TJ Liner

The TJ Liner (TJライナー, Tī Jei Rainā) is a limited-stop "Home Liner"-style service to and from Ikebukuro Station in Tokyo on the Tobu Tojo Line operated by the private railway operator Tobu Railway in Japan since June 2008.

TJ Liner
Tobu 50090 series train on a TJ Liner service
Overview
Service typeHome Liner
StatusOperational
LocaleKanto region, Japan
First service14 June 2008
Current operator(s)Tobu Railway
Ridership1,057,662 (FY2012)
Route
TerminiIkebukuro
Ogawamachi (Evening down services)
Shinrinkōen (Morning up services)
Distance travelled64.1 km (39.8 mi)
Average journey time1 hour
Service frequency15 (weekdays), 9 (weekends)
Line(s) usedTobu Tojo Line
On-board services
Class(es)Monoclass
Seating arrangementsForward facing 2+2
Catering facilitiesNone
Other facilitiesNo toilets
Technical
Rolling stock50090 series EMUs
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed100 km/h (60 mph)

Service outline

TJ Liner services operate in the mornings on weekdays in the "up" direction (two services) from Shinrinkōen in Saitama Prefecture to Ikebukuro in Tokyo, and in the evenings (weekdays and weekends) in the "down" direction from Ikebukuro to Shinrinkōen or Ogawamachi.[1] In the down direction, a supplement of 310 yen is required for travel from Ikebukuro, but no supplementary fare is required for passengers boarding at other stations along the line.[1] In the up direction, a supplement of 410 yen is required from all stations (310 yen from Fujimino).[1] Seats are not reserved, but the supplementary tickets indicate whether passengers should ride in the front or rear five cars of the train. At Ikebukuro Station, passengers board from platform 5, which is normally used only for passengers alighting from other services.[2]

Weekdays

Four morning up services (Nos. 2, 4, 6 and 8) operate from Shinrinkōen to Ikebukuro, departing at 06:11, 06:27, 07:52 and 08:18, respectively.[1] In the evenings, 13 down services (Nos. 1 to 25) operate at half-hourly intervals between 18:00 and 24:00 from Ikebukuro to Ogawamachi (Nos. 23 and 25 terminate at Shinrinkoen).[1]

Weekends

At weekends, nine evening down services (Nos. 1 to 17) operate at half-hourly intervals between 17:00 and 21:00 from Ikebukuro to Ogawamachi.[1]

  • TJ Liner ticket machines at Ikebukuro Station in February 2009
    TJ Liner ticket machines at Ikebukuro Station in February 2009
  • The manned QR code ticket readers at the southern end of platform 5 at Ikebukuro Station in September 2014
    The manned QR code ticket readers at the southern end of platform 5 at Ikebukuro Station in September 2014

Station stops

TJ Liner services stop at the following stations.[1]

  1. In down direction (evenings) only.

Rolling stock

TJ Liner services are operated by a fleet of six 50090 series 10-car electric multiple units (EMUs).[3] These sets are unusual in having rotating pairs of seats allowing them to be used with longitudinal seating on regular daytime services, and with transverse seating on evening TJ Liner services. When configured in transverse mode, the rows have a seat pitch of 1,000 mm (39 in).[4] Some trains are sent to Ikebukuro from Shinrinkōen as limited-stop Rapid Express services, which also operate with seats in the forward-facing configuration.[2]

Since March 2016, the automated on-board passenger announcements in Japanese use the voice of TV presenter Tomomi Kuno.[5]

Formations

TJ Liner trains are formed as shown below, with car 10 at the Ikebukuro end.[3]

Car No. 12345678910
Numbering 50090590905809057090560905509054090530905209051090

Cars 2 and 9 have a wheelchair space.[3] Car 9 is designated as a mildly-air-conditioned car.[3]

  • A 50090 series EMU at Kawagoe Station on an up Rapid Express service to Ikebukuro, June 2008
    A 50090 series EMU at Kawagoe Station on an up Rapid Express service to Ikebukuro, June 2008
  • Interior of a 50090 series EMU on a TJ Liner service, showing forward-facing transverse seating configuration
    Interior of a 50090 series EMU on a TJ Liner service, showing forward-facing transverse seating configuration

History
A TJ Liner ticket in June 2008 before the introduction of QR Codes

2008

The name "TJ Liner" was formally announced by Tobu on 28 January 2008 based on the results of a public poll conducted between December 2007 and January 2008. The votes for the three choices of possible names were as follows.[6]

  1. TJ Liner (ＴＪライナー) (4,313 votes)
  2. Okaeri Liner (おかえりライナー) (3,148 votes)
  3. Assist Liner (1,726 votes)
  • The proposed TJ Liner logo (ultimately chosen)
    The proposed TJ Liner logo (ultimately chosen)
  • The proposed Okaeri Liner logo
    The proposed Okaeri Liner logo
  • The proposed Assist Liner logo
    The proposed Assist Liner logo

Services commenced from the start of the Tobu Tojo Line timetable revision on 14 June 2008, with six trains on weekdays, and four trains at weekends and holidays.[7][8] The original timetable was as shown below.[8]

Weekdays
  • TJ Liner 1: Ikebukuro (18:00) to Shinrinkōen (18:47)
  • TJ Liner 2: Ikebukuro (19:00) to Shinrinkōen (19:47)
  • TJ Liner 3: Ikebukuro (20:00) to Shinrinkōen (20:47)
  • TJ Liner 4: Ikebukuro (21:00) to Ogawamachi (22:02)
  • TJ Liner 5: Ikebukuro (22:00) to Ogawamachi (23:02)
  • TJ Liner 6: Ikebukuro (22:50) to Shinrinkōen (23:41)
Weekends
  • TJ Liner 1: Ikebukuro (17:00) to Shinrinkōen (17:47)
  • TJ Liner 2: Ikebukuro (18:00) to Shinrinkōen (18:47)
  • TJ Liner 3: Ikebukuro (19:00) to Ogawamachi (20:02)
  • TJ Liner 4: Ikebukuro (20:00) to Ogawamachi (21:02)

2009
A ticket for the TJ Liner 3 service with QR Code, September 2014

From 15 September 2009, a new QR Code ticketing system was introduced for TJ Liner services. From this date, TJ Liner supplementary fare tickets were printed with a QR Code enabling them to be read by special ticket readers at Ikebukuro Station platform gates, replacing the previous manual ticket inspection by staff.[9]

On 5 November 2009, a ceremony was held at Ikebukuro Station to celebrate the one millionth passenger to travel on the TJ Liner service.[10]

2011

From the start of the revised timetable on 5 March 2011, the number of TJ Liner services operating on weekday evenings was increased from six to nine. On weekends, all services were extended to run to Ogawamachi.[11] The timetable operated from March 2011 was as shown below.[12]

Weekdays
  • TJ Liner 1: Ikebukuro (18:00) to Shinrinkōen (18:48)
  • TJ Liner 2: Ikebukuro (18:30) to Ogawamachi (19:31)
  • TJ Liner 3: Ikebukuro (19:00) to Shinrinkōen (19:48)
  • TJ Liner 4: Ikebukuro (19:30) to Ogawamachi (20:31)
  • TJ Liner 5: Ikebukuro (20:00) to Shinrinkōen (20:48)
  • TJ Liner 6: Ikebukuro (20:30) to Ogawamachi (21:32)
  • TJ Liner 7: Ikebukuro (21:00) to Ogawamachi (22:02)
  • TJ Liner 8: Ikebukuro (22:00) to Ogawamachi (23:02)
  • TJ Liner 9: Ikebukuro (22:50) to Shinrinkōen (23:39)
  • TJ Liner 10 (TJ Liner 23:10): Ikebukuro (23:20) to Shinrinkoen (00:09)
Weekends
  • TJ Liner 1: Ikebukuro (17:00) to Ogawamachi (18:05)
  • TJ Liner 2: Ikebukuro (18:00) to Ogawamachi (19:05)
  • TJ Liner 3: Ikebukuro (19:00) to Ogawamachi (20:04)
  • TJ Liner 4: Ikebukuro (20:00) to Ogawamachi (21:02)

In December 2011, an additional TJ Liner 10, nicknamed TJ Liner 23:10, operated to Shinrinkōen on Thursdays and Fridays from 8 to 22 December (a total of five days), departing from Ikebukuro Station at 23:20, 30 minutes after the last regular TJ Liner service.[13]

2013

From the start of the revised timetable on 16 March 2013, an additional TJ Liner service was added on weekday evenings, departing from Ikebukuro at 21:30, and two more TJ Liner services were added on weekends, departing from Ikebukuro at 18:30 and 19:30. From this date, all TJ Liner services operated to Ogawamachi.[14]

2014

On 22 January 2014, the TJ Liner service celebrated the 5 millionth passenger since the start of services in 2008.[15]

From 1 April 2014, the TJ Liner supplement fare was raised from 300 yen to 310 yen, coinciding with the increase in Japanese consumption tax from 5% to 8%.[16]

From July 2014, an additional late-night TJ Liner service was introduced, operating on Friday nights only, departing Ikebukuro at 23:20 for Shinrinkoen.[15] Initially scheduled to operate until December 2014, it subsequently continued to operate every Friday.[17]

2015

From 7 May 2015, the additional late-night TJ Liner service previously operating on Friday nights only was extended to also run on Thursday nights.[18]

2016
Passengers boarding the morning up TJ Liner 4 service at Kawagoe Station in March 2016

With the start of the revised timetable introduced on 26 March 2016, two weekday morning TJ Liner services were introduced in the up direction from Shinrinkoen to Ikebukuro. From the same date, the number of down services from Ikebukuro was also increased, with services operating at 30-minute intervals between 18:00 and 24:00 on weekdays, and between 17:00 and 21:00 at weekends.[1]

Ridership statistics

In fiscal 2012, TJ Liner services were used by a total of 1,057,662 passengers.[19] Figures for previous years are as shown below.[19]

Fiscal yearAnnual total
2008568,545
2009717,673
2010681,130
20111,015,545
20121,057,662

See also

References
  1. "Tobu Tojo Line Timetable", published March 2016
  2. Kusamachi, Yoshikazu (September 2008). 東武東上線"ＴＪライナー"乗車記 [Tobu Tojo Line "TJ Liner" Travel Report]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 48, no. 569. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. pp. 65–57.
  3. 私鉄車両編成表 2013 [Private Railway Rolling Stock Formations - 2013]. Japan: Kotsu Shimbunsha. 30 July 2013. p. 51. ISBN 978-4-330-39313-1.
  4. Kusui, Toshihiko (June 2014). 特別料金不要のクロスシート車総覧 [An overview of transverse-seating trains not requiring supplementary fares]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 43, no. 362. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. p. 7.
  5. 女子鉄アナ、東武東上線「TJライナー」車内放送を担当 [Railfan TV presenter in charge of on-board announcements on Tobu Tojo Line TJ Liner]. Traffic News (in Japanese). Japan: Mediavague Co., Ltd. 18 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  6. 東武東上線新ライナーの愛称が「ＴＪライナー」に決定しました ["TJ Liner" name chosen for new Tojo Line liner service] (PDF). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 28 January 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. 【東武東上線TJライナー乗車レポート】副都心線と同じ日に登場した新型電車の快適度 [Tobu Tojo Line TJ Liner Ride Report: Comfortable new trains arriving on the same day as the Fukutoshin Line]. Nikkei Trendy Net (in Japanese). Nikkei Business Publications, Inc. 16 June 2008. Retrieved 25 January 2011.
  8. "Tobu Tojo Line Timetable", published 7 June 2008
  9. 「東上線ＴＪライナー チケットレスサービス」がスタート！ [TJ Liner ticketless service starts] (PDF). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 3 September 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  10. 「ＴＪライナー」ご乗車100 万人達成記念イベントを開催！ [Event held to commemorate 1 million riders on "TJ Liner"] (PDF). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 2 November 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  11. ３月５日（土）東上線でダイヤ改正を実施 [Tojo Line Timetable Revision for 5 March] (PDF). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 24 January 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  12. "Tobu Tojo Line Timetable", published February 2011
  13. ＴＪライナー２３：２０を運転します！ [TJ Liner 23:20 to operate!] (PDF). Tobu News Release (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway. 5 December 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  14. "Tobu Tojo Line Timetable", published 4 March 2013
  15. ２３：２０発臨時ＴＪライナーを７月～１２月の毎週金曜日に運行します！ [Additional 23:20 TJ Liner to operate every Friday from July to December] (PDF). Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 23 June 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  16. 平成26年4月1日以降の特急料金対キロ表 [Limited express fares from 1 April 2014] (in Japanese). Japan: Tobu Railway Co., Ltd. 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  17. 臨時TJライナー運転のお知らせ [Additional TJ Liner operation details]. Tobu News (in Japanese). Tobu Railway. 25 December 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  18. Masaki, Sato (24 June 2015). 東武鉄道、臨時『TJライナー』を木曜も運行…5月7日から [Tobu Railway to run additional "TJ Liner" on Thursdays also from 7 May]. Response (in Japanese). Japan: IID Inc. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  19. Ueki, Ayae (October 2013). 東武鉄道東上線の営業・サービス [Tobu Tojo Line Business and Service]. The Railway Pictorial (in Japanese). Japan: Denkisha Kenkyūkai. 63 (880): 26.
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