Keihin-Tōhoku Line

The Nihongo|Keihin-Tōhoku Line—Negishi Line|京浜東北線・根岸線|Keihin Tōhoku-sen—Negishi-sen is an 81 km railway line in Japan that connects the cities of Saitama, Warabi, Kawaguchi, Tokyo, Kawasaki, and Yokohama. The origins of its name are Tokyo( 東京) - Yokohama (横浜) and Tohoku Main Line (東北本線). Although it is a contiguous service, it is officially divided into 2 segments as follows:

*Nihongo|Keihin-Tōhoku Line|京浜東北線|Keihin Tōhoku-sen is the segment between Omiya and Yokohama stations. It runs along portions of the Tōhoku Main Line, and Tōkaidō Main Line. The name literally means "Tokyo-Yokohama and Tōhoku Line."

*Nihongo|Negishi Line|根岸線|Negishi-sen is the segment between Yokohama and Ōfuna stations.

However, because the service is contiguous, the entire service (including the "Negishi Line" portion) is often simply called the Keihin-Tōhoku Line for convenience. The Keihin-Tōhoku Line—Negishi Line trains are recognizable by their light blue stripe (the line's color on maps is also light blue).

History

The Keihin Line opened in 1914 as an electrified passenger line connecting Tokyo Station to Takashimacho Station in Yokohama. (The latter station was renamed Yokohama Station in 1915, when the former Yokohama Station was renamed Sakuragicho Station). The Keihin Line service was extended north through the Tohoku Main Line to Akabane Station in 1928 and to Omiya Station in 1932: this service was initially called the Tohoku-Keihin Line in announcements.

The Keihin Line initially had third-class and second-class cars, analogous to today's ordinary cars and Green Cars respectively. Second-class service ended in 1938 in order to accommodate special military cars during World War II. The military seating was converted to seating for women and children after the war, and back to ordinary seating in 1973 amid overcrowding concerns: second-class service was briefly restored in the 1950s but abandoned shortly thereafter.

In 1956, the Keihin-Tohoku Line was physically separated from the Yamanote Line between Tamachi and Tabata, allowing more frequent service. Through service with the Negishi Line began in 1964. The frequency increased again in 1968 when the Tohoku Main Line moved to separate tracks. Rapid service trains were introduced in 1988 to further ease congestion in the Yamanote Line corridor.

ervice

Trains run every 2–3 minutes at peak hours, every 5 minutes during the daytime, and less frequently the rest of the time. In most instances, these trains are classified as "futsū" (local), stopping at all stations en-route. However, during the daytime, trains are classified as "kaisoku" (rapid). These rapid trains skip some stations in central Tokyo, where it runs parallel to the Yamanote Line.

Presently, 209 series EMUs run on all Keihin-Tōhoku Line services. From autumn 2007, these will be gradually replaced by new E233 series 10-car EMUs.

Rolling stock

All Keihin-Tohōku Line rolling stock is based at Urawa Depot.

Rolling stock currently used

*209-0 series 10-car EMUs (sky blue stripe) (from March 1993)
*209-500 series 10-car EMUs (sky blue stripe) (from January 2001)
*E233-1000 series 10-car EMUs (sky blue stripe) (from December 2007)cite journal |author=鉄道友の会　東京支部　JR電車部会 |year=2007 |month=December |title=京浜東北線を駆け抜けた車両たち 後編|journal=Japan Railfan Magazine |volume=48 |issue=562 |pages=p.77–84]

Rolling stock used in the past

*72 series 8-car EMUs (brown livery) (until October 1970)
*101 series 10-car EMUs (sky blue livery) (from December 1970 until March 1978)cite journal |author=鉄道友の会　東京支部　JR電車部会 |year=2007 |month=November |title=京浜東北線を駆け抜けた車両たち 前編|journal=Japan Railfan Magazine |volume=48 |issue=561 |pages=p.86–93]
*103 series 10-car EMUs (sky blue livery) (from October 1965 until March 1998)
*205 series 10-car EMU (sky blue stripe) (from October 1989 until February 1996)
*209-900 series 10-car EMUs (sky blue stripe) (from May 1992 until August 2007)

Stations

* Station is skipped when trains are in rapid service.

ee also

References

External links

* [http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2371.html japan-guide.com: JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line]