Furano Line
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Furano Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Kiha 150 Diesel Multiple Unit on the Furano Line | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 富良野線 | ||
| Status | In operation | ||
| Owner | Hokkaido Railway Company | ||
| Locale | Hokkaido, Japan | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 18 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||
| Operator(s) | Hokkaido Railway Company | ||
| Rolling stock | KiHa 150 series DMU, KiHa 183 series DMU | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 1899 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 54.8 km (34.1 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Entire line single tracked | ||
| Character | Rural | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Electrification | None | ||
| Operating speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) | ||
| |||
The Furano Line (富良野線, Furano-sen) is part of the Hokkaido Railway Company network in Hokkaidō, Japan. It connects Furano Station in the city of Furano and Asahikawa Station in the city of Asahikawa. Popular with tourists, it has recently come to serve commuters in the bedroom towns that are developing as suburbs of Asahikawa.
Former connecting lines
The Furano Line opened on September 1, 1899, as the Hokkaidō Kansetsu Railway (北海道官設鉄道, Hokkaidō Kansetsu Tetsudō), operating between Asahikawa and Biei Stations. In the next month, service extended to Kami-Furano Station, and in the following year it reached Shimo-Furano Station.
In 1909 it became part of the Nemuro Main Line from Asahikawa Station to Kushiro Station, but in 1913 it took its present name and covered the route from Asahikawa Station to Shimo-Furano Station. The eruption of Mount Tokachi on May 24, 1926, caused a protracted interruption of service between Biei and Kami-Furano. In 1942, Shimo-Furano Station changed its name to Furano Station.
On April 1, 1987, with the breakup of the Japanese National Railways, the line became part of the Hokkaido Railways. In 2007, the station-numbering plan took effect.
On November 19, 2016, JR Hokkaido's president announced plans to rationalize the network by up to 1,237 km, or ~50% of the current network,[1] including the proposed conversion to Third Sector operation of the Furano Line, but if local governments protest this decision, the line will face closure.
The private Asahikawa Electric Railway line to Higashikawa (15.5 km) branched from the Furano line south of Asahikawa station, operating from 1927 to 1973. A 6.7 km branch to Asahiyama Park operated from 1930 to 1973. Both lines were electrified at 600 V DC.
Operations
All trains are local trains within the Furano Line which operate only within the Furano Line, half covering the route between Asahikawa and Biei. Nearly all rolling stock is KiHa 150 Diesel Multiple Units. On 18 March 2023, 38 H100 series train sets were introduced to the Furano Line.
