The Saikyo Line's new platform at JR Shibuya Station opened to users Monday after it was moved next to the Yamanote Line's. The move allows users to change trains between the lines in about half the time.
The Saikyo Line used to be far from Shibuya Station's Hachiko exit, which provides access to non-Japan Railway lines and JR's Yamanote Line. Beginning in May, the Saikyo Line's platform was moved about 350 meters north.
A 45-year-old man from Saitama City said he regularly uses the Hachiko exit to transfer from JR to another line.
"It used to take me over five minutes on foot [to change trains], but now I can do that in one or two minutes," he said. "It's really helpful."
This is one of the projects for the massive "once-every-100-years" redevelopment going on around Shibuya Station. Another project in the works is to have the outbound and inbound trains for the Yamanote Line use the same platform.
The full slate of redevelopment work around the station is scheduled to be completed by fiscal 2027.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
