JR Group (and Odakyu, Tokyo Metro) timetable changes March 15th 2008

JR Group (and Odakyu, Tokyo Metro) timetable changes March 15th 2008

There will be many changes nationwide, from a new line in Osaka opening,
stations opening and stations changing renamed. I have picked up the
changes affecting tourists.


* JR Group timetable changes


1. All Tokaido Shinkansen trains will stop at Shinagawa and Shin-Yokohama.


2. Shinkansen departures for Hiroshima from Tokyo will increase to three
times each hour.


3. A new Hikari will be added between Shin-Yokohama and Hiroshima.

This is good news for Japan Rail Pass holders, but it is only one
train (westbound) daily, and departs Shin-Yokohama very early in the
morning at 6:00 AM. (It will be the first train in the morning at
Shin-Yokohama.)

Trains start moving in downtown Tokyo at around 4:30. The Shinkansen
does not start until 6:00 at Tokyo and Shinagawa. From the best
locations it is possible to reach Shin-Yokohama by 6:00.

A new timetable should appear on this page March 15th:
http :// jr-central.co.jp/eng.nsf/english/timetable


4. Narita Express runs will increase.

Two runs will be added in each direction.


5. More Kansai Airport Rapid runs to JR Osaka.

Trains to and from JR Namba will be redirected to JR Osaka.


6. Fewer overnight trains

Naha (Kyoto-Kumamoto), Akatsuki (Kyoto-Nagasaki) and Ginga (Tokyo-Osaka)
will go out of service.

Hokutosei (Tokyo Ueno-Sapporo) and Nihonkai (Osaka-Aomori) runs will be
reduced.

------

* Odakyu - Tokyo Metro introduces through luxury trains

Odakyu Electric Railway will start through 'Romance Car' services into
the Subway Chiyoda Line (and Yurakucho Line on weekends). These trains
will require extra fare and all seats will be reserved. (Currently
Tokyo Metro runs no extra fare trains.)

Within the subway, only passengers continuing to Odakyu will be allowed
to board.

Inside the Chiyoda Line the new Romance Car run will serve:
Omote-Sando, Kasumigaseki, Otemachi, Kita-Senju

On weekends a few trains will proceed into the Yurakucho Line serving:
Toyosu, Shin-Kiba

On weekdays these trains will run between commuter trains in the rush
direction, to offer seats to those willing to pay extra. On weekends
and holidays there will be through runs from downtown Tokyo to Hakone,
convenient for Ginza, Hibiya and Akasaka hotel guests. The Shin-Kiba
train is basically for Odakyu residents heading for Tokyo Disneyland.

Limited express tickets will be available from vending machines at the
stations listed above and major Odakyu stations.

The fine print says those who board without a limited express ticket
shall pay 400 yen in addition to the base fare and limited express
surcharge. (link below)

Announcement in Japanese from Tokyo Metro:
http :// www .tokyometro.jp/osirase/pdf/20071221 romancecar.pdf

-----

For more info:

Hitachi hyperdia automated timetable:
http :// www .hyperdia,com / (English guidance available)

Digest of the timetable changes, in English:
http :// www .japanrail,com /JR news q4 07.html#1220
See "Dec 20 , 2007 - JR GROUP: SCHEDULE REVISIONS ON MARCH 15, 2008".


JR East foreign-language phone line and info booths:
http :// www .jreast.co.jp/e/info/index.html

JR Hokkaido foreign-language info desk:
http :// www 2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/idesk/index.html


Official announcements from JR companies in Japanese:

http :// www 2.jrhokkaido.co.jp/global/english/idesk/index.html
http :// www .jreast.co.jp/press/2007 2/20071213.pdf
http :// jr-central.co.jp/news.nsf/news/20071220-111633/$FILE/diagram.pdf
http :// www .westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/1173463 799.html
http :// www .jr-shikoku.co.jp/03 news/press/07-12-20/03.htm
http :// www 13.jrkyushu.co.jp/newsreleaseweb.nsf/GeneralFrameset?OpenFrameSet

Disclaimer

This is a private translation based on announcements by rail companies.
In spite of the author's best efforts, there may be errors in the
text. Please report errors by either posting a reply to the group, or
sending e-mail to: afu at wta dot att dot ne dot jp . And please check
with the above sources when planning long-distance trips.


Bon voyage,

Douso, The Prophet of the Way

Re: JR Group (and Odakyu, Tokyo Metro) timetable changes March 15th 2008

I wrote:

> 3. A new Hikari will be added between Shin-Yokohama and Hiroshima.
>
> This is good news for Japan Rail Pass holders, but it is only one
> train (westbound) daily, and departs Shin-Yokohama very early in the
> morning at 6:00 AM. (It will be the first train in the morning at
> Shin-Yokohama.)
>
> Trains start moving in downtown Tokyo at around 4:30. The Shinkansen
> does not start until 6:00 at Tokyo and Shinagawa. From the best
> locations it is possible to reach Shin-Yokohama by 6:00.

How to get to Shin-Yokohama by 6:00 AM:

Depart Ueno 4:48 AM (Keihin-Tohoku Line local)
(stops at Tokyo, Yurakucho, Shimbashi, Shinagawa, Kawasaki, etc.)
Transfer at Higashi-Kanagawa 5:30 / 5:36 (to Yokohama Line)
Arrive Shin-Yokohama 5:44 AM

A Yamanote Line train connects to the above at Shinagawa.

Depart Ikebukuro 4:34 AM (Yamanote Line, counter-clockwise)
(stops at Shinjuku, Shibuya, etc.)
Transfer at Shinagawa 5:01 / 5:06 (to Keihin-Tohoku Line)

Tokyo area JR network map:
http :// www .jreast.co.jp/e/info/map a4ol.pdf


> 4. Narita Express runs will increase.

Narita Express services:
http :// www .jreast.co.jp/e/nex/index.html


> * Odakyu - Tokyo Metro introduces through luxury trains

The following English page from Odakyu, on Romance Car services has not
been updated yet [March 18th '08]:
http :// www .odakyu.jp/english/rc/index.html

For information, try contacting Odakyu Sightseeing Information Center:
http :// www .odakyu.jp/english/center/index.html

Tokyo Subway map:
http :// www .tokyometro.jp/global/en/service/pdf/routemap en.pdf