Rinkai Line

For the proposed subway line connecting Tokyo Station and the Ariake district along Tokyo Bay, see Tokyo Rinkai Subway Line.

The Rinkai Line (りんかい線, Rinkai-sen) is a railway line in Tokyo, Japan. It is the only line operated by the third-sector company Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit. It connects central Tokyo to the artificial islands of Aomi and Odaiba. The line is served by some trains on the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Saikyō Line which continue on to Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ōmiya, and Kawagoe.

Rinkai Line
R
A TWR 70-000 series train on the Tokyo Waterfront Railway, heading towards Shin-Kiba
Overview
Other name(s)	R
Native name	東京臨海高速鉄道りんかい線^[1]
Owner	Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit
Locale	Tokyo
Termini	Shin-Kiba Ōsaki
Stations	8
Service
Depot(s)	Yashio
Rolling stock	TWR 70-000 series, E233-7000 series
Daily ridership	200,200^[2]
History
Opened	1996
Technical
Line length	12.2 km (7.6 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map Legend Keiyō Line Shin-Kiba Depot 0.0 R01 Shin-Kiba Tokyo Metro Yurakucho LineY 2.2 R02 Shinonome Ariake 3.5 R03 Kokusai-Tenjijō Ariake Depot Tokyo Big Sight Yurikamome Odaiba-kaihinkōen 4.9 R04 Tokyo Teleport Aomi Daiba 6.8 Shinagawa-futō Yashio Depot Tokyo Freight Terminal Tōkaidō Freight Line Tokyo Monorail 7.8 R05 Tennōzu Isle 8.9 R06 Shinagawa Seaside Keikyu Main Line Tōkaidō Main Line Keihin-Tōhoku Line 10.5 R07 Ōimachi Tokyu Oimachi Line Tokyo General Rolling Stock Centre Shōnan–Shinjuku Line (Osaki Branch Line) Tokaido Shinkansen Hinkaku Line Yamanote Line 12.2 R08 Ōsaki Station Saikyō Line ・Shonan–Shinjuku Line (Yamanote Freight Line)

Overview

While not part of the Tokyo subway network (as it was built to JR specifications), the Rinkai Line is fully grade separated and runs underground for nearly 10 km (6.2 mi) of its 12.2 km (7.6 mi) distance, going as low as 40 meters (130 ft) below the ground when crossing under the Port of Tokyo. The Shinonome – Shin-Kiba segment (which uses the former Keiyō Freight Line) is elevated.

Station list

All stations are located in Tokyo. All trains stop at every station on the line.

 

Rinkai line route map

No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers	Location
			Between stations	Total
R01	Shin-Kiba	新木場	-	0.0	JE Keiyo Line Y Tokyo Metro Yurakucho Line (Y-24)	Kōtō
R02	Shinonome	東雲	2.2	2.2
R03	Kokusai-Tenjijō	国際展示場	1.3	3.5	Yurikamome (Ariake: U-12)
R04	Tokyo Teleport	東京テレポート	1.4	4.9	Yurikamome (Odaiba-Kaihinkōen: U-06, Aomi: U-10)
R05	Tennōzu Isle	天王洲アイル	2.9	7.8	MO Tokyo Monorail	Shinagawa
R06	Shinagawa Seaside	品川シーサイド	1.1	8.9
R07	Ōimachi	大井町	1.6	10.5	JK Keihin-Tohoku Line OM Tokyu Oimachi Line
R08	Ōsaki	大崎	1.7	12.2	JA Saikyo Line JY Yamanote Line JS Shonan-Shinjuku Line
↓ Through-running to/from Kawagoe via the Saikyō and Kawagoe Line ↓

Rolling stock

• TWR 70-000 series 10-car EMUs (since 1996)
• JR East E233-7000 series 10-car EMUs (since 30 June 2013)

The TWR 70-000 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains are based at Yashio Depot, which is accessed via a spur located between Tennōzu Isle Station and Tokyo Teleport Station (the spur track also provides access to Tokyo Freight Terminal), while the E233 series trains are based at Kawagoe Depot.

The first of a fleet of 31 new 10-car E233-7000 series sets were introduced on Saikyō Line, Kawagoe Line, and Rinkai Line services between Kawagoe and Shin-Kiba from 30 June 2013, displacing the fleet of 205 series EMUs.^[3][4]

A new train type will be introduced in 2024, replacing the 70-000 series.^[5] The new type was revealed to be designated as 71-000 series on 6 November 2023.^[6] The revised entry into service is scheduled to take place in the middle of 2025 rather than 2024.

•  
  TWR 70-000 series EMU in June 2022
•  
  A JR East E233-7000 series EMU on the Rinkai Line in June 2022

Former rolling stock

• JR East 205 series 10-car EMUs (2002–2016)^[7]

•  
  A JR East 205 series EMU on the Rinkai Line in July 2008

History

Construction of the line started in 1992, with the eastern end of the line using the right-of-way of the Keiyō Freight Line (abandoned in 1983).^[8] The first portion of the line between Shin-Kiba and Tokyo Teleport opened for service on March 30, 1996, initially under the name Rinkai Fukutoshin Line (臨海副都心線, Rinkai-fukutoshin-sen). The name was officially changed to the Rinkai Line on September 1, 2000.^[9] The extension to Tennōzu Isle opened on March 31, 2001,^[9] and the final portion to Osaki on December 1, 2002.^[9]

The project ran severely over budget, with an estimated final cost of over ¥440 billion.^[8] In 2005, the Rinkai Line's average ridership was 140,000 passengers per day^[8] and, in 2006, the line finally registered its first operational profit, although interest payments on ¥389 billion yen in debt have resulted in a consistent net loss since 1991. By comparison, the competing elevated Yurikamome line is profitable, thanks to lower construction expenses, higher ticket prices and popularity among tourists and leisure visitors for its scenic views.^[10]

However, the Rinkai Line's ridership has steadily increased since, reaching 200,200 passengers per day in 2010. The ridership is forecast to increase further due to future development planned for the area served by the line.

Station numbering was introduced to all Rinkai Line stations in 2016 with stations being assigned station numbers R01 (Shin-Kiba) and R08 (Osaki).^[11]

Operating company

Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, Inc.

Native name	東京臨海高速鉄道株式会社
Romanized name	Tōkyō Rinkai Kōsoku Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha
Company type	Kabushiki gaisha
Industry	Rail transport
Founded	March 12, 1991
Headquarters	Kōtō, Tokyo , Japan
Area served	Tokyo
Key people	Hiroyasu Kawasaki, Representative Director and CEO
Services	Rinkai Line rail service
Revenue	15.588 billion yen (FY2008)^[12]
Operating income	1.623 billion yen (FY2008)^[12]
Net income	-2.503 billion yen (FY2008)^[12]
Total assets	303.408 billion yen (FY2008)^[12]
Owner	Tokyo Metropolitan Government (91.32%) JR East (2.41%) Shinagawa Ward (1.77%) Mizuho Bank (0.70%) (as of 1 April 2014)
Number of employees	247
Website	www.twr.co.jp

Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit, Inc. (東京臨海高速鉄道株式会社, Tōkyō Rinkai Kōsoku Tetsudō Kabushiki-gaisha) was founded on March 12, 1991, for the express purpose of constructing and operating the railway line. It is a third-sector company, and, as of 1 April 2013, 91.32% of shares are held by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2.41% by JR East, 1.77% by Shinagawa Ward, 0.70% by Mizuho Bank, 0.46% by MUFG Bank, 0.34% by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, and the remaining 3% by 41 other companies.^[13]

In spite of its severe financial situation, TWR was discovered to have made a five million yen donation to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government on October 16, 2009, to encourage the city's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games.^[14] The company stood to benefit financially if the games were held in Tokyo, as several of the proposed venues were located along the Rinkai Line.

In addition to its ownership and operation of the Rinkai Line, TWR is also involved in real estate and subcontracting/management of station- and building-related design.

Future plans

See also: Haneda Airport Access Line Plan

In August 2014, it was revealed that JR East was in negotiations to buy out the Rinkai Line.^[13] This would make it easier to incorporate the line into its plans for a direct line to Haneda Airport as well as providing through services to and from the Keiyo Line.^[13]

References

1. 東京臨海高速鉄道の駅名標
2. "企業・採用｜お台場電車 りんかい線" (PDF).
3. 秋田新幹線用車両と埼京線・横浜線用車両の新造について [Akita Shinkansen, Saikyo Line, and Yokohama Line new train details] (PDF) (in Japanese). JR East. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
4. [Comfortable new trains to be introduced on Saikyo/Kawagoe Line from 30th] (in Japanese). Japan: The Saitama Shimbun. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-06-09. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
5. "中期経営計画２０２２" [2022 Mid-term Management Plan] (PDF). March 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
6. "東京臨海高速鉄道，りんかい線に71-000形を導入へ" [Tokyo Waterfront Railway to introduce 71-000 series trains on the Rinkai Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). 6 November 2023. from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
7. JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2012]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. October 2011. p. 66. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.
8. JRTR 38: Rapid Transit and Related Urban Development in Tokyo Waterfront Area
9. [Company Information]. twr.co.jp (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
10. JRTR 16: Tokyo’s New Waterfront Transit System
11. [Introduction of Rinkai Line "Station Numbering"]. twr.co.jp (in Japanese). 22 March 2016. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
12. 東京臨海高速鉄道（株） Accessed March 9, 2010. (in Japanese)
13. [What will change if JR East buys out the Rinkai Line?] (in Japanese). Japan. 22 August 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-08-29. Retrieved 30 August 2014.
14. 報道特集NEXT, Tokyo Broadcasting System. November 7, 2009.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit.

• Tokyo Waterfront Area Rapid Transit (official) (in Japanese)