Narita Express Questions

[bc6]

I don't know much about the Narita Express except what Ive read on Wikipedia and JNS but I do have some questions.

 

1) How many cars are usually taken into the airport 4, 8 or 16.

 

2) Which stations does the Narita express take on more cars & how many.

 

Thanks

[bikkuri bahn]

I don't know much about the Narita Express except what Ive read on Wikipedia and JNS but I do have some questions.

 

1) How many cars are usually taken into the airport 4, 8 or 16.

 

2) Which stations does the Narita express take on more cars & how many.

 

Thanks

 

1) Train consists are either 9 or 12 cars, when combined.

 

2) All combination/separation of trains occur at Tokyo Station.  Depending on the train number, separated trains can be 3,4, or 6 cars.

[bc6]

Thanks bikkuri bahn 

[NGT6 1315]

I don't know much about the Narita Express except what Ive read on Wikipedia and JNS but I do have some questions.

 

1) How many cars are usually taken into the airport 4, 8 or 16.

 

2) Which stations does the Narita express take on more cars & how many.

 

Thanks

 

1) Train consists are either 9 or 12 cars, when combined.

 

2) All combination/separation of trains occur at Tokyo Station.  Depending on the train number, separated trains can be 3,4, or 6 cars.

 

A question about point 2) : Do these numbers refer to the number of units per separated service or rather to the number of cars per unit? Far as I know the 253 series only comes in formations of three and six cars, and the E259 only with six cars.

[bikkuri bahn]

You're right, the formations are 3 and 6.  I misread the formation diagram.

[bill937ca]

There's more information on the Narita Express at this link.

 

http://www.japantravelinfo.com/news/news_item.php?newsid=182

[kvp]

This thread is a bit old, but i would like to ask which tracks the narita express use at shimbashi. As far as i know it doesn't stop there but at least half of it does go through the station. Also, it would be great if anyone had a list of stations and platforms where the train stops or passes through. (the second one is the harder question) Thanks!

[ToniBabelony]

This thread is a bit old, but i would like to ask which tracks the narita express use at shimbashi. As far as i know it doesn't stop there but at least half of it does go through the station.

 

AFAIK, all trains outside of the Yamanote and Keihin-Tōhoku line trains use the Tōkaido tracks to pass Shinbashi.

[nartak]

Narita Express goes through Shimbashi station through Yokosuka line track.  There is a platform underground apart from Yamanote/Keihin-Tohoku/Tokaido viaduct platform.

 

Link is Shimbashi station station map and there is platform "undergroung 1 and 2" (purple colored area at bottom of map) are for Yokosuka line.

http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/stations/877.html

 

Platform underground 1 - Bounds for Yokohama

Platfrom underground 2 - Bounds for Tokyo and Sobu line

[kvp]

Thanks! This explains why i couldn't find it on any of the elevated photos.

[Guest keio6000]

narita express is really strange by Japanese standards.  the interior is bigger with plenty of luggage space and somehow seems designed for foreign size bodies.   it's also strange because at least when i ride it it's nearly always empty, so sitting it in it is like being in some bizarre alternate universe where you are passing by busy stations on the yamanote line during rush hour in your own personal train.  there's nothing particularly special about riding it from central tokyo narita, but the amazing feeling that you get in riding it once you reach the yamanote line, especially if you go to either yokohama or hachioji in it, is pretty cool.

 

very happy that i have the 253 and, very very soon, the E259, both from Kato. 

 

it's also amazing in that narita express platforms seemed to have largely been designed, or at least situated, forgetting that people will have luggage.   the platform at shinjuku is a (relative) hike, and don't get me started on the "almost in okinawa" platforms 3-4 at shibuya :). but, with the special "suica+nex" ticket they sell, it's easily the best value and most convenient option when coming from narita. 

[bikkuri bahn]

narita express is really strange by Japanese standards.  the interior is bigger with plenty of luggage space and somehow seems designed for foreign size bodies.

 

I wouldn't consider it strange, it's just following current trends in interior fittings and is comparable to recent shinkansen designs- it has a seat pitch of 102cm, while the E5 regular class seating has a seat pitch of 104cm.  The Keisei Skyliner has a seat pitch of 105cm, though the seats are a bit firm compared to JR seats. As for luggage space, it's there because it's an airport train obviously.  For domestic travel people travel light (typically a boston bag or small spinner that can be easily be put on an overhead rack.  Any oversize luggage is usually sent ahead by excellent takkyubin services.

Edited April 6, 2014 by bikkuri bahn

[Jcarlton]

I've wondered about the fact that the train was nearly empty the times I've used it.  It might be the time that foreigners arrive though that causes that.  If you arrive for a morning arrival, the train is going to be mostly empty as JEast has to send the train back because there is  only one terminal track at the airport.  So to make way for the next arrival the train has to leave again, loaded or empty.

Edited April 6, 2014 by Jcarlton

[kvp]

I've wondered about the fact that the train was nearly empty the times I've used it.  It might be the time that foreigners arrive though that causes that. 

Or the fact that nowdays there are cheaper and more direct alternatives to using the NEX. First, there is the skyliner, then the countless buses that can take you directly to your hotel for less than the NEX ticket. The fact that overnight buses are competing with shinkansens and essentially replaced the much cheaper overnight trains that had run with seating cars can explain this. People, especially tourists (except railfans) tend to choose the most cost effective way to travel and when rail travel is not the most cost effective, then they will use whatever is a better alternative.

 

ps: From the photos i've seen, the current nex car interiors look just like any modern european high speed train, for example like a railjet. The only extra besides the nice colors is the japanese tradition, the forward facing (rotatable) seats. Afaik this feature was an american invention, but somehow got forgotten everywhere else.

Edited April 6, 2014 by kvp

[jindaiji]

Yep, it's mostly a foreigner and business option since you can take a two train alternative route for around half the price and shave 10 or 15 minutes off the commute time if you catch the trains just right. I found that was easy after missing the N'ex once. The N'ex is nice if you have a lot of luggage and don't want to deal with hauling luggage while changing trains. But if that's the case and you had one more train to catch from Shinjuku or Tokyo station for example, then the bus is also a preferred option for many. After a few years, if the bus schedule worked out, I usually preferred the bus which went direct to my station in the western suburbs of Tokyo. From there a 4 minute taxi home. No need to navigate luggage through crowded Shinjuku station. 

[Sacto1985]

The issue with Narita Express is that it's a pretty expensive option unless your destination is close to Tokyo, Shinagawa, Yokohama (NOT Shin-Yokohama), Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebuburo stations. Most people that take the train from Narita airport prefer the much faster Keisei Skyliner to Nippori Station, where there are plentiful connections to other JR East lines.

[kvp]

I've just found a picture and it would be nice to know what is what on the roof. There are at least 4 types of boxes and/or antennas on the roof. The only thing that i can recognise 100% is the pantograph.

 

Here is the image:

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/96250106.jpg

 

So what is what?

[miyakoji]

Just behind where the driver is seated is the emergency flare, it's difficult to see. The two smaller, white antennas are for the onboard WiFi, I think. I'm not sure about the grey antennas and the square thing near the back of the car.

[nartak]

As I search around, seems following.

 

1. Square shaped antenna

This seems like AM/FM radio antenna for passenger.

 

2. 2 x white colored antenna

WiMAX antenna for data communication.  It is the uplink circuit for in-train WiFi for passenger.

 

3. Other 2 gray colored antenna

I assume it is JR radio for operational communication....

[kvp]

So the big box is an AM/FM antenna? That's rather huge for something that is usually very small, considering the size of a pocket am/fm radio.

 

Something just caught my eye: Where are the air conditioning units?

[westfalen]

The AM/FM antenna might need a bit more power to overcome interferance from the overhead and other high voltage systems.