Shinonoi Line

Shinonoi Line
300px E257 series EMU on a Rapid service between Nagano and Matsumoto, April 2008
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Nagano Prefecture
Termini	Shinonoi Shiojiri
Stations	15
Operation
Owner	JR East
Technical
Line length	66.7 km (41.4 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map 250px

The Shinonoi Line (篠ノ井線, Shinonoi-sen) is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano to Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri.

The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa and Super Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.

History

The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended through Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902.

The Shiojiri - Matsumoto section was duplicated between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa - Akashina section duplicated in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also duplicated, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988.

The Shiojiri - Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.

Former connecting lines

• Matsumoto station - The Chikuma Electric Railway Co. opened a 5km line, electrified at 600 VDC, to Asama Onsen in 1924. In 1958 the voltage was raised to 750 VDC, but the line closed in 1964.

Stations

●: All trains stop, ▲: Some trains stop, ｜: non-stop

Line name	Station	Distance (km)	Rapid service	Rapid Misuzu	Transfers	Location
Shinonoi Line	Shiojiri	0.0		●	Chūō Main Line	Shiojiri	Nagano Prefecture
	Hirooka	3.8		▲
	Murai	6.8		●		Matsumoto
	Hirata	8.8		▲
	Minami-Matsumoto	10.9		▲
	Matsumoto	13.3	●	●	Ōito Line Alpico Kōtsū Kamikōchi Line
	Tazawa	21.6	●	●		Azumino
	Akashina	28.2	●	●
	Nishijō	37.2	●	●		Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District
	Sakakita	40.9	●	●
	Hijiri-Kōgen	45.0	●	●		Omi, Higashi­chikuma District
	Kamuriki	48.3	▲	▲		Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District
	Obasute	54.2	▲	▲		Chikuma
	Inariyama	62.9	▲	▲		Nagano
	Shinonoi	66.7	●	●	Shinano Railway Line
Shin'etsu Main Line
	Imai	68.8	｜	▲
	Kawanakajima	71.0	▲	●
	Amori	73.1	｜	▲
	Nagano	76.0	●	●	Hokuriku Shinkansen Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line Nagano Electric Railway Nagano Line

Passing loops and switchbacks

Hirase loop

A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as Hirase shingōjō (平瀬信号場). It has two tracks.

• Coordinates:

Haneo switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Haneo shingōjō (羽尾信号場)

• Coordinates:

Kuwanohara switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Kuwanohara shingōjō (桑ノ原信号場)

• Coordinates:

• 

  Hirase loop (A: to Matsumoto, B: to Tazawa)

• Railway Switchback 1.svg

  Haneo switchback (A: to Kamuriki (uphill), B: to Obasute)

• Railway Switchback 1.svg

  Kuwanohara switchback (A: to Obasute (uphill), B: to Inariyama)

Rolling stock

Limited express

• E257 series (Azusa, Kaiji)
• E351 series (Super Azusa)
• 383 series (Wide view Shinano)

• JRE E257 1.JPG

  JR East E257 series EMU, July 2005

• 

  JR Central 383 series EMU on a Shinano service

Local

• 115 series
• 123 series
• 313 series

Former rolling stock

• 381 series (Shinano)

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.