Ueno-Tokyo Line

Ueno–Tokyo Line
An E233-3000 series EMU, one of the train types to be used on the Ueno-Tokyo Line
Overview
Native name	上野東京ライン
Type	Commuter rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Tokyo
Operation
Opened	14 March 2015
Operator(s)	JR East
Technical
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary

The Ueno-Tokyo Line (上野東京ライン, Ueno–Tōkyō Rain^?), formerly known as the Tōhoku Through Line (東北縦貫線, Tōhoku-Jūkan-sen^?), is a railway line in Tokyo, Japan, operated by the railway operator East Japan Railway Company (JR East), linking Ueno Station and Tokyo Station, extending the services of the Utsunomiya Line, the Takasaki Line, and the Joban Line southward and onto the Tokaido Main Line. The project began on 30 May 2008. The line opened from the start of the 14 March 2015 timetable revision, with the project costing about JPY40 billion.

Direct travel is expected to ease congestion on the Yamanote Line and Keihin-Tōhoku Line, and reduce the travel time from Ōmiya to Tokyo by about 11 minutes.

Beginning from Ueno Station, the project involved re-laying about 2.5 km of existing tracks that formerly linked the two stations until separated near Kanda Station to make room for the Tōhoku Shinkansen extension to Tokyo. The gap was reconnected by a new 1.3 km top deck on the existing Shinkansen viaduct near Kanda Station with ramps at either end up from the existing formations. Provision was made during construction of the Shinkansen link for eventual restoration of through traffic on the Tohoku Lines. JR East built train turnback facilities at Shinagawa Station on the Tokaido Line, allowing through trains from Ueno to terminate there and return north.