What happened
Keisei Electric Railway plans to introduce a new limited express train service directly connecting Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Narita International Airport starting in the 2030s. In fiscal 2028, Keisei will launch a new limited express linking Narita and Oshiage Station in Tokyo, with up to three trains offering through service to connect both airports via the Asakusa subway line and Keikyu's Airport Line.
Why it matters
The new service responds to Narita Airport's expansion project, which will increase annual takeoff and landing slots to 500,000 from the current 340,000, and an expected rise in annual passenger numbers to 75 million from the fiscal 2024 level of 40.77 million. For travelers between the two major international airports in greater Tokyo, shorter travel time (though with extra charges) could improve convenience and reduce airport access friction.
What to watch
The travel time will be shorter than the current express service, which takes about 100 minutes without extra fares. Keisei will maintain the existing service after the new limited express launches. The two companies operating trains to and from the airport—Keisei and JR East—will also discuss costs and technical issues for a parallel project to convert single-track railway sections near Narita to double-track sections.
Summaries like this, in your inbox every morning.
Narita Airport is undergoing a significant infrastructure upgrade, including the construction of a third runway. This expansion will substantially increase the airport's capacity and passenger throughput, necessitating improved ground transportation connectivity. Keisei's new express service is designed to address this growth by providing a faster link between Japan's two largest international airports in the greater Tokyo region.
The fiscal 2028 launch of the Narita–Oshiage service represents the first phase, with through-service connections to Haneda via the Asakusa subway line and Keikyu's Airport Line planned to follow. This phased approach allows Keisei to integrate the new route with existing transit infrastructure. Separately, Keisei and JR East are evaluating a double-track conversion project for railway sections near Narita, which the two operators will need to coordinate on costs and technical feasibility.
The new service will charge an extra fare beyond the existing unlimited-access model, reflecting the premium of faster travel time. By maintaining both the current and new express services, Keisei aims to serve different passenger segments while building capacity to meet expected traffic growth.
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