Agatsuma Line
Template:Short description Template:Infobox rail line
The Script error: No such module "Nihongo". is a local rail line in Gunma, Japan, and is part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network. Approximately following the Agatsuma River, it is 55.6 km between Template:STN and Template:STN stations.
Operations
Although the official start of the line is at Shibukawa, all trains run through on the Jōetsu Line to/from either Template:STN or Template:STN.[1]
Local trains run approximately once every hour, terminating at either Template:STN or Template:STN.[1]
Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima[2] trains operate between Template:STN in Tokyo and Template:STN on the Agatsuma Line, stopping only at Template:STN and Template:STN. Depending on the day of the week, between 2 and 4 round trips operate each day, operating towards Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi in the morning, and towards Ueno in the afternoon.[1]
Stations
All stations are in the Gunma Prefecture. Local trains stop at all stations.
Legend:
- ● : Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima stops
- ｜: Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima does not stop
- ∥ : Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima does not travel within this section
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations |
Total | |||||
| Template:STN | 渋川 | 0.0 | ● | Jōetsu Line (all trains through service to Template:STN or Template:STN) | Shibukawa | |
| Template:STN | 金島 | 5.5 | 5.5 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 祖母島 | 2.2 | 7.7 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 小野上 | 4.2 | 11.9 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 小野上温泉 | 1.8 | 13.7 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 市城 | 2.3 | 16.4 | ｜ | Nakanojō, Agatsuma District | |
| Template:STN | 中之条 | 3.4 | 19.8 | ● | ||
| Template:STN | 群馬原町 | 3.1 | 22.9 | ｜ | Higashiagatsuma, Agatsuma District | |
| Template:STN | 郷原 | 3.4 | 26.3 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 矢倉 | 1.7 | 28.0 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 岩島 | 2.5 | 30.5 | ｜ | ||
| Template:STN | 川原湯温泉 | 5.9 | 36.4 | ｜ | Naganohara, Agatsuma District | |
| Template:STN | 長野原草津口 | 5.9 | 42.3 | ● | ||
| Template:STN | 群馬大津 | 2.2 | 44.5 | ∥ | ||
| Template:STN | 羽根尾 | 2.2 | 46.7 | ∥ | ||
| Template:STN | 袋倉 | 2.9 | 49.6 | ∥ | Tsumagoi, Agatsuma District | |
| Template:STN | 万座・鹿沢口 | 2.9 | 52.5 | ∥ | ||
| Template:STN | 大前 | 3.1 | 55.6 | ∥ | ||
Rolling stock
Present
- 211-3000 series 4-car EMUs (since August 2016)
- E257-5000 series
- E257-5500 series
Former
- 115-1000 series 4-car EMUs (until March 2018)
- 185 series 7-car EMUs (Kusatsu limited express services until March 2014)
- 651-1000 series
Four-car 211 series EMUs entered service on the line from 22 August 2016.[3]
-
A 211-3000 series EMU
History
The line opened on 2 January 1945 as the freight-only Script error: No such module "Nihongo". operating between Template:STN and Script error: No such module "Nihongo". (present-day Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station).[4] Passenger services were introduced as far as Template:STN from 5 August 1945, to Template:STN from 20 November 1945, and to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi from 20 April 1946.[4]
On 1 October 1952, the line was extended to Script error: No such module "Nihongo"., initially for freight only, but passengers services were also introduced from 21 June 1954.[4] Freight services between Shibukawa and Ōshi ceased as of 1 October 1966.[4]
Services on the section between Naganohara and Ōshi were suspended as of 1 November 1970, and on 7 March 1971, a new line was opened beyond Naganohara to Template:STN, with the entire line renamed Agatsuma Line at the same time.[4] The Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi to Ōshi line was formally closed as of 1 May 1971.[4] CTC signalling on the entire line was also commissioned at the same time.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, the Agatsuma Line came under the ownership of JR East.[4]
It had been proposedTemplate:When to extend the line to Nagano, but geological exploratory drilling revealed extensive faulting beyond Ōmae, and as any extension would have required extensive tunnelling, this was considered impractical.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
Yamba Dam construction
The construction of the Yamba Dam required the realignment of the Agatsuma line between Template:STN and Template:STN. Work on the diversion was well advanced when a change of government in 2009 resulted in the project being halted. Another change of government in 2012 revived the project. Services on the old section of the line were suspended following the last scheduled service on 24 September 2014 to allow commissioning of the new alignment.[5] The new alignment opened for passenger services on 1 October 2014.[5] The new route is Template:Convert shorter, resulting in the shortest tunnel in Japan, the Template:Convert Tarusawa Tunnel, being abandoned, although it is not inundated by the new dam.[6][7]
Points of interest
The Agatsuma Line is noted for numerous onsen hot springs along the route. The famous hot springs at Kusatsu are some distance north of the line, but several rural onsen such as those at Shima, Sawatari, Kawarayu, and Shiriyaki are more accessible.
Mount Asama, Mount Kusatsu-Shirane, and the Agatsuma Canyon can all be seen from the Agatsuma Line, though the canyon will be inundated when the Yamba Dam is commissioned.
References
Template:East Japan Railway Company Lines
- ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d e f g Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ "Japan’s shortest railway tunnel sees its last days", AsiaOne, September 19, 2014.
- ↑ "Farewell to Japan’s shortest rail tunnel", Nippon TV, September 25, 2014 (video).