Tsukuba Express—Introduction to Stations
F New Lines and Infrastructure in Greater Tokyo eature Tsukuba Express—Introduction to Stations Kazunobu Yamada Line Overview, Station Design development (Fig. 1). The fastest trains lines and the added convenience for and Mobility travel the 58.3-km distance in 45 minutes, commuters will undoubtedly reduce passing through four prefectures: Tokyo, congestion on JR East’s Joban Line and General overview Chiba, Saitama and Ibaraki. other older lines (Table 1). The line also The Tsukuba Express—Greater Tokyo’s The line is quickly becoming a major offers improved transit options for people newest commuter rail line—began service transit option for rail passengers travelling living and working near the line. on 24 August 2005. The line starts in between the centre of Tokyo and north- Akihabara, Tokyo (the city’s so-called east Greater Tokyo. Each of the 20 stations Preparing for development Electric Town) and terminates in Tsukuba has been designed with its own identity. The operator, Metropolitan Intercity Science City, Japan’s centre for high-tech Seven stations offer connections to other Railway Company (MIRC), took advantage of the Special Measures Law for Coordinated Development of Residential Figure 1 Tsukuba Express Route Areas and Railways in Metropolitan Areas (approved in June 1989 and enforced from September that year), which facilitates Tsuchiura City simultaneous construction of railways and TsuchiuraTsuchiura development of residential land for large Kanto RailwRailway Joban Line Kenkyu-gakuen Tsukuba housing projects. (Science City) JR EastEast’s’s The law promotes railway development Joban Line a hand-in-hand with development of land y Joban Line Banpaku- Tsukuba City kinenkoen near the proposed right-of-way, making it MidorinoMidorino easier to promote simultaneous development of railway land, roads, parks, IBARAKIIbaraki PREFECTURE Prefecture residential land, and other urban facilities.
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