Kure Line

The 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 Kaitaichi Station, most trains operate from Hiro Station through Kaitaichi Station to Hiroshima Station or Iwakuni Station.

Special trains

File:JRW-115-2000EC-hiroshima.jpg

A 115 series train on an Akiji liner Rapid Service

• Akiji Liner: Runs the section between Hiroshima Station to Kure Station in about 30 minutes.
• etSETOta: Sightseeing train operated since October 1, 2005. Renamed from Setouchi Marine View in 2019.

Stations

The Kure Line is entirely within Hiroshima Prefecture.

Line	No.	Name	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
Kure Line	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		0.0	File:Shinkansen jrw.svg Sanyō Shinkansen File:JRW oka-X.svg File:JRW hiro-G.svg Sanyō Main Line	Mihara
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		5.1
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		11.8
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		17.2		Takehara
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		20.0
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		21.8
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		25.3
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		30.0
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		34.7		Higashihiroshima
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		37.9
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		44.2		Kure
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		48.7
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		52.8
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		57.6
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		60.2
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		61.5
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		62.9
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		67.0
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		68.7
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		71.0
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		72.2
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		74.3
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		75.6
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		77.1		Saka, Aki District
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		79.3
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		81.8
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		84.4		Aki-ku, Hiroshima
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		87.0	File:JRW hiro-G.svg Sanyō Main Line	Kaita, Aki District
Sanyō Main Line
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		89.3		Fuchū, Aki District
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		91.1		Minami-ku, Hiroshima
	Template:RouteBox	Template:STN		93.4	File:Shinkansen jrw.svg San'yō Shinkansen File:JRW hiro-R.svg Sanyō Main Line File:JRW hiro-P.svg Geibi Line Hiroden Main Line; ■ Route 1, ■ 2, ■ 5, ■ 6;

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 - Sunami 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 later renamed to Yasuura 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.