Kishin Line

Kishin Line
A Himeji-bound KiHa 127 series train
Overview
Native name姫新線
StatusIn operation
LocaleHyōgo Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture
Termini
  • Himeji
  • Niimi
Stations36
Service
Operator(s)Logo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West
Rolling stockKiHa 40 series DMU, KiHa 120 series DMU, KiHa 122/127 series DMU
History
Opened21 August 1923; 101 years ago (1923-08-21)
Technical
Line length158.1 km (98.2 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph) (Himeji–Kōzuki)
85 km/h (53 mph) (Kōzuki–Niimi)

Kishin Line (姫新線, Kishin-sen) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Himeji, Hyōgo and Niimi, Okayama, Japan. The name of the line comes from the first kanji of Himeji () and Niimi () which the line connects.

Stations

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  • S: Trains stop
  • s: Some trains stop
  • |: Trains pass
Name Distance (km) Rapid Transfers Location
Himeji 姫路 0.0    

Sanyō Shinkansen
Sanyō Main Line (JR Kobe Line)
Bantan Line
SY Sanyo Railway Main Line (SY 43: Sanyo Himeji)

Himeji Hyōgo
Harima-Takaoka 播磨高岡 3.8      
Yobe 余部 6.1      
Ōichi 太市 9.9      
Hon-Tatsuno 本竜野 14.9       Tatsuno
Higashi-Hashisaki 東觜崎 17.8      
Harima-Shingū 播磨新宮 22.1      
Sembon 千本 27.6      
Nishi-Kurisu 西栗栖 31.2      
Mikazuki 三日月 36.6       Sayō,
Sayō District
Harima-Tokusa 播磨徳久 42.5      
Sayo 佐用 45.9 S   Chizu Express Chizu Line
Kōzuki 上月 50.9 S    
Mimasaka-Doi 美作土居 57.6 s     Mimasaka Okayama
Mimasaka-Emi 美作江見 63.0 S    
Narahara 楢原 66.4 s    
Hayashino 林野 70.4 S    
Katsumada 勝間田 74.3 S     Shōō,
Katsuta District
Nishi-Katsumada 西勝間田 77.3 s    
Mimasaka-Ōsaki 美作大崎 79.3 s     Tsuyama
Higashi-Tsuyama 東津山 83.7 S   Inbi Line
Tsuyama 津山 86.3 S S Tsuyama Line
Innoshō 院庄 90.8   s  
Mimasaka-Sendai 美作千代 95.6   S  
Tsuboi 坪井 98.3   S  
Mimasaka-Oiwake 美作追分 103.9     Maniwa
Mimasaka-Ochiai 美作落合 110.9   S  
Komi 古見 114.6   s  
Kuse 久世 118.9   S  
Chūgoku-Katsuyama 中国勝山 123.8   S  
Tsukida 月田 128.6   S  
Tomihara 富原 134.7   s  
Osakabe 刑部 141.2   S   Niimi
Tajibe 丹治部 145.0   s  
Iwayama 岩山 149.8   s  
Niimi 新見 158.1   S

Hakubi Line
Geibi Line

Rolling stock

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New KiHa 122 and KiHa 127 series diesel multiple units (DMUs) were introduced on the line between Himeji and Kōzuki from spring 2009. Journey times were reduced from spring 2010 after the entire fleet of new trains had been delivered.[1]

History

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The first section of the line opened was from Tsuyama to the north in 1923, and the line was progressively extended until it reached Niimi in 1929. The section from Himeji opened in stages from 1930, and the line was completed in 1936.

CTC signalling was commissioned in 1986, and freight services ceased the following year.

Former connecting lines

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  • Shingu Station: The Tatsuno Electric Railway Co. opened a 17 km 1,435 mm gauge line electrified at 600 V DC from Shingu-Cho to Aboshiko between 1909 and 1915 which connected at this station, as well as the Sanyo Main Line at Aboshi. The line closed in 1934.

References

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  1. ^ キハ122、127系気動車の新製投入について Archived 2009-01-15 at the Wayback Machine, JR West press release, 26 August 2008. Retrieved on 27 August 2008. (in Japanese)