The is a railway line in Japan operated by
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
(JR East). It links
Kobuchizawa Station
is a railway station on the Chuo Main Line in Kobuchisawa in the city of Hokuto, Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
Lines
Kobuchizawa Station is served by the Chuo Main Line and is located 173.7 k ...
in
Hokuto, Yamanashi
is a Cities of Japan, city located in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 46,888 in 21,332 households, and a population density of 78 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Geography
Hokuto is loca ...
with
Komoro Station in
Komoro, Nagano
is a city located in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 42,489 in 18776 households, and a population density of 430 persons per km². Its total area is .
Geography
Komoro is located in eastern Nagano Prefectur ...
, and extends 78.9 km (49.0 mi) through the mountains with a total of 31 stations. It roughly follows the route of
National Route 141, paralleling the road at some places and crossing it twice.
Stations
All local trains stop at all stations. Extra rapid trains stop at specific stations.
Some of the stations along the Koumi Line are among the highest in Japan, with Nobeyama Station reaching 1,345 meters above sea level. Because of the frequent stops and winding route, the full 78.9-kilometer journey often takes as long as two and a half hours to traverse. However, the journey is known for its scenery, in which passengers can see nature, highlands, high mountains and one of the most beautiful starlit skies at night.
Local trains run between Koumi or Nakagomi and Komoro, between Kobuchizawa and Nobeyama or Komi respectively, excluding local trains running the full length of the line. In 2022, JR East announced the names of railway lines which were failing to make a profit, which included the section of this line between Koumi and Kobuchizawa.
Local trains are driver-only operated (
one-person operation
One-person operation (OPO), also known as driver-only operation (DOO), one-man operation (OMO), single person train operation (SPTO), or one-person train operation (OPTO), similarly to Driver Controlled Operation, is operation of a train, bus, ...
) between Nakagomi and Kobuchizawa. However, lots of passengers use the stations between Nakagomi and Komoro, so local trains in this section have conductors onboard.
Nakagomi Station is located near the Koumi Line Operation Office, where many train staff are working.
Legend
: ◇・∨・∧ - passing loop
: | - no passing loop
Rolling stock
*
KiHa 110 series DMUs, since November 1991
*
KiHa E200
The is a single-car hybrid diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) on the Koumi Line in Japan. Three cars were delivered in April 2007, entering revenue service from 31 July 2007.
The body design ...
hybrid DMUs, since July 2007
File:JRE-Kiha110-100-Aonuma-Sta.jpg, A two-car KiHa 110 series train on the Koumi Line, April 2008
File:JRE-Kiha-E200-1-Yachiho-2.jpg, A two-car KiHa E200 series train on the Koumi Line, April 2009
Special liveries
In February 2015, to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Koumi Line, a single-car KiHa 110 series unit was repainted into the "Metropolitan" all-over red livery carried by
KiHa 52
The is a Japanese diesel multiple unit (DMU) type formerly operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR); JR Group companies such as JR East, JR West, JR Shikoku & JR Kyushu; and later by the private railway operator Isumi Railway based in Chi ...
DMUs formerly used on the line.
This was followed in March 2015 by a two-car KiHa 110 series unit repainted into the vermillion and cream livery carried by
KiHa 58 series DMUs formerly used on the line.
File:JR East KiHa 110-121 tarako color.jpg, Koumi Line KiHa 110-121 in "Metropolitan" all-over red livery, February 2015
History
The Saku Railway opened the section from Komoro to Haguroshita in 1915, and extended the line to Koumi in 1919. The company planned a railway network extending from
Kōfu
is the capital city of Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 187,985 in 90,924 households, and a population density of 880 persons per km2. The total area of the city is .
Overview Toponymy
Kōfu's name means "c ...
in the south to
Naoetsu and
Nagaoka in the north, linking up with the Fuji Minobe Railway to create a coast-to-coast rail line. North of Komoro, Saku Railway obtained a construction permit for a section between Yashiro and Suzaka, but this was transferred to the local Katō Railway (predecessor of the
Nagano Electric Railway). Due to World War I construction of the line south of Koumi was not undertaken. Diesel railcars were introduced on the line in 1930.
The Koumi - Saku-Uminokuchi section was opened in 1932 by
Japanese National Railways
The abbreviated JNR or , was the business entity that operated Japan's national railway network from 1949 to 1987.
Network Railways
As of June 1, 1949, the date of establishment of JNR, it operated of narrow gauge () railways in all 46 pref ...
(JNR), which also opened the Kobuchizawa — Kiyosato section in 1933. The Saku Railway was nationalised in 1934, and the Saku-Uminokuchi - Kiyosato section opened in 1935, completing the line.
In July 2017, JR East launched the tourist train High Rail 1375. "1375" refers to the elevation of 1,375 m of the highest point on any JR line in Japan. The train makes the most of its backdrop, and offers unique services for day and night operations.
Timeline
* November 29, 1935: Nobeyama Station opens.
* March 1, 1944: Kubo Station renamed Kita-Nakagomi Station. Namezu Station closed.
* November 11, 1944: Operations stopped at Managashi, Irizawa, Ōnara, and Otome stations.
* March 1, 1952: Second Namezu Station opens. Operations resume at Managashi, Aonuma (formerly Irizawa), Tatsuokajō (formerly Ōnara), Otome stations.
* May 1, 1952: Ōtabe Station opens.
* July 10, 1952: Higashi-Komoro Station opens.
* October 1, 1959: Sakuhozumi Station renamed Yachiho Station.
* October 1, 1963: Sandanda Station renamed Usuda Station.
* February 1, 1984: Freight operations end.
* July 26, 1986: Photo Deck Station opens.
[今井恵介監修『日本鉄道旅行地図 6号 北信越』新潮社、2008年、p.41]
* September 1, 1986: Photo Deck Station closes.
* April 1, 1987: With the privatization and breakup of JNR, line becomes part of
East Japan Railway Company
The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and is the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are ...
(JR East).
* December 1, 1988: Misato Station opens.
* November 8, 1991: KiHa 110 series DMUs begin operation.
* March 14, 1992: Driver-only operation begins.
* October 12, 1995: Iwamurada — Nakasato section elevated.
* October 1, 1997: Sakudaira Station opens.
* July 31, 2007: KiHa E200 series hybrid DMUs begin operation.
See also
*
List of railway lines in Japan
List of railway lines in Japan lists existing railway lines in Japan alphabetically.
The vast majority of Japanese railways are classified under two Japanese laws, one for and another for . The difference between the two is a legal, and not alwa ...
References
{{East Japan Railway Company Lines
Lines of East Japan Railway Company
Rail transport in Yamanashi Prefecture
Railway lines in Nagano Prefecture
1067 mm gauge railways in Japan
Railway lines opened in 1919