Departure of Tsukuba Express.

Last August 24, 2005,
a new railroad "Tsukuba Express" or "TX" has been inaugurated.
It connects 58.3km between "the city of technology" Tsukuba and "the city of electronics" Akihabara.

Starting fare is just 160 yen (about 1.45 US Dollars), and from Akihabara to Tsukuba is just 45 minutes, and it costs 1150 yen (about 10 US Dollars).
Expensive? Well, it's up to you, how to take the value of 45 minutes.

TX is also the "last commuter railroad" connecting to Tokyo.

There were so many people riding the "new train", and the stations were often entrance was restricted. Although, inside the station was not that crowded, since it takes universal design:

• big elevators
• lessen difference in ranks
• wide hallways
• protection fences on platform, which opens interlocking with the door of the trains
• ATC : "Automatic Train Control" system
• ATO : "Automatic Train Operation" system
• no railroad crossing

etc.
These are believed to prevent an accident like the one happened on April 25, 2005 in Fukuchiyama line.

TX also provides:

• wireless LAN (meaning connected to Internet)
• radio wave for cellphones (which means the signal is always maximum)
• small tables enough to put Laptop PC

and other things inside the stations or trains, suitable as a "scientific" railroad connecting not only Tsukuba and Akihabara, but also somewhere like Tokyo University Kashiwa Campus.

As you sense,
I rode TX. ^_^

In just 15 or 20 minutes from Akihabara,
rural landscape spreads over the window.
While watching and enjoying,
I was thinking that this landscape will be gone in few years.
The area along a railroad will be developed, and it should be.

In fact, Akihabara station of TX is in the eastern part of Akihabara, and this area is developing rapidly.
Soon, the weight of the city will be shifted towards east.

'cuz a railroad makes a flow of people.