Kure Line

The Kure Line (呉線, Kuresen) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) within Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan. It begins at Mihara Station in Mihara and terminates at Kaitaichi Station in Kaita. It is one of the main lines of JR West. The section between Mihara Station to Hiro Station is branded the "Setouchi Sazanami Line" (Seto Inland Sea Ripple Line) as the sightseeing line. On the section between Mihara Station and Hiro Station, most trains operate from Hiro Station through Mihara Station to Itozaki Station. On the section between Hiro Station and Kaitaich Station, most trains operate from Hiro Station through Kaitaichi Station to Hiroshima Station or Iwakuni Station.

Line data

• Operator: West Japan Railway Company (Class-1 railroad)
• Official line length: 87.0 km
• Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Stations: 28 (including Mihara Station and Kaitaichi Station)
• Double track: none (entirely single track)
• Electrified sections: all (1,500 V DC overhead)
• Closure system: Special automatic closure type (track circuit detection)
• Speed limit: 95 km/h (60 mph)
• Operational command: Hiroshima Integrated Command Center

Special trains

A 115 series train on an Akiji Liner service

• Akiji Liner: Runs the section between Hiroshima Station to Kure Station in about 30 minutes.
• Setouchi Marine View: Sightseeing train operated since October 1, 2005

Stations

Name	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
Mihara	三原	0.0	Sanyō Shinkansen, Sanyō Main Line	Mihara	Hiroshima
Sunami	須波	5.1
Akisaizaki	安芸幸崎	11.8
Tadanoumi	忠海	17.2		Takehara
Akinagahama	安芸長浜	20.0
Ōnori	大乗	21.8
Takehara	竹原	25.3
Yoshina	吉名	30.0
Akitsu	安芸津]]	34.7		Higashihiroshima
Kazahaya	風早	37.9
Yasuura	安浦	44.2		Kure
Ato	安登	48.7
Akikawajiri	安芸川尻	52.8
Nigata	仁方	57.6
Hiro	広	60.2
Shin-Hiro	新広	61.5
Akiaga	安芸阿賀	62.9
Kure	呉	67.0
Kawaraishi	川原石	68.7
Yoshiura	吉浦	71.0
Karugahama	かるが浜	72.2
Tennō	天応	74.3
Kure-Portopia	呉ポートピア	75.6
Koyaura	小屋浦	77.1		Saka, Aki District
Mizushiri	水尻	79.3
Saka	坂	81.8
Yano	矢野	84.4		Aki-ku, Hiroshima
Kaitaichi	海田市	87.0	Sanyō Main Line	Kaita, Aki District

Rolling stock

New 2- and 3-car 227 series electric trains are scheduled to be introduced on the Kure Line from around 2015, replacing older 115 series trains.

History

The Kaitashi - Kure section was opened as a private line in 1903, and leased to the Sanyo Railway Co. the following year, before being nationalised in 1906. Individual section opening dates are given below.

The Mihara - Sumani section opened in 1930, and the two sections were connected in 1935. Work to duplicate the line at Kure commenced in 1940, but was abandoned due to material shortages in 1945.

The entire line was electrified in 1970, and freight services ceased in 1986.

Kure Line

• Opened the line between Kaitaichi Station to Kure Station including Yano Station, Saka Station, Tennō Station and Yoshiura Station on December 27, 1903.
• Opened temporary station (Hamasaki Station) on July 28, 1904.
• Rent for Sanyo Railway from December 1, 1904.
• Nationalized from December 1, 1906.
• Named "Kure Line" as one of national rail ways on October 12, 1909.
• Opened Koyaura Station and Closed Hamasaki Station on May 1, 1914.
• Opened temporary station (Akihamasaki Station) on July 21, 1926.
• Opened temporary station (Karyugahama Station) on July 7, 1928.
• Extended the line from Kure Station to Hiro Station and opened Akiaga Station and Hiro Station on March 24, 1935.

Sango Line

• Opened Sango Line between Mihara Station to Sunami Station on March 19, 1930.
• Extended the line from Sunami Station to Akisaizaki Station on April 28, 1931.
• Extended the line from Akisaizaki Station to Takehara Station including Tadanoumi Station and Ōnori Station on July 10, 1932.
• Extended the line from Takehara Station to Mitsuuchinoumi Station including Yoshina Station, Akimitsu Station and Kazahaya Station on January 17, 1935.

Integration

• Integrated Sango Line into Kure Line and opened Ato Station, Akikawajiri Station, Nigata Station and Kawaraishi Station on November 24, 1935.

After integration

• Closed Kawaraishi Station on December 1, 1940.
• Renamed Mitsuuchinoumi Station to Yasuura Station on May 1, 1946.
• Renamed Akimitsu Station to Akitsu Station on December 20, 1949.
• Re-opened Kawaraishi Station on August 1, 1958.
• Closed temporary stations (Karyugahama Station and Akihamasaki Station) on August 1, 1967.
• Electrified the rail way on September 15, 1970.
• Stopped cargo services on December 1, 1986.
• Privatized as JR West on April 1, 1987.
• Opened Kure-Portopia Station on March 19, 1992.
• Opened Akinagahama Station on October 1, 1994.
• Opened Karugahama Station and Mizushiri Station and moved Kawaraishi Station on February 7, 1999.
• Opened Shinhiro Station on March 23, 2002.

References

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