Gonō Line

The Gonō Line (五能線, Gonō-sen) is a railway line in Japan linking Higashi-Noshiro Station in Akita Prefecture with Kawabe Station in Aomori Prefecture, in the northern Tōhoku region of Honshu. The line stretches 147.2 km (91.5 mi) along the Sea of Japan coast with a total of 43 stations. The Gonō Line is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

The scenery from the train window
Gonō Line
Senjōjiki Station
Overview
Native name五能線
StatusIn operation
OwnerJR East
LocaleAomori, Akita prefectures
TerminiHigashi-Noshiro
Kawabe
Stations43
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)JR East
Rolling stockKiHa 40 series DMU, HB-E300 series DMU
History
Opened1908
Technical
Line length147.2 km (91.5 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track
CharacterRural and scenic
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

Station list

  • For the Resort Shirakami rapid service, please see its article.
  • Trains may pass at stations marked "◇", "v", or "^".
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers   Location
Between
stations
Total Rapid
Higashi-Noshiro 東能代 - 0.0 Ōu Main Line v Noshiro Akita
Noshiro 能代 3.9 3.9  
Mukai-Noshiro 向能代 2.2 6.1  
Kita-Noshiro 北能代 3.2 9.3  
Torigata 鳥形 1.9 11.2  
Sawame 沢目 2.9 14.1   Happō, Yamamoto District
Higashi-Hachimori 東八森 3.9 18.0  
Hachimori 八森 4.7 22.7  
Takinoma 滝ノ間 1.8 24.5  
Akitashirakami あきた白神 1.6 26.1  
Iwadate 岩館 3.0 29.1  
Ōmagoshi 大間越 10.8 39.9   Fukaura, Nishitsugaru District Aomori
Shirakamidaketozanguchi 白神岳登山口 2.4 42.3  
Matsukami 松神 2.4 44.7  
Jūniko 十二湖 1.9 46.6  
Mutsu-Iwasaki 陸奥岩崎 4.3 50.9  
Mutsu-Sawabe 陸奥沢辺 2.7 53.6  
WeSPa-Tsubakiyama ウェスパ椿山 2.4 56.0  
Henashi 艫作 1.9 57.9  
Yokoiso 横磯 3.5 61.4  
Fukaura 深浦 5.5 66.9  
Hiroto 広戸 3.9 70.8  
Oirase 追良瀬 2.1 72.9  
Todorogi 驫木 3.1 76.0  
Kasose 風合瀬 3.0 79.0  
Ōdose 大戸瀬 4.9 83.9  
Senjōjiki 千畳敷 2.1 86.0  
Kita-Kanegasawa 北金ヶ沢 4.6 90.6  
Mutsu-Yanagita 陸奥柳田 2.7 93.3  
Mutsu-Akaishi 陸奥赤石 4.1 97.4   Ajigasawa, Nishitsugaru District
Ajigasawa 鰺ヶ沢 6.4 103.8  
Narusawa 鳴沢 4.5 108.3  
Koshimizu 越水 2.7 111.0   Tsugaru
Mutsu-Morita 陸奥森田 3.4 114.5  
Nakata 中田 2.4 116.9  
Kizukuri 木造 2.6 119.5  
Goshogawara 五所川原 5.2 125.7 Tsugaru Railway Line (Tsugara-Goshogawara) Goshogawara
Mutsu-Tsuruda 陸奥鶴田 6.0 131.7   Tsuruta, Kitatsugaru District
Tsurudomari 鶴泊 2.4 134.1  
Itayanagi 板柳 4.8 138.9   Itayanagi, Kitatsugaru District
Hayashizaki 林崎 3.0 141.9   Fujisaki, Minamitsugaru District
Fujisaki 藤崎 2.8 144.7  
Kawabe 川部 2.5 147.2 Ōu Main Line ^ Inakadate, Minamitsugaru District
Most trains through to Hirosaki on the Ōu Main Line

Rolling stock

KiHa 40 series DMU Fukaura

History

The first section of the Gonō Line was opened by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) from Higashi-Noshiro to Noshiro in 1908. When every JGR railway line was assigned a line name on October 12, 1909, this short railway was named the Noshiro Line (能代線, Noshiro-sen). In 1926 it was extended to Iwadate and in 1932 extended to Mutsu-Iwasaki.

The private Mutsu Railway (陸奥鉄道, Mutsu-tetsudō) began operations on September 25, 1918 linking Kawabe with Goshogawara. The line was extended to Mutsu-Morita on October 21, 1924 with the extension called the Goshogawara Line (五所川原線, Goshogawara-sen). The line was extended to Ajigasawa on May 15, 1925. The company was nationalized in 1927, with the Goshogawara Line being absorbed into the Mutsu Railway. The line was extended to Mutsu-Akaishi on November 26, 1929 and connected to the Gonō Line on July 30, 1936, at which time the entire line adopted its current name.

A CTC system was installed in 1986. With the privatization of the Japanese National Railways (successor of JGR) on April 1, 1987, the Gonō Line came under the control of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).

See also

References

    • Harris, Ken; Clarke, Jackie (2008). Jane's World Railways 2008-2009. Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2861-9.

    Further reading

    • 五能線ガイドブック [Gono Line Guidebook] (in Japanese). Japan: Mumyosha. 10 April 2002. ISBN 978-4895443074.
    • Endo, Isao (15 July 2016). 五能線物語 「奇跡のローカル線」を生んだ最強の現場力 [Gono Line Story] (in Japanese). Japan: PHP Institute, Inc. ISBN 978-4569830094.
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