Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line


The Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line is a rail link from Nishiya Station on the Sōtetsu Main Line to Hiyoshi Station on the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line passing Yokohama-Hazawa Station on the JR Tōkaido Freight Line, and via Shin-Yokohama Station.
The section between Nishiya and Shin-Yokohama will be named the Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line, while the section between Shin-Yokohama and Hiyoshi will be named the Tōkyū Shin-Yokohama Line. Both operators will be putting their company names as a formal part of the line names, which is a first for Sōtetsu, and a second for Tōkyū.
This page also explain the two through service lines, namely the Sōtetsu JR Link Line, and the Sōtetsu Tōkyū Link Line.
The Sōtetsu JR Link Line opened on 30 November 2019 and it has been announced that the Sōtetsu Tōkyū Link Line will open in late 2022.

Project summary

The following information is what has been announced before January 2019.
This 12.7 km link line is under construction between Nishiya on the Sōtetsu Main Line to Hiyoshi on Tōkyū Tōyoko and Meguro Lines. The stations to be set up along the line are namely: Hazawa Yokohama Kokudai, Shin-Yokohama, and Shin-Tsunashima.
It has been planned that Sōtetsu Main Line and Sōtetsu Izumino Line trains will operate through services with JR East via Hazawa Yokohama Kokudai; and with Tōkyū, Toei Subway Lines via Hiyoshi. The former will be named the Sōtetsu JR Link Line, and the latter will be named the Sōtetsu Tōkyū Link Line, and these two lines make up the Kanagawa Eastern Line. Moreover, Sōtetsu has been promoting the project as the "Metropolitan Direct Linkage Project", as the link will enable connection from eastern Kanagawa into central Tokyo, and further north towards Saitama.
Regarding the Sōtetsu JR Link Line, Hazawa Yokohama Kokudai Station will be jointly operated by JR East and Sōtetsu. This is a first for JR East to operate commuter trains with other operators aside from Tokyo Metro.
For the Sōtetsu Tōkyū Link Line, Shin-Yokohama Station will be jointly operated by Sōtetsu and Tōkyū. This is the first case for both operators to have a station with direct connections to the Shinkansen.

Routes and services

Sōtetsu JR Link Line

JR through service trains will enter the Tōkaido Freight Line once leaving Hazawa Yokohama Kokudai Station, via the Tokyo-side of Yokohama-Hazawa Freight Station, then enter Yokosuka Line tracks near Tsurumi Station, and after that they'll share the same route as the Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, heading inbound towards Musashi-Kosugi, Ōsaki, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and head further north towards Ōmiya and Kawagoe, via the Saikyō and Kawagoe Lines.
JR and Sotetsu published a joint press release on 16 July 2019 which summarised the line's train operations. Trains will operate from Ebina on the Sotetsu Main Line, via Nishiya, Musashi-Kosugi, and enter the Saikyō Line at Ōsaki. Trains will mostly terminate at Shinjuku. In the morning rush hours, some trains go further north towards Musashi-Urawa, Ōmiya, Sashiōgi, and as far as Kawagoe. A total of 46 round trips will be operated every day, with a rush-hour frequency of 4 trains per hour, and off-peak frequency of 2-3 trains per hour.
When the line opens, the fastest travel time would be 44 minutes between Futamatagawa and Shinjuku, 45 minutes between Yamato and Shibuya, and 36 minutes between Ebina and Musashi-Kosugi.

Service types

With this, Sōtetsu has already began upgrade works for its 11000 and 12000 series trainsets, with the ATACS system used on the Saikyō Line being installed. JR East is also undergoing upgrade works on its E233-7000 series trainsets, to enable compatibility with the Sōtetsu Line.

Past proposal

Past proposals also suggested Sōtetsu trains to operate through services with the Ueno-Tokyo Line, towards the Utsunomiya, Takasaki and Jōban Lines. This requires trains to cross over level junctions to enter Tōkaido Line tracks near Tsurumi or Shinagawa, which would possibly undermine the high density train operations in this section, if no dedicated grade separation is built. Thus the idea was scrapped due to these difficulties.

Sōtetsu Tōkyū Link Line

Tōkyū through service trains will enter the Tōkyū Tōyoko Line near Hiyoshi, and heads towards Shibuya or Meguro.
Regarding the Tōyoko Line, it has not been announced whether Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line trains will operate through services with the Sōtetsu Line. Thus, it is unclear whether Sōtetsu trains can go beyond Shibuya through the Tōyoko Line.
Next, regarding the Meguro Line, it has been proposed that the Sōtetsu Tōkyū Link Line operate 14 trains per hour during rush hours, with 4 heading to the Tōyoko Line, and 10 heading to the Meguro Line. Meguro-bound Sōtetsu trains will operate through services not only to the Meguro Line, but also the Toei Mita Subway Line.
Currently, aside from JR East and Tōkyū, only Toei has advanced its plans to operate through services between the Sōtetsu Line and the Mita Subway Line. In 2016, Toei announced that its 13 6300 series trainsets would be replaced, and in 2019 9 new trainsets compatible with the Sōtetsu Line would begin service, with more trainsets to be produced until 2021. In 2018, they ramped up their plans and announced that 13 new trainsets with the same designation numbers as the 13 that are replaced will be introduced to service. These new models will be in 8-car formation, made by Kinki Sharyo. Meanwhile, the 3rd batch of 6300 series trainsets will continue their service on the Mita Line, but they will still be upgraded to enable compatibility with the Sōtetsu Line, by introducing digitized communications equipment and the ATS-P system. With Mita Line trainsets extending to 8-cars, Sōtetsu is undergoing preparations to enable compatibility with 8-car trains. On the other hand, Sōtetsu has also introduced its 20000 series which is to be used in Tōkyū through services, and has been in service since February 2018. The 20000 series will be produced in 10-car sets and 8-cars, with the 10-car sets not entering the Tōkyū Meguro Line and the Toei Mita Line. Moreover, the 20000 series is not intended to be used on JR through services.

Station list

JR East
Sōtetsu
Toei