Multiple Track Lines

[bill937ca]

The greatest number of tracks at any point in Japan is 7 lines and 14 tracks at Nippori. You will find the JR Yamanote, Joban, Keihin Tohoku, Shinkansen and the Keisei crosses over the whole thing. 

 

Ground level cab view by You Tube user Food Science Japan.

 

 

From the bridge by You Tube user 

 

 

Another busy location is Oji Station with Toden trams, JR East trains and Shinkansen with four levels of action and three gauges.

 

ohanyuni71  You Tube video

 

 

railmanbros You Tube video

 

 

There are four levels of action, with three visible. Underground is the Tokyo Metro 1067mm gauge Namboku line, on the surface is the 1372mm gauge Toden Arakawa streetcar line, on the first elevated level are the JR East 1067mm gauge lines: Keihin-Tohoku line, JRF, and on the top level is the 1435mm gauge JR East Shikansen line.

 

I'll post more later.

[Sacto1985]

It's been said that people travelling to Narita Airport on the Keisei trains take them at Nippori Station instead of Ueno Station because there are a lot more train connections at Nippori (except for the Shinkansen, where you have to go to Ueno and take the long underground walk from Keisei Ueno to JR Ueno stations).

[bikkuri bahn]

Connecting to all the JR trains require a walk from Keisei Ueno, not just the shinkansen- Nippori is just a matter of an escalator ride and traversing a shared Keisei/JR concourse.  Keisei even rebuilt their down platform (on the third floor) so Skyliner trains have an exclusive platform face (platform 1) segregated from other services.

[bikkuri bahn]

Arguably, the diversity of trains (sans shinkansen) on this stretch was better in the seventies when there were more zairai sen limited express trains as well as loco-hauled long distance trains.  As far as diversity of trains nowadays, and disregarding the number of tracks, my favorite is Kyoto Station, which has the greatest number of zairai sen limited express services commencing/terminating in Japan, as well as good numbers of older JNR rolling stock still observable. There are also through freight trains, something you can't see at Nippori.  I also like to get a belgian waffle snack at the Manneken store in the station concourse just before catching a 113 series on a Kosei Line service or a 103 series on the Nara Line :)

Edited April 9, 2013 by bikkuri bahn

[bill937ca]

Another angle at Nippori.

 

[Sacto1985]

bikkuri bahn,

 

Kyoto Station does have a huge diversity of train types because so many important JR West lines go through the station, plus Shinkansen (mandatory stop for all trains) and the Kintetsu Kyoto Line. 

[bill937ca]

There`s the busy four-track Keihan Electric Railway main line.

 

 

The Hankyu six track main line from Juso to Umeda Station.

 

 

[JR 500系]

Wow! Brings a whole new meaing to the phrase: 'as busy as a bee!

 

Looking for a model layout like this? Guess that would be hard to accomodate so many lines in one layout...