Karasuyama Line
Railway line in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Karasuyama Line (烏山線, Karasuyama-sen) is a railway line in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Hōshakuji in the town of Takanezawa with Karasuyama in Nasukarasuyama.
| Karasuyama Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
An EV-E301 series BEMU on the Karasuyama Line in October 2023 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 烏山線 | ||
| Status | In operation | ||
| Owner |  JR East | ||
| Locale | Tochigi Prefecture | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 8 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Regional rail | ||
| Operator | JR East | ||
| Rolling stock | EV-E301 series BEMU | ||
| History | |||
| Opened | 15 April 1923 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 20.4 km (12.7 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Single tracked | ||
| Character | Fairly rural | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Electrification | None | ||
| Operating speed | 65 km/h (40 mph) | ||
| |||
Services
All services on the line are Local trains, stopping at every station.
Trains run approximately once every hour during morning & evening peak hours and every 2 hours during the interpeak. All trains operate a through service to/from Utsunomiya via the Utsunomiya Line (Tohoku Main Line) - except during evening peak hours when trains terminate/commence at Hōshakuji between 16:00 & 19:30.[1]
Stations
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations |
Total | ||||
| ↑ All trains (except during evening peak) operate a through service to/from Utsunomiya via the Utsunomiya Line ↑ | |||||
| Hōshakuji | 宝積寺 | - | 0.0 |  Utsunomiya Line |
Takanezawa, Shioya District |
| Shimotsuke-Hanaoka | 下野花岡 | 3.9 | 3.9 | ||
| Niita | 仁井田 | 2.0 | 5.9 | ||
| Kōnoyama | 鴻野山 | 2.4 | 8.3 | Nasukarasuyama | |
| Ōgane | 大金 | 4.4 | 12.7 | ||
| Kobana | 小塙 | 2.6 | 15.3 | ||
| Taki | 滝 | 2.2 | 17.5 | ||
| Karasuyama | 烏山 | 2.9 | 20.4 | ||
Rolling stock
- EV-E301 series 2-car BEMU (since 15 March 2014)
From the start of the revised timetable on 15 March 2014, a new EV-E301 series two-car battery electric multiple unit (BEMU) was introduced on the Karasuyama Line and Tohoku Main Line between Utsunomiya and Karasuyama.[2] Developed from the experimental "Smart Denchi-kun" battery electric railcar also tested on this line since 2012, the EV-E301 series train is recharged at a special recharging facility built at Karasuyama Station, and operates on battery power over the non-electrified Karasuyama Line tracks.[3]
All of the remaining KiHa 40 series diesel trains used on the line were withdrawn on 3 March 2017, and replaced with EV-E301 series battery electric units from the start of the revised timetable on 4 March 2017.[4]
EV-E301 series BEMU set
Former rolling stock
- KiHa 40 series DMUs (until 3 March 2017)
A KiHa 40-1000 series DMU in January 2011
History
The line opened on 15 April 1923.[5] With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 1 April 1987, the line came under the control of JR East.[5]
Wanman driver only operation commenced on the line on 10 March 1990, using KiHa 40 series DMUs.[6]
