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{{Short description|Express service between Tokyo and Narita Airport}}
{{other uses}}
{{More citations needed|date=May 2008}}
{{italic title}}
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = ''Skyliner''
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = Keisei-Type-AE.jpg
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = Keisei AE series EMU on a ''Skyliner'' service, July 2021
| type            = [[Airport rail link]] ([[Limited express]])
| status          = 
| locale          = [[Kanto region]], Japan
| predecessor     = 
| first           = 1972
| last            = 
| successor       = 
| operator        = [[Keisei Electric Railway]]
| ridership       = 
| start           = {{STN|Keisei Ueno|x}}
| stops           = 
| end             = {{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}}
| distance        = 
| journeytime     = 36 minutes (fastest)
| frequency       = 
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = [[Narita Sky Access Line]] and [[Keisei Main Line]]
| class           = Monoclass
| access          = 
| seating         = Forward facing 2+2
| catering        = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = [[Keisei AE series (2009)|Keisei AE series]] EMUs
| gauge           = {{RailGauge|1435mm}}
| el              = 1,500 V DC overhead
| speed           = {{Convert|160|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 
| map             = 
| map_state       = 
}}

The {{nihongo|'''''Skyliner'''''|スカイライナー|sukairainā}} is an airport limited express train service between [[Tokyo]] and [[Narita International Airport|Narita Airport]] in Japan. It is operated by [[Keisei Electric Railway]] and runs on the [[Narita Sky Access]] route.
This article also covers the {{nihongo|'''''Morningliner'''''|モーニングライナー|mōningurainā}} and {{nihongo|'''''Eveningliner'''''|イブニングライナー|ibuningurainā}} services.

On the [[Keisei Narita Airport Line]], ''Skyliner'' is the fastest and most expensive service (with reserved seating and luggage racks), followed by the ''Sky Access'' (which does have space for luggage), and then the ''Keisei Limited Express'' (regular commuter train).<ref>{{cite web |title=How to Get from Narita Airport to Tokyo &#124; Tokyo Cheapo |url=https://tokyocheapo.com/travel/transport/cheapest-transport-to-and-from-narita-airport/ |publisher=Tokyo Cheapo |access-date=7 September 2025}}</ref>

==Service==
[[File:Skyliner Keisei Line.svg|thumb|right|Route map of ''Skyliner'']] 
The ''Skyliner'' limited express service operates between [[Keisei Ueno Station]] and [[Narita Airport Terminal 1 Station]], with stops at [[Nippori Station]] and [[Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 Station]]. Certain trains also stop at {{STN|Aoto|x}} and {{STN|Shin-Kamagaya|x}} stations.<ref name="Aoto_SL">{{cite web |url= https://www.keisei.co.jp/information/files/info/20200406_152133182387.pdf |title=スカイライナーの一部列車が青砥駅に停車します！|trans-title=Some ''Skyliner'' trains stop at Aoto Station.|publisher=Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language=en|access-date=11 April 2020}}</ref><ref name="Kamagaya">{{Cite web |title=Skyliner Route Map {{!}} Skyliner |url=https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/traffic/skyliner.php |access-date=2023-07-18 |website=KEISEI ELECTRIC RAILWAY |language=ja}}</ref>

The one-way ride between Nippori and Narita Airport Terminal 2·3 takes about 36 minutes and costs ¥2,520 in 2019, making it the fastest and cheapest limited express train option between the airport and downtown Tokyo.<ref name="SLinfo">{{cite web |url= http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/skyliner/index.php |title=Skyliner Overview|publisher=Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language=en|access-date=12 November 2019}}</ref>

The main competitor for the ''Skyliner'' is JR East's ''[[Narita Express]]''.

===Station stops===
;Legend
* ● : All trains stop
* △ : Some trains stop<ref name="Aoto_SL"/><ref name="Kamagaya" />

{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Station
!Stop
!colspan="2"|Location
|-
|{{KSSN|KS|01}}
|{{STN|Keisei Ueno|x}}
|style="background:#092d67; text-align:center; color:White;"|●
|[[Taitō|Taitō-ku]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Tokyo]]
|-
|{{KSSN|KS|02}}
|{{STN|Nippori|x}}
|style="background:#092d67; text-align:center; color:White;"|●
|[[Arakawa, Tokyo|Arakawa-ku]]
|-
|{{KSSN|KS|09}}
|{{STN|Aoto|x}}
|style="background:#092d67; text-align:center; color:White;"|△
|[[Katsushika|Katsushika-ku]]
|-
|{{KSSN|HS|08}}
|{{STN|Shin-Kamagaya|x}}
|style="background:#092d67; text-align:center; color:White;"|△
|[[Kamagaya|Kamagaya-shi]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Chiba Prefecture|Chiba-ken]]
|-
|{{KSSN|KS|41}}
|{{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 2·3|x}}
|style="background:#092d67; text-align:center; color:White;"|●
|rowspan="2"|[[Narita, Chiba|Narita-shi]]
|-
|{{KSSN|KS|42}}
|{{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}}
|style="background:#092d67; text-align:center; color:White;"|●
|}
{{reflist|group="*"}}

==History==

===1972-2010===
[[File:Keisei-ae.jpg|thumb|Keisei AE series train on ''Skyliner'' service prior to 1990]]
The ''Skyliner'''s predecessor was the ''Kaiungō'' express service, which began operation non-stop from Keisei Ueno to Keisei Narita on May 1, 1952, 26 years before the opening of Narita Airport. Seat reservations were mandatory.

The ''Kaiungō Express'' service was operated by 1600 series trains from 1953 to 1967. Although the first trains were small, with only two cars, they had reclining seats and televisions, making them luxurious trains for their time. The trains were lengthened to three cars in 1957 (although only one of those cars was an actual Type 1600 car). In 1967, the 1600 series trains were replaced by 3150 and 3200 series trains, fitted with semi-transverse seating in order to comply with subway specifications.

In 1972, new [[Keisei AE series (1972)|AE series]] trains began operation as the ''Skyliner'', while the ''Kaiungō'' became the main train running during afternoons and holidays. The ''Kaiungō'' service was taken over by AE series trains on December 30, 1973, and the ''Skyliner'' became a nonstop Ueno-Narita service. Although the Skyliner's name was chosen, it wasn't announced soon enough and thus the first trains were shipped with the inscription "Express".

In the final months preceding Narita Airport's opening, there were a number of violent protests at the airport. One arson attack caused an AE series train in a yard to be put out of service on May 5, 1978.

Finally, on May 21, 1978, upon the opening of New Tokyo International Airport, the ''Skyliner'' began nonstop runs from Keisei Ueno to Narita Airport Station. At the time, Narita Airport Station was located far from the passenger terminal (at the present-day location of [[Higashi-Narita Station]]), and passengers on the ''Skyliner'' had to get off and take a bus from the station to the airport. This inconvenience caused many passengers to use direct city-to-terminal limousine buses rather than the ''Skyliner''.

Starting on September 1, 1979, the ''Skyliner'' began stopping at Keisei Narita Station once a day during the afternoon. This commuter-oriented service was expanded to become the ''Evening Liner'' service on December 1, 1984, and the ''Morning Liner'' was added on October 19, 1985. Nippori was added as a stop on the new commuter services, and in 1988, all ''Skyliner'' services began making stops at [[Nippori Station]].

Growing criticism of Narita ground transportation in the late 1980s led the Ministry of Transport to open up underground platforms and track initially intended for the [[Narita Shinkansen]] (a high-speed rail link between the city and the airport that was never built) for service by regular local and express trains. On March 19, 1991, the new Narita Airport Station opened directly underneath Terminal 1. Both the ''Skyliner'' and its new competitor, [[JR East]]'s ''[[Narita Express]]'', began service to the new station. On December 3, 1992, services began to Airport Terminal 2.

[[File:Keisei Electric Railway AE100.jpg|thumb|AE100 series train on a ''Skyliner'' service, October 2008]]
Eight-car [[Keisei AE100 series|AE100 series]] trains were introduced in 1990. These trains were designed with emergency exits at each end, under the assumption that the trains would eventually be used for limited express service between Narita Airport and Haneda Airport: the [[Toei Asakusa Line]] has no emergency walkways along its sides, so it was necessary to allow evacuation from the ends of the train. Following the introduction of the AE100s, the seven six-car AE series trains were rearranged to form five eight-car trains. In June 1993, the older AE series trains were withdrawn from service.

From December 10, 2006, most ''Skyliner'' services began stopping at Keisei Funabashi Station.

===2010: Narita Sky Access opening===
From July 17, 2010, the ''Skyliner'' services were transferred from the Keisei Main Line to the [[Narita Sky Access]] route, with the introduction of new [[Keisei AE series (2009)|AE series]] EMUs. New ''[[Cityliner (train)|Cityliner]]'' services using the older AE100 series trains replaced the former ''Skyliner'' on the Keisei Main Line.

The new ''Skyliner'' service allows a transfer from Central Tokyo to Narita Airport in 36 minutes, 15 minutes faster than the old route via the Keisei Main Line, making it the fastest and cheapest limited express train option connecting Narita Airport with Central Tokyo.

===March 2011 Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami===
Some ''Sky Liner'' services were suspended following the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami]] of 11 March 2011 and subsequent energy restrictions implemented in the Tokyo area. Full service was however restored from 10 September 2011, following the lifting of energy restrictions.<ref name="keisei201109">{{cite web |url=http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/kouhou/news/23-034.pdf|script-title=ja:電力使用制限解除に伴う京成線の運行等について|trans-title=Keisei Line Operations following lifting of power restrictions|date= September 2011|work= News release|publisher= Keisei Electric Railway|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 20 September 2012}}</ref>

===2020: Aoto stop added===
On 6 April 2020, Keisei announced that certain ''Skyliner'' trains would begin serving [[Aoto Station]] in order to facilitate easier connections to and from trains serving the [[Keisei Oshiage Line]], [[Toei Asakusa Line]] and [[Keikyu Main Line]]. The new service began on 11 April 2020.<ref name="Aoto_SL" /> As of September 2022, Narita-bound ''Skyliner'' services stop at Aoto once per hour between 7:35 and 16:33. Ueno-bound trains stop at Aoto once per hour between 10:50 and 18:50, followed by all trains after 21:00.

===2022: Shin-Kamagaya stop added===
In October 2022, Keisei announced that certain ''Skyliner'' trains would begin serving [[Shin-Kamagaya Station]] with the intent of improving access to [[Kashiwa]] and [[Matsudo]] in [[Chiba Prefecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2022 |title=京成，11月26日にダイヤ改正を実施 |trans-title=Keisei implements timetable revision on November 26 |url=https://railf.jp/news/2022/10/24/181000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025070152/https://railf.jp/news/2022/10/24/181000.html |archive-date=25 October 2022 |access-date=25 October 2022 |website=Japan Railfan Magazine Online |language=ja}}</ref> The planned implementation date is scheduled for 26 November 2022. All trains that stop at Aoto also stop at Shin-Kamagaya.

==''Morningliner''/''Eveningliner''==
{{Infobox rail service
| box_width       = 
| name            = ''Morningliner''<br>''Eveningliner''
| logo            = 
| logo_width      = 
| image           = 
| image_width     = 300px
| caption         = 
| type            = Limited express
| status          = 
| locale          = [[Kanto region]], Japan
| predecessor     = 
| first           = 
| last            = 
| successor       = 
| operator        = [[Keisei Electric Railway]]
| ridership       = 
| start           = {{STN|Keisei Ueno|x}}
| stops           = 
| end             = {{STN|Keisei Narita|x}} or {{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}}
| distance        = 69.3 km
| journeytime     = 72 minutes (fastest)
| frequency       = 
| trainnumber     = 
| line_used       = [[Keisei Main Line]]
| class           = Monoclass
| access          = 
| seating         = Forward facing 2+2
| catering        = 
| entertainment   = 
| baggage         = 
| otherfacilities = 
| stock           = [[Keisei AE series (2009)|Keisei AE series]] EMUs
| gauge           = {{RailGauge|1435mm}}
| el              = 1,500 V DC overhead
| speed           = {{Convert|110|km/h|mph|round=5|abbr=on}}
| owners          = 
| routenumber     = 
| map             = 
| map_state       = 
}}
The {{nihongo|'''''Morningliner'''''|モーニングライナー|mōningurainā}} and {{nihongo|'''''Eveningliner'''''|イブニングライナー|ibuningurainā}} are limited-express train services for commuters on the [[Keisei Main Line]] operated by [[Keisei Electric Railway]]. ''Morningliner'' operates toward Tokyo in the morning, and ''Eveningliner'' operates away from Tokyo in the evening. All seats are reserved with a supplement of 420 yen.<ref name="MELiner">{{cite web |url=http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/jp/ae_design/liner.php|script-title=ja:イブニング・モーニングライナーのご案内|publisher=Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date=12 November 2019}}</ref> A single trip from Narita Airport to Nippori Station costs ¥1,462.
The ''Morning Pass'' is a monthly reserved pass priced at ¥8,150 a month.<ref name="MP">{{cite web |url=http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/goriyo/goriyo.htm#07|script-title=ja:京成線ご利用案内|publisher=Keisei Electric Railway Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date=12 November 2019}}</ref>

===Route===
;Abbreviation
* M: ''Morningliner''
* E: ''Eveningliner''

;Legend
* △, ▽ : alighting
* ▲, ▼ : boarding

{| class="wikitable"
!Station<br>No.!!Station
!M
!E
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|01}}
|{{STN|Keisei Ueno|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|△
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▼
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|02}}
|{{STN|Nippori|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|△
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▼
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|09}}
|{{STN|Aoto|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|△
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▼
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|22}}
|{{STN|Keisei Funabashi|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|△▲
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▽▼
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|29}}
|{{STN|Yachiyodai|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|▲
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▽
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|35}}
|{{STN|Keisei Sakura|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|▲
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▽
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|40}}
|{{STN|Keisei Narita|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|▲
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▽
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|41}}
|{{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 2·3|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|▲{{refn|group="Note"|name="ML_stop"|Only Morningliner 206 stops.<ref name="MELiner" />}}
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▽{{refn|group="Note"|name="EL_stop"|Only Eveningliner 209, 211, and 213 stop.<ref name="MELiner" />}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|{{KSSN|KS|42}}
|{{STN|Narita Airport Terminal 1|x}}
|style="text-align:center; background:LightSkyBlue"|▲<ref group="Note" name="ML_stop" />
|style="text-align:center; background:Plum"|▽<ref group="Note" name="EL_stop" />
|}
{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/skyliner/us/index.php Keisei Narita Airport Access website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050627001542/http://www.keisei.co.jp/keisei/tetudou/keisei_us/top.html Keisei Narita Airport Access website （- July 16, 2010）]

{{Higher-speed rail}}
{{Airport rail links in Japan}}

[[Category:Keisei Electric Railway]]
[[Category:Airport rail links in Japan]]
[[Category:Named passenger trains of Japan]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Chiba Prefecture]]
[[Category:Railway services introduced in 1972]]
[[Category:Narita International Airport]]
[[Category:1972 establishments in Japan]]