Keihin–Tōhoku Line

Trains run every 2–3 minutes at peak hours, every 5 minutes during the daytime, and less frequently the rest of the time. In general, these trains are classified as "Local" (各駅停車, Kakueki-Teisha), stopping at all stations en route. However, all trains in the daytime (10:30-15:30) was classified as "Rapid" (快速, kaisoku). These Rapid trains for the Yamanote Line that stop at all stations. To do that, these rapid trains skip some stations in central Tokyo, where it runs parallel to the Yamanote Line.

• Local trains stop at all stations. Rapid trains stop at stations marked "●" and "■" on weekdays. (Stations marked "■" allow cross-platform transfers to the Yamanote Line). Additionally, stations marked "▲" are served by rapid trains on weekends and national holidays only.

A Keihin-Tohoku Line E233-1000 series EMU, March 2009

As of January 2010, all Keihin-Tohoku Line services are formed of E233-1000 series 10-car electrical multiple unit (EMU) trains. These were phased in from December 2007, and replaced the previous 209 series 10-car EMUs by 24 January 2010. All Keihin-Tohoku Line rolling stock is based at Urawa Depot. Yokohama Line E233-6000 series 8-car EMUs also operate on through services over the Keihin-Tohoku Line between Higashi-Kanagawa and Ofuna stations.

A test train on the Keihin Line at Yurakucho Station around 1914

The line opened on 20 December 1914 as an electrified passenger line connecting Shinagawa Station in Tokyo with Takashimacho Station in Yokohama.[8] (The latter station was renamed Yokohama Station in August 1915, when the former Yokohama Station was renamed Sakuragicho Station).[8] It was originally called the Tokaido Electric Line (東海道電車線) and was subsequently renamed the Keihin Line (京浜線).[8] From 30 December 1915, services were extended south to the new Sakuragicho Station.[8]

The Keihin Line service was extended north via the Tohoku Main Line to Akabane Station in February 1928, and to Ōmiya Station in September 1932.[8]

The Keihin Line initially had third-class and second-class cars, analogous to today's ordinary cars and Green Cars respectively. Second-class service ended in 1938 in order to accommodate special military cars during World War II. The military seating was converted to seating for women and children after the war, and back to ordinary seating in 1973 amid overcrowding concerns: second-class service was briefly restored in the 1950s but abandoned shortly thereafter.

Morning peak on the Keihin-Tohoku and Yamanote lines at Ueno Station

From November 1956, the Keihin-Tohoku Line was physically separated from the Yamanote Line between Tamachi and Tabata, allowing more frequent service.[8] Through service with the Negishi Line began on 19 May 1964.[8] 10-car trains (103 series) began operating from 1 April 1966.[8]

Limited-stop "Rapid" services were introduced in 1988 to further ease congestion along the Yamanote Line corridor. From 14 March 2015, all rapid services began serving Kanda Station. Additionally, rapid services began serving Okachimachi Station on weekends and national holidays only.[9]

A new station, Takanawa Gateway Station,[10] opened on 14 March 2020, in time for the 2020 Summer Olympics to be held in Tokyo.[11] The station is located on the Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tohoku Line between Shinagawa and Tamachi stations.[12] The distance between Shinagawa and Tamachi stations was 2.2 km.[12] Takanawa Gateway was constructed on top of the 20-hectare former railyard, which is undergoing rationalization and redevelopment by JR East. The Yamanote Line and the Keihin Tohoku Line tracks were moved slightly to the east to be aligned closer to the Tokaido Shinkansen tracks. The area on the west side of the yard made available will be redeveloped with high-rise office buildings, creating an international business center with good connections to the Shinkansen and Haneda Airport.[12]

At around 01:11 in the morning of 23 February 2014, an empty stock train operating from Sakuragicho to Kamata hit a track maintenance vehicle on the track close to Kawasaki Station.[13] The first two cars of the 10-car E233 series train derailed, with the first car ending up on its side.[14] The train was carrying no passengers, and the driver and conductor escaped with minor injuries.[15]

• List of railway lines in Japan

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Keihin-Tōhoku Line.

• Stations of the Keihin-Tōhoku Line (JR East) (in Japanese)
• japan-guide.com: JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line