with the Tōkaidō Freight Line. The line, initially expected to be completed by 2015, now pushed back to 2019, will enable direct passenger services from Sōtetsu lines to the Saikyō Line which runs across central Tokyo via the Yokosuka Line. The line eventually opened on 30 November 2019. Haneda Airport connection Since 2000 there have been proposals to use part of the line for passenger access to Haneda Airport, which is located just south of the Tokyo Freight Terminal. JR East announced in 2013, after the award of the 2020 Summer Olympics, that it was considering using the disused part of the freight line as a passenger connection between the Yamanote Line corridor (near Tamachi Station) and Haneda by building a new tunnel between Tokyo Freight Terminal and the airport. In 2014, JR indicated that the line may be connected to the Ueno-Tokyo Line to allow through access to the Tohoku Main Line, and/or to the Rinkai Line for through service to the Saikyo Line and/or Keiyo Line. Although both JR and the Tokyo government have indicated that improved Haneda access is a high priority, JR has indicated that the connection and necessary line upgrades will take around ten years to complete and are unlikely to be completely ready for the 2020 Olympics. Route data Distances: Tōkaidō Freight Branch Line (Hamamatsuchō Station - Tokyo Freight Terminal - Hama-Kawasaki Station): 20.6 km Nambu Branch Line (Hama-Kawasaki Station - Hatchonawate Station): 3.0 km Tōkaidō Freight Branch Line (Hatchōnawate Station - Tsurumi Station): 2.3 km Tōkaidō Freight Branch Line (Tsurumi Station - Yokohama Hazawa Freight Terminal - Higashi-Totsuka Station): 16.0 km Tōkaidō Line (Higashi-Totsuka Station - Odawara Station): 47.2 km Double track except for short links near the Nambu Line Branch History 20 December 1914: The line opens between Shiodome Freight Terminal and Shinagawa Station, reusing the 1872 alignment of the Tokyo-Yokohama Railway. 1 May 1918: The section between Kawasaki and Hama-Kawasaki (4.35 km) opens. Hama-Kawasaki Station opens. 21 June 1964: The line is electrified between Hama-Kawasaki and Shiohama Misao. 1966: JNR announces the construction of a dedicated freight line between Totsuka and Tsurumi, bypassing Yokohama Station. It generated howls of protest from residents. 1 October 1973: Tokyo Freight Terminal opens. 1 March 1976: The line between Tsurumi and Hama-Kawasaki (5.3 km) opens. 1 October 1979: The line between Tsurumi and Totsuka via Yokohama Hazawa (20.2 km) opens. 1 October 1980: The Hinkaku