The Sobu Rapid Line is a 79.2 km long line running east-west between Tokyo Station in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward and Chiba Station in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture.
The line also operates a direct connection with the Yokosuka Line between Tokyo Station and Kurihama Station in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, and Tokyo Station in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo.
The Sobu Line (Rapid) operates at high speed, stopping only at a limited number of stations, because the Chuo･Sobu Line (Local) run side by side from Kinshicho Station to Chiba Station, which has a large number of stations.
The Sobu Line (Rapid) is also used as an access line between central Tokyo and Narita Airport, an international airport. The Narita Express, a limited express train bound for Narita Airport, runs on the Sobu Line (Rapid), and the Shiosai, a limited express train bound for Choshi, also runs on this line.
Trains bound for Narita Airport depart from Chiba Station via the Sobu Main Line and enter the Narita Line at Sakura Station. The Narita Line connects Sakura Station in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture, and Matsugishi Station in Choshi City, Chiba Prefecture, via Narita Station. The Narita Line also has branch lines, one connecting Abiko Station in Abiko City, Chiba Prefecture, to Narita Station (commonly known as the Abiko Branch Line) and another connecting Narita Station to Narita Airport (commonly known as the Airport Branch Line).
The Sobu Line (Rapid) DLC can operate the section of the Narita Line from Sakura Station to Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station via Narita Station.
Starting underground in central Tokyo, the line runs at high speed through the suburbs of Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture, and beyond Chiba Station, the line runs through a landscape with a lot of greenery. We hope you will enjoy driving to Narita Airport while feeling the changes in the scenery.
Highlights
- Bakurocho Station
Famous for its deep underground station, the platform is located 5 stories underground.
- Running side-by-side with Chuo･Sobu Line (Local) /Bakurocho Station - Kinshicho Station
When you reach the ground level, yellow trains of the Chuo･Sobu Line (Local) run side by side on your right. The trains will run side by side until Chiba Station, but the Sobu Line (Rapid) will only stop at some stations.
- Kinshicho Station
Six detention lines are lined up on the left. Some trains arriving at and departing from Tokyo Station are detained here.
- Freight line underpass / Kinshicho Station - Shin-Koiwa Station
The freight line heading to Etchujima Freight Station is underpassed. The Tobu Railway Kameido Line splits off to the left.
- Long railway bridge/Kinshicho Station - Shin-Koiwa Station
Cross the Arakawa and Naka Rivers. Between the Arakawa and Naka Rivers, the Metropolitan Expressway Chuo Loop Line goes under.
- Signal station/Shin-Koiwa Station - Ichikawa Station
The tracks lined up on the left are Shin-Koiwa Signal Station. A freight line (commonly known as the Shinkin Line) heading to Kanamachi Station on the Joban Line branches off from it.
- Crossing the river / Shin-Koiwa Station - Ichikawa Station
The Shin-Naka River is crossed.
- Long railway bridge/Shin-Koiwa Station - Ichikawa Station
Cross the Edogawa River. You will enter Chiba Prefecture in the middle of the river.
- Nishi Funabashi Station/Ichikawa Station - Funabashi Station
No rapid trains stop at Nishi-Funabashi Station, but this is a major station where the Musashino Line, Keiyo Line, Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, and Toyo Rapid Railway Line connect. It is under the Musashino Line and Keiyo Line.
- Intersection with the Keisei Line/Ichikawa Station - Funabashi Station
It goes under the Keisei Electric Railway main line.
- Parallel run of the Tobu Line/Ichikawa Station - Funabashi Station
The Tobu Railway Urban Park Line lines up to Funabashi Station on the left.
- Intersection with the Shin Keisei Line/Tsudanuma Station - Inage Station
You will go under the green girder bridge, but the Shin Keisei Line is running above.
- Train Depot / Tsudanuma Station - Inage Station
The Makuhari Rolling Stock Center extends to the right, where many of the trains that run in Chiba Prefecture, such as Series 209 and 255, are located.
- Chiba Station
This is a terminal station with five platforms and ten tracks. Trains bound for Narita, Choshi, and Boso arrive and depart.
- Intersection with Monorail/Chiba Station - Higashi-Chiba Station
It runs parallel to the Chiba Urban Monorail and then intersects it. After that, it intersects again near Tsuga Station.
- Rural Area / Yotsukaido Station - Monoi Station
From this point on, fields and greenery increase along the route.
- Intersection with a main road/Yotsukaido Station - Monoi Station
The red overpass at the intersection is the Higashi-Kanto Expressway.
- Branch of the Sobu Main Line/Sakura Station - Shisui Station
After departing from Sakura Station, the Sobu Main Line, which runs parallel to the train on the right, splits near a railroad crossing. The Sobu Main Line heads toward Choshi.
- Narita Station
Narita Line trains bound for Abiko connect to this station. The nearest station to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple, and there is an entrance to Omote-sando (front approach) near the station.
- A train bound for Abiko diverges./Narita Station - Airport Terminal 2 Station
Beyond Narita Station, the Narita Line bound for Abiko splits off to the left.
- Parallel with Keisei Line/Narita Station - Airport Terminal 2 Station
The train runs parallel to the Keisei Line, which is also bound for Narita Airport; since both the JR and Keisei Lines are single-track (single-track parallel), the train appears to be double-track when running.
- Horinouchi Signal Station
Because of the long single-track section between Narita Station and Narita Airport Station, oncoming trains will cross at this signal station.
- Airport Terminal 2 Station
This is the closest station to Narita Airport Terminals 2 and 3, but the JR line has only one platform and one track.
Route Information
- Section: Sobu Line (Rapid) Outbound Tokyo ⇒ Airport Terminal 1
- Total length: 79.2 km
- Number of Stations: 19
- Security equipment: ATS-P
Train schedules that can be operated
- Train Number：627F
- Type/Destination: Rapid train to Chiba
- Section where you can drive: Tokyo(07:34) → Chiba(08:15)
- Type of train: Series E217, 15 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Chiba train crew depot
- Train Number：845F
- Type/Destination: Rapid train to Tsudanuma
- Section where you can drive: Tokyo(08:51) → Tsudanuma(09:19)
- Type of train: Series E217, 15 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Chiba train crew depot
- Train Number：1217F (Changed from Chiba Station to 4217F)
- Type/Destination: Rapid train to Narita Airport Terminal 1
- Section where you can drive: Tokyo(14:15) → Narita Airport Terminal 1(15:43)
- Type of train: Series E217, 15 cars
- Responsible for real voice train announcements: Chiba train crew depot
