San'in Main Line

The Sanin Main Line (山陰本線, San'in-honsen) is a railway line in western Japan, which connects Kyoto and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is the major railway line of the San'in region, approximately paralleling the Japan Sea, crossing Kyoto, Hyōgo, Tottori, Shimane, and Yamaguchi prefectures. The main portion from Kyoto to Hatabu is the longest single continuous railway line in Japan at 673.8 km, although no regularly scheduled train operates over the entire line.

Sanin Main Line
Overview
Other name(s)Sagano Line (Kyoto - Sonobe)
Native name山陰本線
OwnerJR West
LocaleKyoto, Hyōgo, Tottori, Shimane and Yamaguchi Prefectures
TerminiKyoto Station
Shimonoseki Station
Stations159
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s)JR West
JR Freight
History
Opened1897
Technical
Line length676.0 km (420.0 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph) - 130 km/h (81 mph)

The section between Kyoto and Sonobe, connecting Kyoto and its northern suburbs, is a part of JR West's Urban Network and is nicknamed the Sagano Line.

Basic data

  • Distances: 676.0 km
  • Operators
  • Track:
    • Double: Kyoto – Sonobe, Ayabe – Fukuchiyama, Hōki-Daisen – Yasugi, Higashi-Matsue – Matsue, Tamatsukuri-Onsen – Kimachi
    • Single: the rest
  • Electric supply:
    • Kyoto - Kinosaki-Onsen, Hōki-Daisen - Nishi-Izumo: 1,500 V DC
  • Railway signalling:
    • Kyoto - Nishi-Izumo: Automatic
    • Nishi-Izumo - Hatabu, including "Senzaki branch line": Special Automatic; a simplified automatic system
  • Maximum speed in service (km/h):
    • Kyoto - Saga-Arashiyama: 120
    • Saga-Arashiyama - Umahori: 130
    • Umahori - Ayabe: 120
    • Ayabe - Fukuchiyama: 130
    • Fukuchiyama - Tottori: 95
    • Tottori - Izumoshi: 120
    • Izumoshi - Masuda: 110
    • Masuda - Hatabu: 95
    • Nagatoshi - Senzaki: 85

Stations

From Kyoto to Sonobe (Sagano Line)

Stations on this segment
Kyoto - Umekōji-Kyōtonishi - Tambaguchi - Nijo - Emmachi - Hanazono - Uzumasa - Saga-Arashiyama - Hozukyo - Umahori - Kameoka - Namikawa - Chiyokawa - Yagi - Yoshitomi - Sonobe

From Sonobe to Tottori

Rapid trains are operated as local trains and stop at every station between Sonobe and Fukuchiyama.

Station Distance
(km)
Transfers Location
Sonobe園部34.2( E16  Sagano Line)NantanKyoto
Funaoka船岡38.2 
Hiyoshi日吉41.9 
Shinkyūdaigakumae鍼灸大学前44.3 
Goma胡麻47.1 
Shimoyama下山51.9 Kyōtamba, Funai
Wachi和知58.6 
Aseri安栖里60.7 
Tachiki立木65.5 
Yamaga山家69.0 Ayabe
Ayabe綾部76.2 Maizuru Line
Takatsu高津80.3 
Isa石原82.8 Fukuchiyama
Fukuchiyama福知山88.5
Kamikawaguchi上川口95.2 
Shimo-Yakuno下夜久野102.4 
Kami-Yakuno上夜久野109.8 
Yanase梁瀬115.6 AsagoHyōgo
Wadayama和田山119.0 Bantan Line
Yabu養父124.2 Yabu
Yōka八鹿131.2 
Ebara江原138.7 Toyooka
Kokufu国府142.4 
Toyooka豊岡148.4Willer Trains Miyatoyo Line
Gembudō玄武洞153.7 
Kinosaki-Onsen城崎温泉158.0 
Takeno竹野166.0 
Satsu佐津173.4 Kami, Mikata
Shibayama柴山175.7 
Kasumi香住180.0 
Yoroi185.4 
Amarube餘部187.2 
Kutani久谷191.8 Shin'onsen, Mikata
Hamasaka浜坂197.9 
Moroyose諸寄199.8 
Igumi居組204.2 
Higashihama東浜207.5 Iwami, IwamiTottori
Iwami岩美211.9 
Ōiwa大岩214.8 
Fukube福部219.1 Tottori
Tottori鳥取230.3 Imbi Line

From Tottori to Masuda

  • TL: Rapid Tottori Liner (快速とっとりライナー)
  • AL: Rapid Aqua Liner (快速アクアライナー)
  • CL: Rapid Commuter Liner (快速通勤ライナー)
  • All the trains stop at stations signed "+". Most trains stop at "‡". Most trains do not stop at "*". No trains (other than local) stop at "-".
  • Rapid Commuter Liner runs from Nishi-Izumo to Yonago, one direction alone
Station Distance
(km)
TL AL CL Transfers Location
Tottori鳥取230.3+   Imbi LineTottoriTottori
Koyama湖山234.5*   
Tottoridaigakumae鳥取大学前235.8   
Suetsune末恒239.6*   
Hōgi宝木244.7*   
Hamamura浜村247.6+   
Aoya青谷252.8+   
Tomari258.9*   Yurihama, Tōhaku
Matsuzaki松崎264.6*   
Kurayoshi倉吉270.1+   Kurayoshi
Shimohōjō下北条275.2*   Hokuei, Tōhaku
Yura
(Conan Station)
由良
(コナン駅)
280.1*   
Urayasu浦安285.8+   Kotoura, Tōhaku
Yabase八橋287.6-   
Akasaki赤碕291.3+   
Nakayamaguchi中山口295.5-   Daisen, Saihaku
Shimoichi下市297.7*   
Mikuriya御来屋303.6*   
Nawa名和304.7-   
Daisenguchi大山口308.8*   
Yodoe淀江312.7*   Yonago
Hōki-Daisen伯耆大山318.2+   Hakubi Line
Higashiyama-kōen東山公園321.2-   
Yonago米子323.0+++ Sakai Line
Yonago Freight Terminal米子(貨)324.2--- 
Yasugi安来331.8+++ YasugiShimane
Arashima荒島336.6+++ 
Iya揖屋342.2+++ Matsue
Higashi-Matsue東松江345.3+++ 
Matsue松江351.9+++ 
Nogi乃木354.6++- 
Tamatsukuri-Onsen玉造温泉358.5++- 
Kimachi来待364.5++- 
Shinji宍道368.9+++ Kisuki Line
Shōbara荘原373.0+++Izumo
Naoe直江379.1+++ 
Izumoshi出雲市384.6+++Kita-Matsue Line (Dentetsu-Izumoshi)
Nishi-Izumo西出雲389.4   
Izumo-Jinzai出雲神西391.4 *  
Kōnan江南393.5 *  
Oda小田400.1 *  
Tagi田儀404.0 *  
Hane波根411.5 *  Ōda
Kute久手413.7 *  
Ōdashi大田市417.2 +  
Shizuma静間420.2 *  
Isotake五十猛422.8 *  
Nima仁万428.9 +  
Maji馬路431.9 *  
Yusato湯里434.8 *  
Yunotsu温泉津437.9 +  
Iwami-Fukumitsu石見福光440.8 *  
Kuromatsu黒松443.6 *  Gōtsu
Asari浅利448.0 *  
Gōtsu江津454.3 + Sankō Line (closed 1 April 2018)
Tsunozu都野津458.7 +  
Uyagawa敬川460.5 *  
Hashi波子463.3 +  
Kushiro久代465.6 *  Hamada
Shimokō下府469.7 *  
Hamada浜田473.3 +  
Nishi-Hamada西浜田478.7 +  
Sufu周布482.8 *  
Orii折居487.6 +  
Miho-Misumi三保三隅492.6 +  
Okami岡見497.6 *  
Kamate鎌手502.7 *  Masuda
Iwami-Tsuda石見津田507.2 *  
Masuda益田514.5 + Yamaguchi Line

From Masuda to Hatabu

Station Distance
(km)
Transfers Location
Sanin Main Line
Masuda益田514.5Yamaguchi LineMasudaShimane
Todakohama戸田小浜524.3 
Iinoura飯浦528.0 
Esaki江崎533.8 HagiYamaguchi
Susa須佐540.4 
Utagō宇田郷549.2 Abu, Abu
Kiyo木与555.6 
Nago奈古560.2 
Nagato-Ōi長門大井564.5 Hagi
Koshigahama越ヶ浜569.1 
Higashi-Hagi東萩572.0 
Hagi575.8 
Tamae玉江578.2 
Sammi三見583.9 
Ii飯井588.1 
Nagato-Misumi長門三隅594.5Nagato
Nagatoshi長門市599.6Mine Line, Sanin Main Line "Senzaki branch line"
Kiwado黄波戸604.9 
Nagato-Furuichi長門古市609.0 
Hitomaru人丸613.5 
Igami伊上617.9 
Nagato-Awano長門粟野622.1 Shimonoseki
Agawa阿川627.4 
Kottoi特牛631.1 
Takibe滝部635.1 
Nagato-Futami長門二見639.9 
Ukahongō宇賀本郷643.5 
Yutama湯玉645.7 
Kogushi小串650.2 
Kawatana-Onsen川棚温泉652.9 
Kuroimura黒井村655.4 
Umegatō梅ヶ峠658.8 
Yoshimi吉見662.7 
Fukue福江665.6 
Yasuoka安岡668.2 
Kajikuri-Gōdaichi梶栗郷台地679.6 
Ayaragi綾羅木670.7 
Hatabu幡生673.8Sanyō Main Line
Sanyō Main Line
Hatabu幡生Sanin Main LineShimonosekiYamaguchi
Shimonoseki下関677.3 

Senzaki Branch Line

Station Distance
(km)
Transfers Location
Nagatoshi長門市0.0Mine Line, Sanin Main LineNagatoYamaguchi
Senzaki仙崎2.2 

History

The line was built by three different private companies, which were subsequently nationalised and connected by the Japanese Government Railway (JGR). The Kyoto Railway opened the section to Sonobe between 1897 and 1899. The Bantsuru Railway opened the Ayabe to Fukuchiyama section (as part of the current Maizuru Line) in 1904. Both companies were nationalised in 1907.

The first section opened by the JGR was between Yonago and Mikuriya in 1902, and the line was then progressively extended eastward, reaching Tottori in 1907 and Iwami in 1908, the same year the current Bantan Line opened to Wadayama and Yoka. Construction of that line continued westward, and the two lines were connected in 1912. In the meantime, the Sonobe to Ayabe section was opened in 1910, and the Fukuchiyama to Wadayama section the following year. In addition, construction from Yonago progressed westward, opening to Matsue in 1908 and Izumoshi in 1910, resulting in the 385 km continuous line upon the 1912 connection mentioned above. At the western end, the Choshu Railway opened the Hatabu to Kogushi section in 1914.

From Izumoshi, construction continued progressively westward, opening to Masuda in 1923, and to Todakobama in 1925, the year that the Choshu Railway was nationalised and the Kogushi to Takibe section opened, with construction then continuing from both directions until the two sections were connected in 1933, completing the current line.

Double-tracking

The Yonago to Hoki-Daisen section was double-tracked between 1962 and 1966, with the Ayabe to Fukuchiyama section double-tracked in between 1968 and 1969, and the Tamatsukuri-Onsen to Kimachi section in 1970. The Matsue to Higashi-Matsue section was double-tracked in 1979, and the Yonago to Yasugi section in 1980. The original Saga-Arashiyama to Umahori section was built on the banks of the Hozugawa in a narrow gorge. A new double-track alignment was opened in 1989, and the original alignment became the Sagano Scenic Railway. Further double-tracking occurred in stages, with the entire Kyoto to Sonobe section double-tracked by 2010.

Electrification

The Hoki-Daisen to Izumoshi section was electrified in 1982 in conjunction with the electrification of the Hakubi Line. The Fukuchiyama to Kinosaki section was electrified in 1986 in conjunction with the electrification of the Fukuchiyama Line. The Sonobe to Fukuchiyama section was electrified between 1985 and 1986, and the Kyoto to Sonobe section in 1990.

Former connecting lines

An Izushi Railway train
Yamamori Station circa 1981
  • Fukuchiyama Station: The Hokutan Railway operated a 12 km line to Koumori between 1923 and 1971.
  • Ebara Station: The Izushi Railway operated an 11 km line to Izushi between 1929 and 1970.
  • Iwami Station: The Iwai Prefectural Government opened a 3 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Iwai Onsen in 1925. In June 1934, 149 of the 216 buildings at Iwai Onsen burnt down, and then in September that year Typhoon Muroto caused such extensive damage to the line that it was out of service until February 1936. In 1944, the line was closed and materials recycled for the Japanese war effort.
  • Kurayoshi Station: In 1912, a 4 km line to Kamii opened, and was extended 11 km to Sekigane in 1941 and a further 5 km (as a passenger-only section) to Yamamori in 1958. Freight services ceased in 1974 and the line closed in 1985.
  • Yonago Station: The Hakuhi Electric Railway operated a 12 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Hosshoji between 1924 and 1967. A 6 km electrified branch from Aga to Mori operated between 1930 and 1944.
  • Arashima Station: The Hirose Railway opened an 8 km line, electrified at 600 V DC to Izumo Hirose in 1928. In 1954, the company merged with the Ichibata Electric Railway, and the line closed in 1960.
  • Izumoshi Station: On the northern side of the station, the 8 km Taisha Line opened in 1912, on the opposite bank of the Ogamogawa to the Izumo-Taisha Station on the Ichibata Electric Railway line. Freight services ceased in 1974, and the line closed in 1990.
  • Gotsu Station: The Sanko Line operated 1930 - 2018.
  • Nishi-Hamada Station: A 2 km freight-only line to Hamada Minato to service the port operated between 1955 and 1982.
  • Hatabu Station: The Choshu Railway opened a 27 km line from Higashi-Mozeki to Kogushi in 1914. A proposed extension to Nagato was not built due to funding constraints, but the line was electrified at 600 V DC in 1926. The company merged with the Sanyo Electric Railway in 1928, and the line closed in 1971.

References

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

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