A proposed JR East line providing direct service to Tokyo's Haneda Airport and plans for new stations in Osaka and Hokkaido, including the Naniwasuji Line, are progressing simultaneously. Some routes are targeting opening in fiscal 2031, driving the reorganization of railway networks across Japan.
Plans for new lines and stations are progressing across Japan. In Tokyo, three options are being considered for the Haneda Airport Access Line (provisional name): the East Yamanote Route, West Yamanote Route and Waterfront Route. The aim is to link Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station in approximately 18 minutes, strengthening the network through a combination of existing tracks and newly built sections. The line is targeted to open in fiscal 2031.
The West Yamanote Route is expected to provide direct service from the Shibuya, Shinjuku and Ikebukuro areas, but underground tunnel construction from the Rinkai Line to the vicinity of Tokyo Freight Terminal would be required, and the opening date has not been determined. Meanwhile, preparations are under way for the Waterfront Route, which would run via the Rinkai Line toward eastern Tokyo and Chiba. These plans would not involve building entire routes from scratch and would also make use of existing facilities.
In Osaka, the Naniwasuji Line, which will link Umeda and Namba, is under construction, with the aim of shortening travel routes through the urban area. In Hokkaido, reports said that the name of a new station was decided as F Village Station in September 2026. Several other plans for new lines and stations have also been proposed.