| Tōkaidō Freight Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | |||
| Locale | Kanto Region | ||
| Termini | Odawara Station Hamamatsuchō Station |
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| Operation | |||
| Owner | JR East | ||
| Operator(s) | JR East, JR Freight | ||
| Technical | |||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm | ||
| Electrification | Overhead catenary 1,500 V DC | ||
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The Tōkaidō Freight Line (東海道貨物線 Tōkaidō Kamotsu-sen) links Odawara Station in Kanagawa Prefecture and Hamamatsuchō Station in central Tōkyō, Japan.
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The Tōkaidō Freight Line runs parallel to the immediate west of the Yokosuka and Tōkaidō passenger lines from Odawara Station to Higashi-Totsuka Station, where it veers west via Yokohama Hazawa freight station and long tunnels bypassing Yokohama. Near Tsurumi Station, the bypass rejoins the main passenger route for a short distance, and has connections to the freight-only Takashima Line (高島線) to Sakuragichō Station, the Hinkaku Line and Musashino Line. The freight line then curves east, briefly sharing tracks with the Nambu Branch Line between Hatchōnawate and Hama-Kawasaki stations, then veers north past Kawasaki freight station, under the entrance to Haneda Airport northward to the Tōkyō Freight Terminal. The line north from here, currently dormant, continues to Hamamatsuchō Station alongside a branch of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen used to move empty rolling stock to and from a nearby depot.[1]
The latter dormant section was closed to enable construction of the Toei Oedo Line subway near Hamamatsuchō Station.
Until 1980, the Tōkaidō Freight Line included the Hinkaku Line until it was converted for passenger use as part of the Yokosuka Line.
The freight-only Takashima Line is a branch of the Tōkaidō Freight Line between Tsurumi Station and Sakuragichō Station, giving access for freight trains to and from the Negishi Line.
The Sagami Railway (Sōtetsu) and the Japan Railway Construction, Transport and Technology Agency are jointly planning a 2.7 km new line, called the Sōtetsu JR Link Line (相鉄ＪＲ直通線 Sōtetsu JR Chokutsū-sen), connecting Nishiya Station on the Sagami Railway Main Line with the Tōkaidō Freight Line. The line, expected to be completed by 2015, will enable direct passenger services from Sōtetsu lines to Shinjuku Station in central Tokyo via the Yokosuka Line.[2]
Distances: