Tōhoku Main Line

The Tōhoku Main Line (Template:Langx) is a Template:Convert railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The line starts from Tokyo Station in Chiyoda, Tokyo and passes through such cities as Saitama, Utsunomiya, Fukushima, and Sendai, before reaching the end of the line in Morioka. The line originally extended to Aomori, but was truncated upon the extension of the Tōhoku Shinkansen beyond Morioka, which mostly parallels the Tōhoku Main Line. A portion of the Tōhoku Main Line is also shared with the Keihin–Tōhoku Line (Template:Convert between Tokyo Station and Ōmiya Station in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama) and the Saikyō Line (Template:Convert between Akabane Station in the Kita ward of Tokyo and Ōmiya Station).

The Template:Convert portion of the line between Tokyo Station and Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi is referred to by JR East as the Utsunomiya Line, and the remaining section is referred to as the Tōhoku Line in regular service. Because of the difference in electrification south (1,500 V DC) and north (20 kV AC) of Kuroiso, there are no regularly scheduled passenger services that travel through that station.

Station list

These lists are separated by service patterns provided on the Tōhoku Main Line.

Tokyo – Kuroiso

The section between Template:STN and Template:STN is known as the Utsunomiya Line.

Kuroiso – Shin-Shirakawa

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Transfers	Location
Template:STN		163.3	Template:JRLS Utsunomiya Line	Nasushiobara	Tochigi Prefecture
Template:STN		167.3	Template:Dash	Nasu
Template:STN		171.5
Template:STN		176.7
Template:STN		182.0		Shirakawa	Fukushima Prefecture
Shin-Shirakawa		185.4	Template:Ric	Nishigo

Shin-Shirakawa – Fukushima

All stations are located in Fukushima Prefecture.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Transfers	Location
Template:STN		185.4	Template:Ric	Nishigo
Template:STN		188.2		Shirakawa
Template:STN		192.9
Template:STN		197.4		Izumizaki
Template:STN		203.4		Yabuki
Template:STN		208.8		Kagamiishi
Template:STN		215.1		Sukagawa
Template:STN		221.8	Template:Rcb	Kōriyama
Kōriyama		226.7	Template:Plainlist
Template:STN		232.4
Template:STN		236.9		Motomiya
Template:STN		240.7
Template:STN		246.6		Nihonmatsu
Template:STN		250.3
Template:STN		254.5
Template:STN	松川	259.5		Fukushima
Template:STN		264.0
Template:STN		269.4
Fukushima		272.8	Template:Plainlist

Fukushima – Sendai

• ●: All rapid trains stop
• |: All rapid trains pass

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Rapid	Transfers	Location
Fukushima		272.8	Through to Sendai Airport Line	Template:Plainlist	Fukushima	Fukushima Prefecture
Template:STN		278.8
Template:STN		281.9			Date
Template:STN		285.9			Koori
Template:STN		289.3			Kunimi
Template:STN		294.9
Kosugō		298.6			Shiroishi	Miyagi Prefecture
Shiroishi		306.8
Higashi-Shiroishi		311.0
Kita-Shirakawa		315.3
Ōgawara		320.1			Ōgawara
Funaoka		323.1			Shibata
Tsukinoki		327.7		Abukuma Express Line
Iwanuma		334.2		Template:Colorbull Jōban Line	Iwanuma
Tatekoshi		337.9		Template:Colorbull Jōban Line	Natori
Natori		341.4	●	Template:Plainlist
Minami-Sendai		344.1	|	Template:Colorbull Jōban Line	Taihaku-ku, Sendai
Taishidō		346.3	|	Template:Colorbull Jōban Line
Nagamachi		347.3	|	Template:Plainlist
Sendai		351.8	●	Template:Plainlist	Aoba-ku, Sendai

Sendai – Ichinoseki

Legends:

• ●: All rapid trains stop
• |: All rapid trains pass
• ‖: Senseki-Tōhoku Line trains do not travel on this section

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Senseki-Tōhoku Line			Transfers	Location
			Rapid		Special Rapid
			Green	Red
Sendai		351.8	●	●	●	Template:Plainlist	Aoba-ku, Sendai	Miyagi Prefecture
Higashi-Sendai		355.8	●	|	|		Miyagino-ku, Sendai
Iwakiri		359.9	●	|	|
Shin-Rifu		2.5 (from Iwakiri)	‖	‖	‖	Branch line from Iwakiri	Rifu
Rifu		4.2 (from Iwakiri)	‖	‖	‖
Rikuzen-Sannō		362.2	●	|	|		Tagajō
Kokufu-Tagajō		363.5	●	|	|
Shiogama		365.2	●	●	●	Template:Colorbull Senseki-Tōhoku Line	Shiogama
Matsushima		375.2	Senseki-Tōhoku Line (for Template:Colorbull Senseki Line)				Matsushima
Atago		377.2
Shinainuma		381.6
Kashimadai		386.6					Ōsaki
Matsuyama-Machi		391.5
Kogota		395.0				Template:Plainlist	Misato
Tajiri		401.1					Ōsaki
Semine		407.8					Kurihara
Umegasawa		411.5					Tome
Nitta		416.2
Ishikoshi		423.5
Yushima		427.0					Ichinoseki	Iwate Prefecture
Hanaizumi		431.2
Template:STN	清水原	434.4
Arikabe	有壁	437.8					Kurihara	Miyagi Prefecture
Ichinoseki		445.1				Template:Plainlist	Ichinoseki	Iwate Prefecture

Ichinoseki – Morioka

All stations are located in Iwate Prefecture.

• ●: All rapid trains stop
• |: All rapid trains pass

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Rapid Hamayuri	Transfers	Location
Ichinoseki		445.1		Template:Plainlist	Ichinoseki
Template:STN		448.0
Hiraizumi	平泉	452.3			Hiraizumi
Maesawa		459.9			Ōshū
Template:STN		465.1
Mizusawa		470.1
Kanegasaki		477.7			Kanegasaki
Template:STN		481.1
Kitakami		487.5		Template:Plainlist	Kitakami
Template:STN		492.2
Hanamaki		500.0	●	Template:Colorbull Kamaishi Line (some through services)	Hanamaki
Template:STN		505.7	|
Template:STN		511.4	|
Template:STN		516.8	|		Shiwa
Template:STN		518.6	|
Template:STN		521.5	|
Template:STN	矢幅	525.1	●		Yahaba
Template:STN		529.6	|		Morioka
Template:STN		533.5	|
Morioka		535.3	●	Template:Plainlist

Rolling stock

Tokyo – Kuroiso

• E231-1000 series EMUs
• E233-3000 series EMUs
• E131-600/-680 series EMUs

Previously

• 205-600 series EMUs

From March 2013, a fleet of eight refurbished 4-car 205-600 series EMUs was phased in on Utsunomiya Line services between Koganei and Kuroiso, replacing 211 series sets.

• An E231-1000 series EMU
  An E231-1000 series EMU
• An E233-3000 series EMU
  An E233-3000 series EMU
• A 205-600 series EMU
  A 205-600 series EMU

Kuroiso – Shin-Shirakawa

• E531-3000 series EMUs

Shin-Shirakawa – Ichinoseki

• 701 series EMUs
• 719 series EMUs
• E721 series/ SAT721 series EMUs
• HB-E210 series DMUs - Senseki-Tōhoku Line

Ichinoseki – Morioka

• 701 series EMUs

• 701 series (Sendai-based)
  701 series (Sendai-based)
• 701 series (Morioka-based)
  701 series (Morioka-based)
• 719 series
  719 series
• E721 series (right) and SAT721 series (left)
  E721 series (right) and SAT721 series (left)
• HB-E210 series hybrid DMU
  HB-E210 series hybrid DMU

History

Template:More citations needed section The construction of the Tōhoku Main Line began in the Kantō region and extended to the north end of Honshu, and the city of Aomori. It is one of oldest railway lines in Japan, with construction beginning in the late 19th century. Until 1 November 1906, the current Tōhoku Main Line was run by a private company Nippon Railway.

In 1883, the first segment between Ueno and Kumagaya opened. In 1885, it was extended to Utsunomiya, but the Tone River had to be crossed by boat. Following construction of the Tone River Bridge in 1886, Utsunomiya and Ueno were directly connected. The line gradually extended further to the north; to Kōriyama, Sendai, Ichinoseki and Morioka. In 1891, the segment between Morioka and Aomori opened, creating the longest continuous railway line in Japan.

After 1906, the line was nationalized and became the Tōhoku Main Line operated by the Ministry of Railways. When Tokyo Station opened in 1925, the Tōhoku Main Line was extended from Ueno to the new station. Until the 1950s, this segment was used and many trains ran through both the Tōkaidō Main Line and Tōhoku Main Line. However, when the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened, it occupied land previously used for the tracks of mid and long-distance Tōhoku Main Line trains. As a result, only a small number of commuter lines such as the Keihin–Tōhoku Line now operate to Tokyo from the north, making Tokyo Station's status as part of the Tōhoku Main Line somewhat circumspect.

In 2002, the Tōhoku Shinkansen was extended from Morioka to Hachinohe and the operations of the local track segment between those two cities was turned over to Iwate Ginga Railway (IGR) and Aoimori Railway. With the extension of the Tōhoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori station in 2010, the segment between Hachinohe and Aomori was delegated to the Aoimori Railway Company. The shortened Tōhoku Main Line is now the second-longest line in Japan, after the Sanin Main Line.

With the opening of the Ueno–Tokyo Line in March 2015, most longer distance trains once again operate directly through to the Tōkaidō Main Line via Tokyo Station, with the exception of some rush hour trains which terminate at Ueno Station.

Double-tracking

The Tokyo to Omiya section was double-tracked between 1892 and 1896, extended to Furukawa in 1908, Koyama the following year, and to Utsunomiya in 1913.

The Iwanuma - Sendai - Iwakiri section was double-tracked between 1920 & 1923 and the Utsunomiya - Iwanuma section between 1959 and 1964. The Iwakiri - Morioka - Aomori section was double-tracked between 1951 and 1968, including the Template:Convert realigned section between Iwakiri and Atago in 1962.

Electrification

The Template:Convert Tokyo to Tabata section was electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1909, extended to Akabane in 1928, Omiya in 1932 and Kuroiso in 1959. Electrification was then continued north at 20 kV AC, reaching Fukushima in 1960, Sendai in 1961, Morioka in 1965, and Aomori in 1968.

Former connecting lines

File:Bushu Railway.JPG

The staff of the Bushu Railway in 1927

File:Gasoline railcar used in Kakuda Tramway.jpg

The railcar used on the Tsukinoki to Tateyama line

File:Matsuyama Jinsha-Kido.jpg

The Matsushima-Machi handcar tramway

File:KuriharaDenenTetsudo2006-4.jpg

A train on the Kurihara Railway in April 2006

Saitama Prefecture

• Hasuda Station: The Bushu Railway operated a Template:Convert line to Kamine from 1924 until 1938.

Tochigi Prefecture

• Mamada Station: A Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge handcar line to Omoigawa operated between 1899 and 1917.
• Hoshakuji Station: A Template:Convert line servicing the Utsunomiya Army Airfield operated between 1942 and 1945.
• Ujiie Station: An Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge handcar line operated to Kitsuregawa between 1902 and 1918.
• Yaita Station: The Tobu Railway opened the Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge Tobu Yaita Line to Shin Takatoku (on the Tobu Kinugawa Line) on 1 March 1924. The line was converted to Template:Track gauge gauge in 1929, and closed on 30 June 1959.
• Nishi-Nasuno Station: A Template:Convert line was opened by the Shiobara Railway to Shiobara in 1912. The line was electrified at 550 V DC in 1921, and closed in 1936. The Higashino Railway opened a Template:Convert line to Nasu Ogawa between 1918 and 1924, the line closing in 1968. At Otawara Station, it connected with the Template:Track gauge horse-drawn tramway mentioned below for the three years they were both open. A Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge handcar line to Otawara opened in 1908. In 1917, it was converted to a horse-drawn tramway, but closed in 1921. At Otawara Station, it connected with the Higashino Railway line mentioned above.

Fukushima Prefecture

• Shirakawa Station: A Template:Convert line to Iwaki Tanakura (on the Suigun Line) was opened by the Shirotana Railway in 1916. The line was nationalized in 1941, and closed in 1944. Plans to reopen the line in 1953 resulted in a decision to convert the line to a dedicated busway, which opened in 1957.
• Koriyama Station: The Fukushima Prefectural Government operated a Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge line to Miharu between 1891 and 1914.
• Matsukawa Station: A Template:Convert line to Iwashiro Kawamata operated from 1926 until 1972.

Miyagi Prefecture

• The Miyagi Prefectural Government operated the following three lines, all utilising Template:Track gauge gauge track:
  • Ogawara Station: a Template:Convert line to Toogatta opened between 1917 and 1922, and closed in 1937.
  • Tsukinoki Station: a Template:Convert line to Tateyama, opened in 1899 as a horse-drawn tramway. Steam locomotion was introduced in 1917, and the line closed in 1929.
  • Natori Station: a Template:Convert line to Yurage, operated from 1926 until 1939.
• Nagamachi Station: A Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge horse-drawn tramway was opened to Akiu Onsen in 1912. In 1925, the Akiho Electric Railway converted the line to Template:Track gauge gauge and electrified it at 600 V DC. The line closed in 1961.
• Kofuku-Tagajo Station: When the Tōhoku Main Line was realigned in 1956, the original line to Shiogama Wharf (on the Senseki Line) remained in place as a freight-only line, closing in 1997.
• Matsushima Station: The Miyagi Prefectural Government operated a Template:Convert, Template:Gauge gauge line to Matsushima Kaigan, electrified at 550 V DC, between 1922 and 1944.
• Matsushima-Machi Station: A Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge handcar line operated between 1923 and 1930.
• Kogota Station: Prior to the opening of the Rikuu East Line, a Template:Convert Template:Track gauge gauge horse-drawn tramway operated to Furukawa between 1900 and 1913.
• Semine Station: The Senpoku Railway operated a Template:Convert Template:Gauge gauge line from Tome to Tsukidate between 1921 and 1968.
• Ishikoshi Station: The Kurihara Den'en Railway Line operated between 1921 and 2007.

Iwate Prefecture

• Hanamaki Station: An Template:Convert Template:Gauge gauge line to Nishinamari Onsen was opened in 1915 by the Hanamaki Electric Railway, which then opened a second line, 8 km to Hanamaki Onsen in 1925. Both lines were electrified at 600 V DC. The latter closed in 1972, and the former in 1976.

Aomori Prefecture

• Hachinohe Station: The Gonohe Electric Railway operated a Template:Convert line (not electrified, despite the company name) to Gonohe between 1929 and 1969.
• Misawa Station: The Towada Kanko Electric Railway Line operated between 1922 and 2012.
• Noheji Station: The Nanbu Jūkan Railway opened a Template:Convert line to Shichinohe in 1962. Freight services ceased in 1984, and the line closed in 1997.

See also

• Utsunomiya Line
• Takasaki Line
• Shōnan–Shinjuku Line
• Ueno–Tokyo Line