On May 19, JR East and Seibu Railway agreed to operate a direct service between JR Musashino Line and Seibu Ikebukuro Line. The service is scheduled to begin in FY2028.
Between Shin-Akitsu Station on the JR Line and Tokorozawa Station on the Seibu Line, there is a connecting line used to transport Seibu Railway cars through the JR East line for the delivery of newly built cars and for the inspection of Seibu Railway Tamagawa Line cars.
Currently, the line is used only for loading and unloading of cars, but the agreed-upon direct operation will utilize this connecting line as a new network, aiming to connect Shin-Akitsu Station premises and Tokorozawa Station as the entrance to both companies’ lines, and to connect sightseeing spots and events along the line as destinations.
As specific destinations, JR East has identified Odawara/Shonan area, Boso area, Shinkansen connection, and Tokyo Disney Resort, while Seibu Railway has identified Chichibu area and Belluna Dome. The Seibu Line will provide smooth travel from Tokorozawa Station and beyond to Atami Station, Katsuura Station, Maihama Station, etc., with fewer transfers.
In addition to general seating, the special trains will be equipped with semi-private rooms and sofa seats to provide passengers with a relaxing and comfortable travel experience.
The train to be used for the direct service will be a renewed Seibu Railway Series 10000 “New Red Arrow” Shinjuku Line sightseeing express with the necessary modifications to accommodate service on the JR East line.
In addition, a transit corridor is being promoted between Shin-Akitsu Station on the JR Line and Akitsu Station on the Seibu Line. The route is planned to be in service in the early 2030s (tentative) and will be an all-weather, barrier-free route that will not get wet in the rain.
Currently, the distance between the ticket gates of Shin-Akitsu Station and Akitsu Station is about 400 m. Including the distance from the platform, the total distance traveled is about 600 m. The walkway is not separated and the time required is about 8 minutes.
© Source travel watch