Nikkō Line

The Nikkō Line (日光線, Nikkō-sen) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) which connects Utsunomiya to Nikkō.

For the Tobu Railway line, see Tōbu Nikkō Line.
Nikkō Line
A 205 series EMU on the Nikko Line in April 2013
Overview
TypeRegional rail
LocaleTochigi Prefecture
TerminiUtsunomiya
Nikkō
Stations7
Operation
Opened1890
OwnerJR East
Rolling stock205-600 series EMUs
Technical
Line length40.5 km (25.2 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map

Both the Tobu and JR East railway stations in Nikkō are located within walking distance of each other.

Station list
  • Trains can pass each other at any station.
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total
Utsunomiya 宇都宮 - 0.0 Tohoku Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line), Shōnan-Shinjuku Line Utsunomiya Tochigi
Tsuruta 鶴田 4.8 4.8  
Kanuma 鹿沼 9.5 14.3   Kanuma
Fubasami 文挟 8.1 22.4   Nikkō
Shimotsuke-Ōsawa 下野大沢 5.8 28.2  
Imaichi 今市 5.7 33.9  
Nikkō 日光 6.6 40.5 Tōbu Nikkō Line (Tōbu-Nikkō)

Rolling stock
  • A Nikko Line 205-600 series set, March 2013

Former rolling stock

History
The handcar-operated Tochigi Prefectural Government line

The Nippon Railway Co. opened the line in 1890 and was nationalised in 1906. The line was electrified in 1959, and CTC signalling was commissioned in 1970. Freight services ceased in 1984.

Former connecting lines
  • Tsuruta Station:

The Tochigi Prefectural Government opened a 3 km 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line to Nishihara-cho in 1897, extending it 10 km to Yoshihara in 1899 and opening a 4 km branch to Tokujiro the following year. Handcar passenger services commenced on both lines from opening, operating until 1928. A 7.5 km branch from Nishihara-cho to Tateiwa was opened in 1898 to haul gravel.

In 1931, the lines were purchased by the Tobu Railway Co. which closed all bar the Tateiwa branch, which it converted to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge and built a connection to Nishi-Kawada station on the Tobu Utsunomiya Line. The Tateiwa branch ceased operation in 1961 following a landslide and was formally closed in 1964.

  • Nikko Station:

The Nikko Electric Railway Co. opened an 8 km line electrified at 600 V DC to Iwanohana between 1907 and 1913, and extended it 2 km to Umakae (approximately 300 m higher than Nikko) in 1931 to connect to a 1.2 km funicular railway that climbed 428 m which opened in 1932. In 1944, electric locomotives began hauling copper ore on the line. Freight tonnage decreased 25% between 1964 and 1966, and passenger numbers decreased by 17% over the same period, resulting in the line closing in 1968. The funicular railway closed in 1970.

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References
  1. 日光線用107系が営業運転を終了 [Nikko Line 107 series withdrawn from service]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
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