Koumi Line

Koumi Line
JR East KiHa 110 series DMU on the Koumi Line
Overview
Type	Regional rail
Locale	Yamanashi, Nagano prefectures
Termini	Kobuchizawa Komoro
Stations	31
Operation
Opening	1919
Owner	JR East
Rolling stock	KiHa E200, KiHa 110 series DMUs
Technical
Line length	78.9 km (49.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	None
Route map

The Koumi Line (小海線, Koumi-sen) is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Kobuchizawa Station in Hokuto, Yamanashi with Komoro Station in Komoro, Nagano, and stretches 78.9 km through the mountains with a total of 31 stations. It roughly follows the route of National Route 141, running directly alongside the road at some places and crossing it at least twice.

Stations

All trains stop at all 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 kilometers route often takes as long as two and a half hours to traverse, however the journey is well known for its beautiful scenery.

Legend

◇・∨・∧ - passing loop

｜ - no passing loop

History

The section from Komoro to Koumi was opened for service by the private Saku Railway in 1919. The company planned a railway network stretching from Kōfu 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 never began. Instead, the Japanese National Railways (JNR) began building the Kobuchizawa — Koumi segment. This, combined with the purchase/nationalization of the remaining segment from Saku Railway, resulted in the current Koumi Line. The entire line opened for service in 1935.

Timeline

• November 29, 1935: Kiyosato — Shinano-Kawakami section opens; entire line completed. 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.^[1]
• 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 (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

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Koumi Line.

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