Kure Line

The Kure Line (呉線, Kuresen) is a rail line operated by JR West within Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. It begins at Mihara Station in Mihara and terminates at Kaitaichi Station in Kaita. It's one of the main lines of JR West. The section between Mihara Station to Hiro Station is nicknamed "Setouchi Sazanami Line" (Seto Inland Sea Ripple Line) as the sightseeing line. The section between Mihara Station and Hiro Station, most trains runs from Hiro Station through Mihara Station to Itozaki Station. The section between Hiro Station and Kaitaich Station, most trains runs from Hiro Station through Kaitaichi Station to Hiroshima Station or Iwakuni Station.

Line data

• Operator: West Japan Railway Company (Class-1 railroad)
• Official line length: 87.0 km
• Gauge: 1067mm
• Stations: 28 (including Mihara Station and Kaitaichi Station)
• Double track: none (entirely single track)
• Electrified sections: all (DC 1500V)
• Closure system: Special automatic closure type (track circuit detection)
• Speed limit: 95 km/h
• Operational command: Hiroshima Integrated Command Center

Special trains

Type 115 train for Akiji Liner

Akiji liner

• Commuter Liner is nicknamed as "Akiji Liner" (Aki-route Liner).
• The trains runs the section between Hiroshima Station to Kure Station in about 30 minutes.

Setouchi Marine View

• Sightseeing Trains "Setouchi Marine View" (Seto Inland Sea Marine View) are operated since October 1, 2005.

History

Kure Line

• Opened the line between Kaitaichi Station to Kure Station including Yano Station, Saka Station, Tennō Station and Yoshiura Station on December 27, 1903.
• Opened temporary station (Hamasaki Station) on July 28, 1904.
• Rent for Sanyo Railway from December 1, 1904.
• Nationalized from December 1, 1906.
• Named "Kure Line" as one of national rail ways on October 12, 1909.
• Opened Koyaura Station and Closed Hamasaki Station on May 1, 1914.
• Opened temporary station (Akihamasaki Station) on July 21, 1926.
• Opened temporary station (Karyugahama Station) on July 7, 1928.
• Extended the line from Kure Station to Hiro Station and opened Akiaga Station and Hiro Station on March 24, 1935.

Sango Line

• Opened Sango Line between Mihara Station to Sunami Station on March 19, 1930.
• Extended the line from Sunami Station to Akisaizaki Station on April 28, 1931.
• Extended the line from Akisaizaki Station to Takehara Station including Tadanoumi Station and Ōnori Station on July 10, 1932.
• Extended the line from Takehara Station to Mitsuuchinoumi Station including Yoshina Station, Akimitsu Station and Kazahaya Station on January 17, 1935.

Integration

• Integrated Sango Line into Kure Line and opened Ato Station, Akikawajiri Station, Nigata Station and Kawaraishi Station on November 24, 1935.

After the integration

• Closed Kawaraishi Station on December 1, 1940.
• Renamed Mitsuuchinoumi Station to Yasuura Station on May 1, 1946.
• Renamed Akimitsu Station to Akitsu Station on December 20, 1949.
• Re-opened Kawaraishi Station on August 1, 1958.
• Closed temporary stations (Karyugahama Station and Akihamasaki Station) on August 1, 1967.
• Electrified the rail way on September 15, 1970.
• Stopped cargo services on December 1, 1986.
• Privatized as JR West on April 1, 1987.
• Opened Kure-Portopia Station on March 19, 1992.
• Opened Akinagahama Station on October 1, 1994.
• Opened Karugahama Station and Mizushiri Station and moved Kawaraishi Station on February 7, 1999.
• Opened Shinhiro Station on March 23, 2002.

Stations

v t e JR West lines Shinkansen Sanyō (Hakata-Minami) Main Hokuriku Kansai Kisei San'in San'yō Takayama Tōkaidō Local Akō Bantan Etsumi-Hoku Fukuchiyama Fukuen Gantoku Geibi Hakubi Hanwa Himi Honshi-Bisan Inbi Jōhana JR Tōzai Kabe Kakogawa Kansai Airport Katamachi Kibi Kishin Kisuki Kosei Kure Kusatsu Maizuru Mine Nanao Nara Obama Ōito Onoda Osaka Higashi Osaka Loop Sakai Sakurai Sakurajima Sankō Tsuyama Ube Uno Wakayama Yamaguchi Past Gannichi Kajiya Miyazu Noto Shigaraki Taisha Toyamakō Wakasa