Airport Narita

{{For|the international airport in Chiba Prefecture|Narita International Airport}}

{{Infobox rail service

| name = Airport Narita

| image = JR East E217.JPG

| image_width = 300px

| caption = E217 series EMU on an Airport Narita service, August 2009

| type = Rapid

| status =

| locale = Yokosuka Line, Sōbu line, Narita Line

| predecessor =

| first = 20 April 1991

| last = 16 March 2018 (service continues operation today, just without the name)

| successor =

| operator = JR East

| formeroperator=

| ridership =

| start = {{STN|Kurihama|x}}

| stops =

| end = {{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}}

| distance = {{Convert|152.5|km|mi|abbr=on}}

| journeytime =

| frequency =

| trainnumber =

| class = Standard + Green

| access =

| seating = Longitudinal/transverse

| catering = None

| stock = E217 series EMUs

| gauge = {{RailGauge|1067mm|lk=on}}

| el = 1,500 V DC overhead

| speed =

| owners =

| routenumber =

| map =

| map_state =

}}

The {{nihongo|Airport Narita|エアポート成田|Eapōto Narita}} was the name given to a "Rapid" limited-stop suburban rail service in Greater Tokyo operated since April 1991 by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It ran from {{STN|Kurihama|x}} to {{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}} via the Yokosuka, Sōbu, and Narita lines, with a total length of 152.5 km. Only trains heading towards Narita Airport were identified as Airport Narita; those on the return journey towards Tokyo were unnamed.JR Timetable, April 2011 issue

Route

=Kurihama → Ōfuna → Tokyo=

See Yokosuka Line for local trains.

=Tokyo → Kinshichō → Chiba=

See Sōbu Line (Rapid) for rapid trains.

=Chiba → Sakura → Narita → Narita Airport Terminal 1=

{{STN|Chiba|x}} - {{STN|Tsuga|x}} - {{STN|Yotsukaidō|x}} - {{STN|Monoi|x}} - {{STN|Sakura|x|Chiba}} - {{STN|Shisui|x}} - {{STN|Narita|x}} - {{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 2·3|x}} - {{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}}

Rolling stock

File:JRE Airport Narita.jpg

All Airport Narita services were operated using E217 series electric multiple unit (EMU) trains.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

History

The Airport Narita rapid services were introduced from 20 April 1991 to supplement the popular Narita Express limited express services which commenced the previous month.{{cite book | script-title=ja: JR急行・快速列車|trans-title= JR Express & Rapid Trains| publisher = Railway Journal| date = 2 November 1991 | location = Tokyo, Japan| page = 53}} Initially, 16 services ran in each direction daily, using 113 series EMU formations based at Ōfuna and Makuhari depots. Trains including SaRo 124 Green (first class) cars were allocated to these services, as these had expanded luggage storage space.

From the start of the revised timetable on 17 March 2018, the name Airport Narita was discontinued on rapid services to Narita Airport, in order to avoid confusion with the limited express Narita Express services which also serve Narita International Airport. The service itself continues to operate as of 2024, just without the Airport Narita name.{{cite web |url= http://tetsudo-shimbun.com/headline/entry-1269.html |script-title=ja: JR東日本、成田空港行「エアポート成田」の愛称使用取りやめへ |trans-title= JR East to discontinue "Airport Narita" name |date= 15 December 2017 |publisher= Tetsudo Shimbun |location= Japan|language= ja |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20171215070526/http://tetsudo-shimbun.com/headline/entry-1269.html |archive-date= 15 December 2017 |url-status=live |access-date= 15 December 2017}}