New high-speed train set for Tokyo

[NM]

From news.com.au:

A SLEEK new high-speed train will from next year cut the travel time between Tokyo and Narita International Airport to 36 minutes, down from the current 51 minutes, the rail company said.

 

[Evan]

The old one was pretty good, the new one will be even better.
I saw all the adds up when i was there last time.

 

[ArseneV]

^^^Agreed.
31 minutes is incredible!
Shows how pathetic we are imo.

 

[dajop]

^^^Agreed.
31 minutes is incredible!
Shows how pathetic we are imo.

Actually it's not that incredible. 64km, 31 minutes. Rather slow by Japanese standards!! Believe it or not we do have some train journeys at not dissimilar speeds (71km, 37mins) - admittedly non urban though.

Also a subnote the train terminates near Ueno, which is in Tokyo, but still quite north of central Tokyo. Still takes some time to get from there to the central, western and southern parts of Tokyo.

 

[medhead]

Actually it's not that incredible. 64km, 31 minutes. Rather slow by Japanese standards!! Believe it or not we do have some train journeys at not dissimilar speeds (71km, 37mins) - admittedly non urban though.

Do tell?
The only one I can think of is the Tilttrain in QLD. The XPT speeed is 80km/h, which is a bit less that the 128 km/h implied by 64 km in 31 mins.

 

[dajop]

Do tell?
The only one I can think of is the Tilttrain in QLD. The XPT speeed is 80km/h, which is a bit less that the 128 km/h implied by 64 km in 31 mins.

In Victoria ...
Kyneton-Bendigo 70.69km some trains do it in 36 mins (with two stops), average speed 118km/h (actually averages 128km/h between the two of stops in the middle)
Bendigo-Melbourne/Southern Cross 164.25km one train does 84 mins, average speed 117km/h. Knowing how these trains slow down in suburbia, that would probably average 130km/h+ until it hits the edge of Melbourne. These trains do travel at speeds of 160km/h on some tracks (as long as its not the middle of summer and stinking hot)

 

[medhead]

Ahh Thanks for the edification.

Trains and heat - yes I still remember my first trip to Cairns in summer.

 

[Dee Thom]

I've always used the Skyliner to Ueno, much quicker than Narita Express, also just a short walk to J.R. station, to catch the Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Takesaki and Niigata.
As a point of interest, the Shinkansen can reach speeds of 340k/hr on this track.
Cheers Dee

 

[Evan]

Seems to be a very personal thing, some prefer the train others the bus, I like the train myself but will take the bus if it makes more sense. Mostly the hotels i stay at are better served by train.

 

[zzyss]

Isn't Ueno the business district, making this appealing more at jetsetting business travellers?

 

[NYCguy]

Ueno is full of museums, homeless folk and... Ahem... "Colourful" bars. And the zoo.

 

[Dee Thom]

Ueno has a beautiful park and is one of the best places to experiance " Cherry Blossom" usually mid to late march, and yes, the blue tarp brigade are there, but notice the tideness of their surrounds.
Ueno also has a fantastic market area, situated under J.R's overhead tracks. Sells everything from T-Shirts to Tuna slices.
Cheers Dee

 

[dajop]

Isn't Ueno the business district, making this appealing more at jetsetting business travellers?

Is there such a thing as "the" business district in Tokyo? If there is I don't think Ueno is it.

 

[Dee Thom]

I think maybe the whole of Tokyo is a business "area", different suburbs seem to have their own specialities business wise. Personally, I can't head
north to the "country" fast enough.
Cheers Dee

 

[wandering_fred]

Speed comes at a price
The Skyliner fare NRT into Ueno is 1920 Yen and is 20 minutes faster than
the Rapid express which is 1000 Yen ( as is the local). They will be very hard pressed to speed up the last few km as the track is multipurpose.

But then I just returned from a stay which included a hostel/hotel in the Ueno area. :shock: YMMV


Fred

 

[JohnK]

Seems to be a very personal thing, some prefer the train others the bus, I like the train myself but will take the bus if it makes more sense.

I don't mind either bus or train and it all depends on the schedule, which one is more efficient and which one gets closest to my destination.