The Tsukuba Express (つくばエクスプレス, Tsukuba Ekusupuresu), or TX, is a Japanese railway line of the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company which links Akihabara Station in Chiyoda, Tokyo and Tsukuba Station in Tsukuba, Ibaraki. The route was inaugurated on August 24, 2005. Background The 1960s new city of Tsukuba lacked a direct rail connection and the parallel JR Joban line was suffering from severe overcrowding, so in 1991 the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company was formed by the local governments to construct what was then called the New Joban Line, which was expected to open in 2000 initially between Tokyo station and Moriya, with plans for a future extension to Tsukuba. However political pressure from Ibaraki Prefecture saw the line built to Tsukuba from the start, at the same time budget constraints saw the line cut back to Akihabara at the Tokyo end. Eventually the line opened in 2005. As a new build line, the route is entirely grade separated and is either elevated or underground. It's also fast by Japanese narrow gauge standards, with a top speed of 130km/h meaning the 60km journey to Tsukuba can be done in around 45 mins. The line from Akihabara to Moriya is electrified at 1500V DC in common with other lines in the Tokyo area. Between Moriya and Tsukuba the line uses 20kV AC to avoid interfering with the nearby National Geomagnetic Laboratory. Services are a mixture of Local (All Stations), Semi Rapid (Semi Fast to Moriya, then All Stations) and Rapid (Express) - at peak times there are additional Commuter Rapids that serve to relieve the Semi Rapids. All stations have chest high platform edge gates as even underground stations see non stop trains passing through at 130km/h Stock TX-1000 and TX-2000 series. These two series operate the majority of services, they are 6 car sets built for the line's opening in 2005. The TX-1000 series is DC only, while the TX-2000 is dual voltage. TX-3000 In 2018 the railway ordered an additional 5 six car trains from Hitatchi, deliveries began in 2019. One thing that may help development is the line is entirely self contained, with only a brief section of running alongside JR tracks in the Kita-Senju station area. Also a final amusing story. In 2017 this line made international news when a public apology was issued after a train departed Minami-Nagareyama station 20 seconds off schedule! Thanks for reading
