Hokuriku Main Line

Hokuriku Main Line
Overview
Native name	北陸本線
Type	Heavy rail, Passenger/freight rail Regional rail, Intercity rail
System	JR West
Status	Operational
Locale	Shiga Prefecture Fukui Prefecture Ishikawa Prefecture
Termini	Maibara Station Kanazawa Station
Stations	43
Operation
Opened	Stages between 1882-1902
Closed	14. 3. 2015: Kanazawa - Naoetsu (Converted to the three sectors of the private railway)
Owner	JR West
Operator(s)	JR West, JR Freight
Technical
Line length	176.6 km (109.7 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC, 20 kV/60 Hz AC overhead line
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map

Hokuriku Main Line
Legend
Operating points and lines  Tōkaidō Main Line 0.0 Maibara See Biwako Line 7.7 Nagahama Former Tōkaidō Main Line 12.8 Torahime 15.6 Kawake Nippon Electric Glass 18.2 Takatsuki 22.4 Kinomoto Former Line (Yanagase Line) Until 1964 26.5 Yogo Nakanogo Yamagase/Yogo Tunnel, Shinyogo Tunnel Karigaya Kosei Line 31.4 Ōmi-Shiotsu Kutsukake (Signal Box) Until 1966 Yanagase Tunnel ↑Shiga Prefecture Fukui Prefecture↓ New Hukazaka Tunnel Tōdōnishiguchi Until 1884 Tone (1913-1964) Asoguchi Until 1884 39.2 Shin-Hikida Hikida Hatsuhara (Signal Box) Until1963 Obama Line Toyobo 45.9 0.0*# Tsuruga Tsuruga Until1909 　 3.9# Tsuruga New Port 　 2.7# Tsuruga Port 　 2.3* Miyama (Signal Box) ↑ 1500V DC Current conversion ↓ 20kV AC 　 5.9* Shimbo 　 9.3* Habara (Signal Box) Habara Tunnel Hokuriku Tunnel 　 12.9* Suizu 　 17.8* Yamanaka (Signal Box) 　 21.1* Ōgiri 62.5 Minami-Imajō Imajō Tunnel 65.1 26.4* Imajō Yunoo Tunnel 68.7 Yunoo 72.2 Nanjō 76.7 Ōshio 81.0 TakefuLeft: Shatakefu Fukui Railway (Echizentakefu) Fukui Railway Nanetsu Line Fukui Railway Fukubu Line Hinogawa 86.2 Sabae Fukui Railway Seihō Line 89.4 Kita-Sabae 94.1 Ōdoro Etsumi-Hoku Line 97.3 Echizen-Hanandō 98.1 Minami-Fukui (Freight Terminal) Asuwagawa 99.9 Fukui Fukui Railway (Fukui Station) Shin-Fukui Fukui-Guchi Echizen Railway Katsuyama Eiheiji Line Tawaramachi Echizen Railway Mikuni Awara Line 103.0 Kita-Fukui Until 1951 104.4 Kuzuryū (Temporary Signal Box) (Until 1949) Kuzuryū River 105.8 Morita 108.1 Harue Nishinagata Keifuku Maruoka Line 111.9 Maruoka 114.9 Echizen Shimonoseki Until 1940 Keifuku Eiheiji Line 117.6 Awaraonsen Mikuni Line 121.4 Hosorogi 124.5 Ushinoya Ushinomiya Tunnel ↑Fukui Prefecture Ishikawa Prefecture↓ 127.2 Kumasaka (Signal Box) Until 1963 130.2 Daishōji Hokuriku Railroad Yamanaka Line 134.3 Kagaonsen Hokutetsu Yamashiro Line, Katayamazu Line 137.5 Iburihashi Hokutetsu Awazu Line 142.4 Awazu For former Komatsu Navy Air Base Ogoya Railway Shin-Komatsu 148.2 Komatsu Hokutetsu Komatsu Line Kakehashi River 151.0 Meihō 151.5 Matsunashi (Signal Box) Until 1963 Hokutetsu Nomi Line 154.0 NomineagariLeft： Shin-Terai For Denki Kagaku Kogyo 157.0 Komaiko Tedorigawa 158.8 Mikawa 162.8 Kaga-Kasama Hakusan Rail Yard 167.2 Mattō Kanazawa Rail Yard Hokutetsu Shōkin Line 170.5 Nonoichi Hokutetsu Ishikawa Line 172.9 Nishi-KanazawaLeft: Shin-Nishikanazawa Saigawa Nakabashi/Hokutetsu Kanaiwa Line Hokutetsu Kanazawa City Line (Rokumaimachi) 176.6 Kanazawa (Kanazawa Station) Kanazawa Horikawa Hokutetsu Asanogawa Line Asanogawa Hokuriku Shinkansen Kanazawa Rail Yard IR Ishikawa Railway Line

The Hokuriku Main Line (北陸本線, Hokuriku-Honsen) is a 176.6 kilometer railway line owned by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting Maibara Station in Maibara, Shiga, with Kanazawa Station in Kanazawa, Ishikawa. It serves the Hokuriku region on the northern central coast of Honshu, the largest island of Japan, as well as offering connections to the regions of Kansai, Tōkai, Kantō, and Tōhoku.

The line is an important transportation artery along the Sea of Japan coast, because the Shinkansen high-speed network has not yet been extended through the Hokuriku region. The Hokuriku Shinkansen was opened on March 14, 2015 between Nagano and Kanazawa, therefore the interval between the Kanazawa Station and the Naoetsu Station was converted to the three segments of private railway companies; the remaining segment onward to Kansai is still in the planning stages. As a result, narrow gauge limited expresses such as the Thunderbird and Shirasagi are common sights along the line.

The Hokuriku Main Line has double track and is completely electrified: the section from Maibara to Tsuruga use 1,500 V DC power, while the section from Tsuruga to Kanazawa uses 20 kV AC, 60 Hz power.

JR Freight operates a small branch line for freight from Tsuruga Station to a container facility at the port of Tsuruga.

Basic data

• Operators, distances
  • West Japan Railway Company (Services and tracks)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (Services)
    • From Maibara to Kanazawa: 176.6 km (109.7 mi)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (Services and tracks)
    • From Tsuruga to Tsuruga-minato: 2.7 km (1.7 mi)
• Stations:
  • Passenger stations: 43, including those with freight services
  • Freight terminals: 4
• Double-track line: From Maibara to Kanazawa
• Electric supply: From Maibara to Kanazawa
  • From Maibara to Tsuruga: 1,500 V DC
  • From Tsuruga to Kanazawa: 20,000 V AC, 60 Hz
• Railway signalling:
  • From Maibara to Kanazawa: Automatic train control
  • From Tsuruga to Tsuruga-minato: Token system
• Maximum line speed: 130 km/h
• CTC center:
  • From Maibara to Ōmi-Shiotsu: Shin-Ōsaka Operation Control Center
  • From Ōmi-Shiotsu to Kanazawa: Kanazawa Operation Control Center
• CTC system:
  • From Maibara to Ōmi-Shiotsu: Safety Urban Network Traffic System (SUNTRAS)

Stations

• For the section between Maibara and Nagahama, see also the Biwako Line article.
• Rapid or Special Rapid trains from the Urban Network (Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto area) do not skip any of the stations listed below.

Rolling stock

A Thunderbird limited express at Takefu Station

A Hoketsu Express 681-2000 series EMU on a Hakutaka limited express service

Biwako Line 221 series EMU

Electric

• 125 series (DC)
• 221 series (DC)
• 223-1000/2000 series (DC)
• 225-0 series (DC)
• 413 series (AC/DC)
• 521 series (AC/DC)
• 681 series (Thunderbird, Dinostar, Noto Kagaribi, Shirasagi, Ohayō Express, Oyasumi Express limited express)
• 683 series (Thunderbird, Dinostar, Noto Kagaribi, Shirasagi, Ohayō Express, Oyasumi Express limited express)

Diesel

• KiHa 40/47
• KiHa 120

Former rolling stock

• 415-800 series EMU (until March 2011)
• 419 series EMU (until March 2011)
• 457 series EMU (until March 2015)
• 471 series EMU (until March 2015)
• 475 series EMU (until March 2015)
• 485 series EMU (until March 2015)
• 583 series EMU (Express Kitaguni until January 2013)

History

The entire line was built by the Japanese Government Railway, with the first section opened being from Nagahama, on the shore of Lake Biwa to Tsuruga in 1882. The Maibara to Nagahama section opened in 1889, and the line was then opened progressively to Fukui (in 1896), Kanazawa (in 1898), and Toyama (in 1899). The next extension opened to Uozu in 1908, and to Tomari in 1910. At the northeastern end, the Naoetsu to Nadachi section opened in 1911, and was extended to Itoigawa the following year. The final section opened in 1913, completing the line.

On 14 March 2015 the name of Terai Station was changed to Nomineagari Station.^[1]

Double-tracking and realignments

The initial section double-tracked was between Kanazawa and Tsubata in 1938, with the Maibara to Tsuruga section duplicated between 1957 and 1958. The rest of the line was double-tracked in stages between 1960 and 1969.

There have been three major line deviations. The first between Kinomoto and Tsuruga involving the 5,170 m Fukasaka tunnel opened in 1957 as a new line, with the original line remaining in service until the second new line opened in 1965, including the Shin-fukasaka tunnel at 5,173 m and a spiral section partially in tunnels to ease the ruling grade on the climb from Tsuruga to Biwako.

The second major deviation, between Tsuruga and Imajo opened in 1962 as a dual track line including the 13,870 m Hokuriku tunnel, providing a significantly straighter and faster line as well as avoiding numerous coastal sections vulnerable to disruption during severe weather events.

The third major deviation, the 21 km section between Uramoto and Arimagawa stations, was completed in 1969 as a dual track line, including the 11,353 m Kubiki tunnel, being the final section to be duplicated.

Electrification

The Tsuruga to Tamura section was electrified in 1957 at 20 kV AC. As Maibara was electrified at 1,500 V DC, steam locomotives hauled trains over the 5 km non-electrified section until it was electrified (at 1,500 V DC, with dual-voltage EMUs being used) in 1962, the year the 20 kV AC electrification was extended to Fukui, extending progressively to Kanazawa (in 1963), Toyama (in 1964), and Itoigawa (in 1965).

The Itoigawa to Naoetsu section was electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1969, whilst in 1991, the Tamura to Nagahama section was changed to 1,500 V DC, this change being extended to Tsuruga in 2006.

Former connecting lines

• Takefu Station: The Takeoka Light Railway opened a 7 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Gobuichi in 1914, converting the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge in 1924, and extending it 7 km to Tono-guchi. In 1941, the company merged with the Fukui Railway, which electrified the line at 600 V DC in 1948. The last 5 km closed in 1971, and the rest of the line closed in 1981.

• Sabae Station: The Ura Electric Railway opened a 20 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Oda between 1926 and 1929. The line also connected to the Fukubu Line at Mizuochi. The company merged with the Fukui Railway in 1945. As a result of double-tracking work on the Hokuriku Line at Sabae, the section to Mizuochi closed in 1962, with the rest of the line closing in 1973.

• Maruoka Station: The Maruoka Railway opened a 4 km 762 mm gauge line to Shin-Maruoka in 1915. In 1930, it was regauged to 1,067 mm and electrified at 600 V DC in conjunction with the opening of the Eiheiji Line to Shin-Maruoka from Arawa Onsen. The following year, a 3 km electrified line was opened from Maruoka to Nishi Nagata on the Mikuni Awara Line. The company merged with the Keifuku Railway in 1944, and the entire 7 km line closed in 1968.

• Arawa Onsen Station:

An 8 km line to Mikuni on the Mikuni Awara Line operated between 1911 and 1972.

The Eiheiji Railway Co. opened a 25km line to its namesake town in 1929, connecting with the Katsuyama Eiheiji Line at Higashi-Furuichi. The company merged with the Keifuku Electric Railway Co. in 1944. The Arawa Onsen - Higashi-Furuichi section closed in 1969, and the section to Eijeihi closed in 2002 after a fatal head-on collision resulted in services being suspended and subsequently never resumed.

• Daishoji Station: A 9 km 915 mm (3 ft) gauge horse-drawn tramway opened to Yamanaka between 1898 and 1900. In 1913, the line was converted to 1,067 mm gauge and electrified. The line closed in 1971. The Hokuriku Railway Co. operated an 11km line (known as the Contact Line) from Awazu Onsen (see Awazu station below) connected to the Uwano Line and this line between 1911 and 1963.

• Iburihashi Station: The Hokuriku Railway had two separate lines connecting here:

On the western side of the line, the 3 km line to Katayamazu opened in 1914 as a 915 mm gauge horse-drawn tramway. It was converted to 1,067 mm gauge and electrified in 1922, and closed in 1965.

On the eastern side, the 3 km electrified line to Uwano operated between 1911 and 1971.

• Awazu Station: The Awazu Onsen Railway opened a 4 km 762 mm gauge line to Awazu Onsen in 1911, converting the line to 1,067 mm gauge and electrifying it in 1916. The line closed in 1962.

• Komatsu Station:

A 17 km 762 mm gauge line opened to the Ogoya copper mine between 1919 and 1920. The Meitetsu Railway took over management of the line in 1962, renaming the terminus Ogoya Onsen. The copper mine closed in 1971, and the line closed in 1977.

A 6 km horse-drawn tramway opened in 1906 to serve the Yusenji copper mine. Steam locomotion was introduced the following year, and the mine and line closed in 1918. In 1929, the line was regauged to 1,067 mm, electrified and reopened by the Hakusen Electric Railway, but it was declared bankrupt the following year. The Komatsu Electric Railway purchased the line at the receiver's auction in 1935, and merged with the Hokuriku Railway in 1945. Patronage declined from 2,126,000 in 1967 to 623,000 in 1983, and as a result the line closed in 1986.

• Terai Station (present-day Nomineagari Station): The Nomi Electric Railway opened a 17 km line, electrified at 600 V DC to Tsurugi on the Hokuriku Railroad Ishikawa Line in 1927. Flooding destroyed the Tedorigawa bridge in 1934, which was replaced nine months later. The company merged with the Hokuriku Railway in 1942. Freight services ceased in 1968, and the line closed in 1980.

• Matto station: In 1904, the 8 km, 915 mm gauge Matsukane horse-drawn tramway opened to Nomachi on the Hokuriku Railroad Ishikawa Line, and also connected with Nonoichi station on the same line (not the current JR West station of the same name, which opened in 1968), 3 km before the terminus. In 1916, the line was converted to 1,067 mm gauge and electrified at 600 V DC. The line was acquired by the Kanazawa Electric Railway in 1920, which merged with the Hokuriku Railway in 1942. The 3 km Nonoichi to Nomachi section closed in 1944, and the remaining 5 km line closed in 1955.

• Kanazawa Station: The 5 km 762 mm gauge Jinshi horse-drawn tramway opened in 1898, being converted to 1,067 mm gauge and electrified at 600 V DC in 1914. In 1920, the line was extended to Ono Port, and a further 2 km to Ono Minato in 1923. A 400m branch to Ryokuchi Park opened in 1930, passenger services on the branch ceasing in 1945 though the line remained to service a paper mill. The entire system closed in 1970.

• Isurugi Station: The Tonami Railway opened a 7 km line to Tsuzawa in 1915, and merged with the Kaetsu Railway in 1919, which extended the line 13 km to Shogawa-Cho in 1922, including a connection to the Johana Line at Fukuno. The line closed in 1972.

• Kurobe Station: The Toyo Aluminium Company planned to build Japan's first aluminium refinery near Kurobe, and in 1922 opened a line electrified at 600 V DC to the proposed refinery site. The refinery did not proceed, so the company extended the line to Ishida Minato to serve an Onsen. The line closed in 1940.

Future developments

The Hokuriku Shinkansen extension, from Nagano to Kanazawa scheduled to open in March 2015, approximately parallels the route of the Hokuriku Main Line. With the opening of the Hokuriku Shinkansen, control of local passenger services on the sections of the Hokuriku Main Line running through Ishikawa, Toyama, and Niigata prefectures will be transferred to the following three third-sector operating companies owned by the respective prefectures.^[2]

• IR Ishikawa Railway (17.8 km, Kanazawa - Kurikara)
• Ainokaze Toyama Railway (100.1 km, Kurikara - Ichiburi)
• Echigo Tokimeki Railway Company Nihonkai Hisui Line (Ichiburi - Naoetsu)

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

JR West lines Shinkansen Sanyō (Hakata-Minami) Hokuriku 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 Other Biwako JR Kyoto JR Kobe Sagano Past Gannichi Hokuriku Main Ishikawa Ainokaze Toyama Echigo Tokimeki Nihonkai Hisui Kajiya Miki Miyafuku Miyazu Noto Shigaraki Taisha Toyamakō Wakasa