Service disruptions are scheduled for JR East Chuo Line (Tokyo
area) between Mitaka and Tachikawa on the afternoon of June 30 (Sat) 
and early morning of July 1, 2007 (Sun), due to elevation works.

Trips to this area on these days best avoided.


1. Chuo Line Rapid

June 30:

16:30 - 22:00: about two runs an hour between Musashi-Koganei and 
Tachikawa.

After 22:00, no operation between Musashi-Koganei and Kokubunji.
One train every 40 minutes between Mitaka and Musashi-Koganei.
Shuttle buses will run between Mitaka and Kokubunji.

July 1:

Operation between Mitaka and Kokubunji will start 2 hours later than 
usual.

Shuttle buses will run between Mitaka and Kokubunji.

First eastbound train from Kokubunji: 5:50 AM
First westbound train from Mitaka: 6:16 AM


2. Chuo Line Local (yellow trains)

Will operate mostly as usual.


3. Chuo Line Limited Express Azusa, Kaiji, Narita Express

June 30:

No operation between Shinjuku and Tachikawa after 16:30.  Azusa, Kaiji
will start or end at Hachioji or Tachikawa with slight time
modifications, and make an extra stop at Takao for passengers from/to 
Keio.

Narita Express 46 to Takao will terminate at Shinjuku.

July 1:

Narita Express 3 from Takao will start from Shinjuku.

Azusa, Kaiji will run as usual.


4. Detour provisions

JR ticket and pass holders will be allowed on parallel non-JR rail 
lines during the affected hours:

* All Tokyo Metro Subway Lines
* All Tokyo Municipal (Toei) Subway Lines
* Keio Main Line Shinjuku - Hachioji, Takao
* Keio Sagamihara Line
* Keio Inokashira Line
* Seibu Shinjuku Line Shinjuku - Tokorozawa
* Seibu Haijima Line
* Seibu Tamako Line and Kokubunji Line
* Seibu Tamagawa Line
* Tama Monorail
   (and more)

Keio Musashinodai Station and Seibu Tamagawa Line Shiraitodai Station 
are within walking distance of each other.  Seibu Tamagawa Line 
Shin-Koganei is near JR Higashi-Koganei.

In addition, on June 30, JR ticket and pass holders will be allowed on 
major bus lines between Keio & Seibu Shinjuku Line stations and Chuo 
Line stations in the affected section.

When using non-JR rail or bus lines, receive a small slip called the 
"furikae hyou" (transit slip) at the manned gate of the station where 
you leave JR.  Use the manned gate for subsequent transfers.  Tell 
station staff the destination and they'll understand.  If using a 
Suica or Pasmo charged electronic card (outside the commuter pass 
section, if any) buy a ticket before entering.  If you enter the gate 
with a "touch and go" pass, the computer system will deduct for each 
separate section.

JR East lines may be used for detour without any special procedure.


5. Can we trust JR East?

As with all large organizations, JR East, the largest rail company of 
Japan, behaves like a dinosaur when something it doesn't expect 
happens.  Their reputation for crisis handling is poor.  Recovery 
takes time.  Damage cannot be localized.  A common scene after 
accidents is people asking station staff how long it should take for 
service to resume.  The reply: "Sorry, we don't know."

On September 23 2008, a wiring glitch crept in during work of the kind 
we'll see this weekend on the Chuo Line.  Trains did not start running 
until well into the afternoon.

If you have an appointment for July 1, be prepared, and pay attention
to traffic news.


6. More information

Official announcement from JR East:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/suspend/chuoexp.html (Japanese text)

More detailed guide from JR East Hachioji:
http://www.jreast.co.jp/hachioji/info/q_a_2007/chuou_index.html
(Japanese)

Pamphlets with map, timetables and details are available at JR 
stations.  Marking your course, or at least your destination, on the 
map before departure is a good idea.  This pamphlet gives a phone 
number for inquiries: 050-2016-1620 (Japanese).

JR East information services (advice by phone in English):
http://www.jreast.co.jp/e/info/index.html

  From experience, the best advice is available from local station 
staff.  Contact them for information on bus routes with the help of 
someone who speaks Japanese.

Hitachi Hyperdia online timetable:
http://www.hyperdia.com/ (English guidance)
Consult this facility for finding detours.  Enter two stations and it 
replies the possible routes.  It asks for a date, but its database 
does not know about the special Chuo Line timetable for June 31 and 
July 1.

To reply please mail to afu at wta. att. ne. jp

Douso, The Prophet of the Way