Nemuro Main Line

Nemuro line map

KiHa 283 series DMU between Shakubetsu and Ombetsu

"Super Ōzora" limited express train.

Nemuro Main Line (根室本線, Nemuro Honsen) is a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by JR Hokkaidō, between Takikawa Station, Takikawa City and Nemuro Station, Nemuro City, running through eastern Hokkaidō including Obihiro and Kushiro.

Basic Data

• Operators, distances
  • Hokkaidō Railway Company (Services and tracks)
    • Whole the line, from Takikawa to Nemuro: 443.8 km / Approx. 275.8  mi.
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (Services)
    • From Takikawa to Furano: 54.6 km / Approx. 33.9  mi.
    • From Higashi-Shikagoe to Kushiro: 213.6 km / Approx. 123.7  mi.
• Stations: 69, including 1 freight-only station.
• Gauge: 1067 mm / 3 ft. 6 in.
• Double-track line: None
• Electric supply: Not electrified
• Block system:
  • From Takikawa to Higashi-Kushiro: Automatic
  • From Higashi-Kushiro to Nemuro: Special Automatic (Electronic Signal Verification); a simplified automatic system.

History

The line was built as a link line between central and eastern Hokkaidō, by Hokkaidō Government Railway (北海道官設鉄道, Hokkaidō Kansetsu Tetsudō). The first segment, between Asahikawa and Biei, opened in 1899. The line between Asahikawa and Kushiro was completed in 1907. In 1913, the new line between Shimo-Furano (which is the current Furano Station) and Takikawa opened, and the segment between Asahikawa and Shimo-Furano was separated as Furano Line. The line extended to the eastward gradually, reaching Nemuro in 1921. In 1981, Sekishō Line opened as a shortcut line, making the main link route between central and eastern Hokkaidō much shorter.

Services

Kiha 40-700 in local service

The line is roughly divided into three segments. The segment between Takikawa and Shintoku is now a quiet local line. The rapid train Karikachi (狩勝) runs twice a day, and there is one local train service every 1 to 2 hours.

The segment between Shintoku and Kushiro remains a part of the important trunk route between Sapporo and eastern Hokkaidō. The limited express train Super Ōzora (スーパーおおぞら, Sūpā Ōzora) runs between Sapporo and Kushiro six times a day, while Super Tokachi (スーパーとかち, Sūpā Tokachi) runs twice a day, Tokachi (とかち) 4 times a day, both between Sapporo and Obihiro. There is also the sleeper train Marimo (まりも) between Sapporo and Kushiro. There is one local train service every 1 to 2 hours.

The segment between Kushiro and Nemuro is again a quiet local line. This segment has the official nickname Hanasaki Line (花咲線, Hanasaki-sen). There are two rapid trains Nosappu (ノサップ) and Hanasaki (はなさき) which run once a day each. Other than that, there is one local train service every 2 to 3 hours.

Stations

LE: Limited Express

R: Rapid

All the trains stop at stations signed "+". Some trains stop at "*". No trains (other than local) stop at "-".

Gallery

• 

  Higashi-Nemuro Station is the easternmost railway station in Japan.

• 

  Obihiro Station.

• 

  Kami-Atsunai Station.

• 

  Hanasaki Station.

• 

  Nemuro Station.

See also

• List of railway lines in Japan

External links

• (Japanese) JR Hokkaidō official website
• (English) JR Hokkaidō official website

References

v t e Transportation in Hokkaido JR Hokkaido lines Chitose Esashi Furano Hakodate Hidaka Kaikyō Muroran Nemuro Rumoi Sasshō Sekihoku Sekishō Semmō Sōya Temiya JR trains Cassiopeia Hakuchō Hamanasu Hokuto Hokutosei Ishikari Kitami Lilac Okhotsk Sarobetsu Super Hakuchō Super Hokuto Super Kamui Super Ōzora Super Sōya Super Tokachi Super White Arrow Suzuran Twilight Express White Arrow Other railways Hakodate Streetcar Sapporo Streetcar Sapporo Municipal Subway Namboku Tōzai Tōhō Taiheiyō Coal (freight only) Airports Asahikawa New Chitose Hakodate Kushiro Memanbetsu Monbetsu Nakashibetsu Okadama Okushiri Rishiri Tokachi-Obihiro Wakkanai Miscellaneous Kitaca SAPICA