-title=ja:2019年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2019|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/pdf/sales_2019.pdf|access-date=20 September 2022|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja}}</ref>
|-
| 2020
| 100.44
| 365
| 278,000
|<ref name=":11">{{cite web|date=3 June 2021|script-title=ja:2020年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2020|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/pdf/sales_2020.pdf|access-date=20 September 2022|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja}}</ref>
|-
| 2021
| 110.61
| 365
| 306,000
|<ref name=":12">{{cite web|date=3 June 2022|script-title=ja:2021年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2021|url=https://www.mir.co.jp/company/pdf/sales_2021.pdf|access-date=20 September 2022|work=News Release|publisher=Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location=Japan|language=ja}}</ref>
|}
|}
(Source:<ref>"開業３周年を迎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</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20100526095104.pdf|script-title=ja:平成21年度 輸送実績のお知らせ|trans-title=Transportation Figures for 2009|date= 25 May 2010|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= Japanese |archiveurl=|archivedate= |accessdate= 28 November 2013}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20110607114230.pdf|script-title=ja:首都圏新都市鉄道（株）の平成22年度営業実績 |trans-title=Business Performance of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company for 2010|date= 6 June 2011|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= Japanese |archiveurl=|archivedate= |accessdate= 28 November 2013}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/upload/20120605091157.pdf|script-title=ja:首都圏新都市鉄道(株)の平成２３年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance of Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company for 2011|date= 4 June 2012|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= Japanese |archiveurl=|archivedate= |accessdate= 28 November 2013}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2013/_55.html|script-title=ja:平成２４年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2012|date= 7 June 2013|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= Japanese |archiveurl=|archivedate= |accessdate= 28 November 2013}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mir.co.jp/company/release/2014/post_34.html|script-title=ja:平成２５年度営業実績|trans-title=Business Performance for 2013|date= 6 June 2014|work= News Release|publisher= Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company|location= Japan|language= Japanese |archiveurl=|archivedate= |accessdate= 8 November 2014}}</ref>)


==See also==
==See also==
[[List of railway companies in Japan]]
*[[List of railway companies in Japan]]


==References==
==References==
Line 450: Line 452:


[[Category:Tsukuba Express| ]]
[[Category:Tsukuba Express| ]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Japan]]
[[Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan]]
[[Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Japan]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2005]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Railway lines in Japan]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 2005]]
[[Category:Japanese third-sector railway lines]]
[[Category:1500 V DC railway electrification]]
[[Category:20 kV AC railway electrification]]

Latest revision as of 18:17, 5 January 2025

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 DC overhead catenary (Akihabara–Moriya)
20 kV AC, 50 Hz (Moriya–Tsukuba)
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)

(video) Tsukuba Express line train
Platform level of Tsukuba Station

The Tsukuba Express (つくばエクスプレス, Tsukuba Ekusupuresu), or TX, is a Japanese railway line operated by the third-sector company Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company, which links Akihabara Station in Chiyoda, Tokyo and Tsukuba Station in Tsukuba, Ibaraki. The route was inaugurated on 24 August 2005.[2]

History

[edit]
A comparison of Tsukuba Express with Jōban Line and express bus service between Tokyo and Tsukuba

The Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company (首都圏新都市鉄道株式会社, Shuto-ken Shin Toshi Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha) was founded on 15 March 1991 to construct the Tsukuba Express, which was then provisionally called the Jōban New Line (常磐新線, Jōban Shinsen). The new line was planned to relieve crowding on the Jōban Line operated by East 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 associated keiretsu and 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 of universal design.[2]

Also, the initial plan called for a line from Tokyo Station to 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" (通勤快速, 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 in Ibaraki Prefecture submitted 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 the 2020 Summer Olympics.[5]

On 31 March 2023, four proposals for possible northern extensions were submitted to Ibaraki Prefecture governor Kazuhiko 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 a one-man (conductorless) train. The driver opens and closes the doors manually, but operation of the train is done automatically. 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 the Jōban 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 no level crossings.

Electrification and rolling stock

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To prevent interference with the geomagnetic measurements of the Japan Meteorological Agency at its laboratory in Ishioka, 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 series DC-only trains, which can operate only between Akihabara and Moriya, TX-2000 series and TX-3000 series dual-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 (普通, Futsū)
  •   : Semi Rapid (区間快速, Kukan Kaisoku)
  •   : Commuter Rapid (通勤快速, Tsūkin Kaisoku)
  •   : Rapid (快速, Kaisoku)

Station list

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

During the morning rush hour on 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 秋葉原 Akihabara 0.0 km (0 mi) DC ● ● ● ●
Chiyoda Tokyo
TX02 新御徒町 Shin-Okachimachi 1.6 km (0.99 mi) ● ● ● ● Toei Oedo Line (E-10) Taitō
TX03 浅草 Asakusa 3.1 km (1.9 mi) ● ● ● ● Tokyo Metro Ginza Line (at Tawaramachi (G-18))
TX04 南千住 Minami-Senju 5.6 km (3.5 mi) ● ● ● ● JJ Joban Line (Rapid)
Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (H-21) 		Arakawa
TX05 北千住 Kita-Senju 7.5 km (4.7 mi) ● ● ● ●
Adachi
TX06 青井 Aoi 10.6 km (6.6 mi) ● | | |
TX07 六町 Rokuchō 12.0 km (7.5 mi) ● ▲ ● |
TX08 八潮 Yashio 15.6 km (9.7 mi) ● ● ● ● Yashio Saitama
TX09 三郷中央 Misato-chūō 19.3 km (12.0 mi) ● ● | | Misato
TX10 南流山 Minami-Nagareyama 22.1 km (13.7 mi) ● ● ● ● JM Musashino Line Nagareyama Chiba
TX11 流山セントラルパーク Nagareyama-centralpark 24.3 km (15.1 mi) ● | | |
TX12 流山おおたかの森 Nagareyama-ōtakanomori 26.5 km (16.5 mi) ● ● ● ● TD Tobu Urban Park Line
TX13 柏の葉キャンパス Kashiwanoha-campus 30.0 km (18.6 mi) ● ● ● | Kashiwa
TX14 柏たなか Kashiwa-Tanaka 32.0 km (19.9 mi) ● | | |
TX15 守谷 Moriya 37.7 km (23.4 mi) ● ● ● ● ■ Jōsō Line Moriya Ibaraki
TX16 みらい平 Miraidaira 44.3 km (27.5 mi) AC ● ● | | Tsukubamirai
TX17 みどりの Midorino 48.6 km (30.2 mi) ● ● | | Tsukuba
TX18 万博記念公園 Bampaku-kinenkōen 51.8 km (32.2 mi) ● ● | |
TX19 研究学園 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. ^ "平成27年 大都市交通センサス 首都圈報告書" (PDF). P.93. 国土交通省. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 August 2018. Retrieved 29 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d Yamada, Kazunobu (December 2005). "Tsukuba Express – Introduction to Stations" (PDF). Japan Railway & Transport Review. 42: 50–59. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2017 – via East Japan Railway Culture Foundation.
  3. ^ "トピックス【TX情報】" [Topics (TX information)]. 首都圏新都市鉄道. 1 December 2005. Archived from the original on 1 December 2005. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  4. ^ 10月15日(月)にダイヤ改正を実施いたします。 [15 October Timetable Revision]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 26 July 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 30 July 2012.
  5. ^ "TX東京駅延伸で茨城の沿線自治体市議会が意見書". 日本経済新聞. 21 September 2013. Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  6. ^ "茨城県内のTX延伸先は「土浦方面」 県第三者委「実現可能性、採算性で優位」" [Proposals submitted for northern extension of the Tsukuba Express Line]. Sankei Shimbun DIGITAL (in Japanese). 31 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  7. ^ Barrow, Keith (12 June 2018). "Hitachi to supply extra trains for Tsukuba Express". railjournal.com. Simmons-Boardman Publishing. Archived from the original on 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  8. ^ "開業3周年を迎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. ^ 平成21年度 輸送実績のお知らせ [Transportation Figures for 2009] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 25 May 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  10. ^ 首都圏新都市鉄道（株）の平成22年度営業実績 [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. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  11. ^ 首都圏新都市鉄道(株)の平成23年度営業実績 [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. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  12. ^ 平成24年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2012]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  13. ^ 平成25年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2013]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 6 June 2014. Archived from the original on 3 July 2014. Retrieved 8 November 2014.
  14. ^ 平成26年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2014]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 2 June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 2 June 2015.
  15. ^ 2015年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2015]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 8 June 2016. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  16. ^ 2016年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2016]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 1 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  17. ^ 2017年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2017]. News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  18. ^ 2018年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2018] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  19. ^ 2019年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2019] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 6 June 2020. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  20. ^ 2020年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2020] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  21. ^ 2021年度営業実績 [Business Performance for 2021] (PDF). News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company. 3 June 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
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