Airport Narita

The Airport Narita (エアポート成田, Eapōto Narita) was once a "Rapid" limited-stop suburban rail service in Greater Tokyo operated since April 1991 until March 2018 by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It ran from Kurihama to Narita Airport Terminal 1 via the Yokosuka, Sōbu, and Narita lines, with a total length of 152.5 km. Only trains heading towards Narita Airport were identified as Airport Narita; those on the return journey towards Tokyo were unnamed.[1]

Airport Narita

E217 series EMU on an Airport Narita service, August 2009
Overview
Service type	Rapid
Locale	Yokosuka Line, Sōbu line, Narita Line
First service	20 April 1991
Last service	16 March 2018
Current operator(s)	JR East
Route
Start	Kurihama
End	Narita Airport Terminal 1
Distance travelled	152.5 km (94.8 mi)
On-board services
Class(es)	Standard + Green
Seating arrangements	Longitudinal/transverse
Catering facilities	None
Technical
Rolling stock	E217 series EMUs
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead

Route

Kurihama → Ōfuna → Tokyo

See Yokosuka Line for local trains.

Tokyo → Kinshichō → Chiba

See Sōbu Line (Rapid) for rapid trains.

Chiba → Sakura → Narita → Narita Airport Terminal 1

Chiba - Tsuga - Yotsukaidō - Monoi - Sakura - Shisui - Narita - Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 - Narita Airport Terminal 1

Rolling stock

Destination indicator

All Airport Narita services were operated using E217 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains.

History

The Airport Narita rapid services were introduced from 20 April 1991 to supplement the popular Narita Express limited express services which commenced the previous month.[2] Initially, 16 services ran in each direction daily, using 113 series EMU formations based at Ōfuna and Makuhari depots.[2] Trains including SaRo 124 Green (first class) cars were allocated to these services, as these had expanded luggage storage space.[2]

From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2018, the name Airport Narita was discontinued on rapid services to Narita Airport, in order to avoid confusion with the limited express Narita Express services which also serve Narita International Airport.[3]

See also

• Narita Express limited express service between destinations in the Tokyo area and Narita Airport
• List of named passenger trains of Japan

References

1. JR Timetable, April 2011 issue
2. JR急行・快速列車 [JR Express & Rapid Trains]. Tokyo, Japan: Railway Journal. 2 November 1991. p. 53.
3. JR東日本、成田空港行「エアポート成田」の愛称使用取りやめへ [JR East to discontinue "Airport Narita" name] (in Japanese). Japan: Tetsudo Shimbun. 15 December 2017. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 15 December 2017.