Koumi Line

The Koumi Line (小海線, Koumi-sen) is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Kobuchizawa Station in Hokuto, Yamanashi with Komoro Station in Komoro, Nagano, and extends 78.9 km through the mountains with a total of 31 stations. It roughly follows the route of National Route 141, paralleling the road at some places and crossing it twice.

Koumi Line
JR East KiHa 110 series DMU on the Koumi Line
Overview
TypeRegional rail
LocaleYamanashi, Nagano prefectures
TerminiKobuchizawa
Komoro
Stations31
Operation
Opened1919
OwnerJR East
Rolling stockKiHa E200, KiHa 110 series DMUs
Technical
Line length78.9 km (49.0 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Route map

Stations

All trains stop at all stations.

Some of the stations along the Koumi Line are among the highest in Japan, with Nobeyama Station reaching 1,345 meters above sea level. Because of the frequent stops and winding route the full 78.9 kilometre journey often takes as long as two and a half hours to traverse, however the journey is known for its scenery.

Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers   Location
Between
stations		 Total
Kobuchizawa 小淵沢 - 0.0 Chūō Main Line ∨ Hokuto Yamanashi
Kai-Koizumi 甲斐小泉 7.1 7.1   ◇
Kai-Ōizumi 甲斐大泉 5.1 12.2   ◇
Kiyosato 清里 5.3 17.5   ◇
Nobeyama 野辺山 5.9 23.4   ◇ Minamimaki, Minamisaku District Nagano
Shinano-Kawakami 信濃川上 8.1 31.5   ◇ Kawakami, Minamisaku
Saku-Hirose 佐久広瀬 3.4 34.9   ｜ Minamimaki, Minamisaku
Saku-Uminokuchi 佐久海ノ口 4.8 39.7   ◇
Umijiri 海尻 2.4 42.1   ｜
Matsubarako 松原湖 2.7 44.8   ｜ Koumi, Minamisaku
Koumi 小海 3.5 48.3   ◇
Managashi 馬流 1.6 49.9   ｜
Takaiwa 高岩 1.8 51.7   ｜ Sakuho, Minamisaku
Yachiho 八千穂 2.2 53.9   ◇
Kaize 海瀬 2.6 56.5   ｜
Haguroshita 羽黒下 1.3 57.8   ◇
Aonuma 青沼 1.7 59.5   ｜ Saku
Usuda 臼田 1.4 60.9   ◇
Tatsuokajō 龍岡城 1.2 62.1   ｜
Ōtabe 太田部 2.0 64.1   ｜
Nakagomi 中込 1.4 65.5   ◇
Namezu 滑津 1.0 66.5   ｜
Kita-Nakagomi 北中込 1.9 68.4   ｜
Iwamurada 岩村田 2.2 70.6   ◇
Sakudaira 佐久平 0.9 71.5 Hokuriku Shinkansen ｜
Nakasato 中佐都 0.9 72.4   ｜
Misato 美里 1.4 73.8   ｜ Komoro
Mitsuoka 三岡 1.5 75.3   ◇
Otome 乙女 1.1 76.4   ｜
Higashi-Komoro 東小諸 1.0 77.4   ｜
Komoro 小諸 1.5 78.9 Shinano Railway Line ∧

Legend

◇・∨・∧ - passing loop
｜ - no passing loop

Rolling stock
  • KiHa 110 series DMUs, since November 1991
  • KiHa E200 hybrid DMUs, since July 2007
  • A two-car KiHa 110 series train on the Koumi Line, April 2008
  • A two-car KiHa E200 series train on the Koumi Line, April 2009

Special liveries

In February 2015, to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Koumi Line, a single-car KiHa 110 series unit was repainted into the "Metropolitan" all-over red livery carried by KiHa 52 DMUs formerly used on the line.[1] This was followed in March 2015 by a two-car KiHa 110 series unit repainted into the vermillion and cream livery carried by KiHa 58 series DMUs formerly used on the line.[1]

  • Koumi Line KiHa 110-121 in "Metropolitan" all-over red livery, February 2015

History

The Saku Railway opened the section from Komoro to Haguroshita in 1915, and extended the line to Koumi in 1919. The company planned a railway network extending from Kōfu in the south to Naoetsu and Nagaoka in the north, linking up with the Fuji Minobe Railway to create a coast-to-coast rail line. North of Komoro, Saku Railway obtained a construction permit for a section between Yashiro and Suzaka, but this was transferred to the local Katō Railway (predecessor of the Nagano Electric Railway). Due to World War I construction of the line south of Koumi was not undertaken. Diesel railcars were introduced on the line in 1930.

The Koumi - Saku-Uminokuchi section was opened in 1932 by Japanese National Railways (JNR), which also opened the Kobuchizawa — Kiyosato section in 1933. The Saku Railway was nationalised in 1934, and the Saku-Uminokuchi - Kiyosato section opened in 1935, completing the line.

In July 2017, JR East launched the tourist train High Rail 1375. "1375" refers to the elevation of 1,375 m of the highest point on any JR line in Japan. The train makes the most of its backdrop, and offers unique services for day and night operations.[2]

Timeline
  • November 29, 1935: Nobeyama Station opens.
  • March 1, 1944: Kubo Station renamed Kita-Nakagomi Station. Namezu Station closed.
  • November 11, 1944: Operations stopped at Managashi, Irizawa, Ōnara, and Otome stations.
  • March 1, 1952: Second Namezu Station opens. Operations resume at Managashi, Aonuma (formerly Irizawa), Tatsuokajō (formerly Ōnara), Otome stations.
  • May 1, 1952: Ōtabe Station opens.
  • July 10, 1952: Higashi-Komoro Station opens.
  • October 1, 1959: Sakuhozumi Station renamed Yachiho Station.
  • October 1, 1963: Sandanda Station renamed Usuda Station.
  • February 1, 1984: Freight operations end.
  • July 26, 1986: Photo Deck Station opens.[3]
  • September 1, 1986: Photo Deck Station closes.
  • April 1, 1987: With the privatization and breakup of JNR, line becomes part of East Japan Railway Company (JR East).
  • December 1, 1988: Misato Station opens.
  • November 8, 1991: KiHa 110 series DMUs begin operation.
  • March 14, 1992: Driver-only operation begins.
  • October 12, 1995: Iwamurada — Nakasato section elevated.
  • October 1, 1997: Sakudaira Station opens.
  • July 31, 2007: KiHa E200 series hybrid DMUs begin operation.
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See also

References
  1. 小海線全線開通80周年記念でキハ110系塗色変更車 [KiHa 110 series trains to be repainted to mark 80th anniversary of Koumi Line opening]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing CO., Ltd. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  2. "HIGH RAIL 1375: The Tourist Train That Touches New Heights". NHK. 11 August 2017.
  3. 今井恵介監修『日本鉄道旅行地図 6号 北信越』新潮社、2008年、p.41
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