Sendai Airport Line
| Sendai Airport Line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Sendai Airport terminus with JR E721-500 series (left) and SAT721 (right) trains at the platforms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Native name | 仙台空港線 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owner | Sendai Airport Transit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Miyagi Prefecture | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Termini | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stations | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line length | 7.1 km (4.4 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of tracks | Single track | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 20,000 V AC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Sendai Airport Line, or Sendai Airport Access Line (仙台空港アクセス線, Sendai Kūkō akusesu sen) is a Japanese airport rail link service operated by third-sector railway operator Sendai Airport Transit Co., Ltd. (SAT) connecting Sendai Airport Station to Natori Station.[1] Rail service began on March 18, 2007.[2]
Data
Construction of the line commenced in 2002. The construction cost is expected to reach 34.9 billion yen, and it may take as long as thirty years before the railway turns a profit.[3]
- Route: Natori Station – Sendai Airport Station
- Length: 7.1 km (4.4 mi)
- Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
- Number of stations: 4, including terminals
- Multiple-track sections: Single-track except for passing loop at Mitazono Station
- Electrification: 20,000 V AC
- Block system: Special automatic blocking (planned)
- Rolling stock: JR E721-500 and SAT721 series 2-car EMUs
- Through service: all trains operate to/from Sendai Station via the Tōhoku Main Line[4][5]
Services
All trains operate a through service to/from Sendai Station via the Tōhoku Main Line.
As of November 2025, all services on the line are Local trains, stopping at every station - except for a single train in each direction (11:36 from Sendai Airport & 14:50 from Sendai Station) which operate as a Rapid train stopping only at Natori Station.[4][5] The Rapid train was abolished effective the timetable revision on 14 March 2026.
Trains operate approximately every 20 minutes between 9am and 5pm, and every 30 minutes at other times. Running time is 24-29 minutes for Local trains and 17 minutes for Rapid trains.
Station list
All stations are in Natori, Miyagi.
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) |
Transfers |
|---|---|---|---|
| ↑All trains operate a through service to/from Sendai on the Tohoku Main Line↑ | |||
| Natori | 名取 | 0.0 |
|
| Morisekinoshita | 杜せきのした | 1.8 | |
| Mitazono | 美田園 | 3.8 | |
| Sendai Airport | 仙台空港 | 7.1 | |
Rolling stock
- three 2-car SAT721 series EMU trainsets (6 cars) which are used in conjunction with similar design JR East E721-500 series sets. Trains operate in 2-, 4- or 6-car sets. The stainless-steel bodied trains feature barrier-free design and have a top speed of 120 km/h (75 mph). LED indicators show the stations and destination. Train interior and exterior announcements are given in Japanese and English.
-
SAT721 series
-
JR E721-500 series
Sendai Airport Transit
Sendai Airport Transit Co., Ltd. (仙台空港鉄道 株式会社, Sendai Kūkō Tetsudō Kabushikigaisha; or, SAT) is a third-sector railway company in charge of constructing and operating the Sendai Airport Line train service between Sendai Airport Station and Natori Station in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.
History
The company was founded on April 7, 2000, and as of 2015 has capital of over seven billion yen.[6] The Sendai Airport Line opened on March 18, 2007,[2] electrified at 20 kV AC.
The line was severely damaged by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, and service was suspended indefinitely from March 11, 2011. The line reopened on October 1 of that year.[7]
Future plans
Effective the 14 March 2026 timetable revision, all service will be unified to operate as local services.[8]
Rolling stock
The company owns three two-car SAT721 series EMU trains (identical in design to the JR East E721-500 series sets).
References
- ^ Sato, S. (2016), "The Great East Japan Earthquake", Disaster Resilient Cities, Elsevier, pp. 13–20, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-809862-2.00002-4, ISBN 978-0-12-809862-2, retrieved August 20, 2025
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link) - ^ a b Kusamichi, Yoshikazu (March 16, 2017). "仙台空港鉄道、開業10周年で記念切符など発売…輸送密度は倍増" [Sendai Airport Railroad launches commemorative tickets for 10th anniversary of opening...transport density doubles]. Response. (in Japanese). Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
- ^ Kahoku Shimpō (河北新報); December 5, 2006
- ^ a b "Sendai Station | 仙台空港鉄道株式会社[Sendai Airport Transit]｜仙台空港アクセス線". 仙台空港鉄道株式会社[Sendai Airport Transit]｜仙台空港アクセス線 | R仙台駅と仙台空港を結ぶ仙台空港アクセス鉄道「仙台空港線」. March 26, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ a b "Sendai Airport Station | 仙台空港鉄道株式会社[Sendai Airport Transit]｜仙台空港アクセス線". 仙台空港鉄道株式会社[Sendai Airport Transit]｜仙台空港アクセス線 | R仙台駅と仙台空港を結ぶ仙台空港アクセス鉄道「仙台空港線」 (in Japanese). March 26, 2015. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
- ^ "仙台空港鉄道株式会社・仙台空港アクセス線" [Sendai Airport Railroad Co., Ltd. Sendai Airport Access Line] (in Japanese). Senat.co.jp. Archived from the original on December 2, 2015. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ^ "仙台空港アクセス線再開「本当に良かった」 20分短縮 - 鉄道 - トラベル" ["It's really good" that the Sendai Airport Access Line has reopened, shortening travel time by 20 minutes - Railway - Travel]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on October 5, 2011.
- ^ "JR東日本・仙台空港鉄道、仙台空港アクセス線の快速列車がなくなる" [JR East and Sendai Airport Railroad to discontinue rapid trains on the Sendai Airport Access Line]. Mynavi Corporation (in Japanese). January 2, 2026. Retrieved January 6, 2026.
External links
- Official website (in English)
- Official website (in Japanese)
- SAT from Sendai airport to Sendai Stn. at the Wayback Machine (archived August 8, 2017) (how-to movies on transportation in Sendai)
- SAT from Sendai Stn. to Sendai airport at the Wayback Machine (archived April 10, 2016) (how-to movies on transportation in Sendai)