New station opens on Tokyo's Yamanote Line

Mar 15, 2020 | News On Japan

Mar 15, 2020 (NHK) - Hundreds of people turned out on Saturday for the opening of the first new train station on Tokyo's Yamanote line in about half a century.

Takanawa Gateway Station between Shinagawa and Tamachi is the 30th station on the loop line, which is operated by East Japan Railway Company, or JR East.

The crowd cheered as the station opened at 4:15 a.m. and again as the first train pulled in 20 minutes later.

One man said he'd been waiting in line for more than 20 hours. He said he planned to take the first train to a station on the JR Joban Line, which resumed full services the same day following the March 2011 disaster in northeastern Japan.

Takanawa Gateway is the first JR East station to have an unmanned convenience store. The station also features robotic guards and guides.

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