The Nippori-Toneri Liner (日暮里・舎人ライナー, Nippori-Toneri-rainā) is an automated guideway transit (AGT) system between Nippori Station in Arakawa and Minumadai-shinsuikōen Station in Adachi, Tokyo, Japan. The line opened on March 30, 2008. It is operated by the Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation (Toei).
Overview
The fully elevated, double-tracked line is 9.7 km long with 13 stations, and it provides access to the Yamanote Line at both Nippori and Nishi-Nippori stations. A journey from end to end takes 20 minutes, compared to as long as 60 minutes by bus during rush hour.
In fiscal 2008, an average of 48,943 people used the line each day.[1] This compares to a 2007 forecast of 51,000 passengers per day.[2]
The Nippori Toneri Liner is the most overused fully automated line in the world in ratio to its design capacity, at 189% between 7:11 am and 8:11 am between Nishi Nippori and Akado Shogakkomae stations. This crowding even rivals the most crowded train lines, slotting in between the Tokaido line in Tokyo and the Keihin Tohoku line.
Station list
All stations are located in Tokyo.
Rolling stock
As of April 2020, services on the line are operated using:[3]
- 300 series (5-car sets × 16, since 30 March 2008)
- 330 series (5-car sets × 3, since 10 October 2015)
- 320 series (5-car set × 1, since 10 May 2017)
From its opening, the line has used a fleet of 300 series trainsets with stainless steel bodies.[3] From 10 October 2015, one new 330 series trainset was introduced on the line.[3] This five-car set was built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and has an aluminium body.[3] A new 320 series trainset (set 21) entered service on the line on 10 May 2017.[4] Like the 330 series, this set has two pairs of sliding doors on the side of each car, and all seating is longitudinal bench seating.[4]
300 series set 09 in July 2021
330 series set 31 undergoing testing in September 2015
320 series set 21 in July 2021
The interior of a 300 series set in July 2021
The interior of a 330 series set in October 2015
The interior of a 320 series set in July 2021
History
The western part of Adachi is poorly served by public transport and planning of the line started in 1985, with the initial intention of constructing a full-fledged subway. However, this was scrapped due to the high cost and projected low ridership, and a more cost-efficient AGT system was selected instead. Construction of the line started in 1997, and service commenced on March 30, 2008. The main contractor was the Tokyo Metropolitan Subway Construction Company, which also built the Toei Oedo Line.[citation needed]
Incidents
A 5.9 magnitude earthquake[5] partly derailed three cars of a train of the Nippori-Toneri Liner at 10:41 pm on Thursday, October 7th, 2021. Three passengers fell and were injured, but there were no fatalities. Repair works, before service can resume, were expected to last several days.[6]
