Minatomirai Railway opening in Yokohama Feb 1

[Prophet of the Way]

Tokyu Toyoko Line Yokohama - Sakuragicho will close with the last train of
January 30th 2004. A new Minatomirai Railway will start service on February
1st. (Sun) between Yokohama - Chukagai Motomachi, parallel to JR Negishi Line
(blue trains), on the ocean side. Minatomirai Railway ("Yokohama Kousoku
Tetsudou") runs entirely underground, but as a company it is independent from
Yokohama City Subway.

Stations:

Yokohama LCX [transfer to JR, Keikyu, Sotetsu, Subway]
Shin-Takashima
Minatomirai LCX [near Landmark Tower]
Bashamichi CX
Nihon Odori CX [near Kanagawa-ken Gov't Hall, Luxury Liner Pier]
Motomachi Chukagai LCX [near Chinatown and Yamashita Park]

L: Tokkyuu (Limited Express) stop
C: Tsuukin Tokkyuu (Commuter Express) stop
X: Kyuukou (Express) stop

See this Tokyu Railway map for Toyoko Line stations:
http://www.tokyu.co.jp/contents_index/railway/rosenzu/index.html (bilingual)

Travel time and service:

Yokohama - Motomachi Chukagai : 8 min.
Shibuya - Motomachi Chukagai : 37 min. (fastest trains)

Tracks are connected with Tokyu at Yokohama and almost all trains will provide
through service between Shibuya - (Toyoko Line) - Motomachi Chukagai. Limited
express trains will run at 15 minute intervals most hours.

Although the Toyoko Line is physically connected to 2+ Tokyo Subway lines (Eidan
Hibiya Line, Namboku Line, ...), no train from (to) the Tokyo subways will run
into (come from) the Minatomirai section. No direct train will run, for
instance between Roppongi and Minatomirai.

Fares:

Yokohama - Bashamichi: 180 yen
Yokohama - Motomachi: Chukagai 200 yen

Shibuya - Sakuragicho is currently 290 yen by Tokyu. Shibuya - Minatomirai will
be 260 + 180 = 440 yen. (No transit discount but should be available as a
single ticket from machines.)

For comparison Yokohama - Sakuragicho is 130 yen, Shibuya - Sakuragicho 450 yen
by JR.

Yokohama Station:

Tokyu platforms will move underground.

Two pedestrian corridors will open beneath Yokohama Station on the north and
south of the wide transfer corridor now in use. Unlike the existing corridor,
passage will be "free"; no gates asking for a ticket.

http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/tokei/site/press/shiryo/mm_press.htm (J text)

Links:

Minatomirai Railway:
http://mm21railway.co.jp/www/ (J text, not much info as of Jan 25.)

Announcement of the City of Yokohama:
http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/tokei/site/press/shiryo/mm-press2.html (J)

Yokohama City Transportation Bureau:
http://www.city.yokohama.jp/me/koutuu/index.html
(On bus route changes in downtown Yokohama. Little info in the E pages.)

Tokyu Railway:
http://www.tokyu.co.jp/contents_index/railway/index.shtml (J)

Minato Mirai Development Project:
http://www.minatomirai21.com/english/index.html (E text)

Disclaimer:

This is a private translation of railroad authority announcements. Despite my
efforts, errors may have slipped in. Kindly reply if anything seems wrong.
mailto:a...@wta.att.ne.jp

Douso, The Prophet of the Way

[Prophet of the Way]

Some clarification.

I wrote:

> Tokyu Toyoko Line Yokohama - Sakuragicho will close with the last train of
> January 30th 2004.

To be precise, this crosses the day border.
The last trains run past midnight, around 0:30 - 0:50 AM.

> L: Tokkyuu (Limited Express) stop
> C: Tsuukin Tokkyuu (Commuter Express) stop
> X: Kyuukou (Express) stop
>
> See this Tokyu Railway map for Toyoko Line stations:
> http://www.tokyu.co.jp/contents_index/railway/rosenzu/index.html (bilingual)

Tokyu Railway does not charge extra for express or limited express. They are
made entirely of commuter wagons and just run faster than local.

Non-JR companies that operate extra-fare trains in the Tokyo area:

Keisei "Skyliner" (a separate Ltd. Express does not charge extra)
Tobu (excluding Tojo Line)
Seibu
Odakyu
Keikyu "Wing Kaitoku" (rare)