Amid the Covid-19 resurgence in Japan, JR East Japan and other private railways have announced that they will bring forward the departure time for the last train. This change was originally planned to be implemented in March 2021, but since the situation in Tokyo is quite grave, the railway authorities have decided it can no longer be delayed, and various railway companies will change their last train departure schedules from January.
Affected JR East lines
The train lines on the JR East are as follows： ● Yamanote Line ● Keihin-Tohoku/Negishi Line ● Sobu Line (Local) ● Chuo Line (Local) ● Chuo Line (Rapid) ● Joban Line ● Saikyo/Kawagoe Line ● Tokaido Line ● Yokosuka Line ● Musashino Line ● Keiyo LineThose who have been to Tokyo would know that the Yamanote Line is the transportation hub of Tokyo and an important route linking Tokyo with surrounding cities. The specific changes for bringing forward departure times are as follows： ・Yamanote Line Outer Loop：19 minutes earlier between Osaki and Ikebukuro, 14 minutes earlier between Ikebukuro and Shinagawa ・Yamanote Line Inner Loop：28 minutes earlier between Ikebukuro and Osaki
If the last train time of the Yamanote Line is earlier, it means that the various routes connected to it must be adjusted accordingly. In other words, the train timings in the entire Kanto region will change dramatically. Routes with larger time adjustments include: ・Keihin Tohoku/Negishi Line: 32 minutes earlier between Kamata and Sakuragicho station (southbound), 26 minutes earlier between Minami-urawa and Omiya section (northbound)； ・Chuo Line (Rapid): 30 minutes earlier between Tokyo and Musashi-Koganei stations； ・Joban Line (Rapid): 25 minutes earlier between Toride and Matsudo stations； ・Saikyo Line: 24 minutes earlier between Akabane to Ikebukuro stations
These changes are especially important for those who work overtime and return home by the last train.
Tokyo Metro
Let's take a look at changes to the Tokyo Metro's train timings. Except for the time of the last train bound for Matsudo from Kita-Senju on the Chiyoda Line, all Tokyo Metro lines will bring forward the last train departure by 10-20 minutes.
The number of trains running late in the evening will also be reduced.
Private Railways
The following private railway networks will also see adjustments: Tobu Railway, Seibu Railway, Keisei Electric Railway, Keio Electric Railway, Tokyu Electric Railway, Keikyu Line, Odakyu Electric Railway, Sagami Railway, Tokyo Monorail, Yokohama Minatomirai Line, Yokohama Municipal Subway, Hokuso Railway, Toyo Rapid Railway, Saitama Kosoku Railway, Tokyo Rinkai Line, Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company (Tsukuba Express), Enoshima Electric Railway, Yurikamome
The Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to downtown Tokyo, Enoshima Electric Railway to famous places in Kamakura, Yurikamome to popular tourist spot Odaiba, etc. are all included in the private railway network above.
Although you may not be able to come to Japan in the recent future, this situation may continue for a long time, and this is especially important for those of you still living in Japan.
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