Tazawako Line

Tazawako Line
Tazawako Line
	Series E6 Shinkansen EMU runs on Tazawako Line
Overview
Native name	田沢湖線
Locale	Iwate, Akita prefectures
Termini	Morioka; Ōmagari;
Stations	18
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	701 series
History
Opened	25 June 1921; 104 years ago
Technical
Line length	75.6 km (47.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	20,000 V AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Tōhoku
	Shinkansen
	Tōhoku
	Main Line
	Tōhoku
	Shinkansen
	Iwate Galaxy
	Railway Line
	closed
	1944
	Sengan
	Tunnel
	3.915 mi
	6.301 km
	Iwate Prefecture
	Akita Prefecture
	Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway
	Akita Nairiku Line
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Tazawako Line (田沢湖線, Tazawako-sen) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) connecting Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate and Ōmagari Station in Daisen, Akita, Japan.

Akita Shinkansen Komachi trains travel over the line, which was regauged in 1997 from 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in).

History

The section from Morioka to Shizukuishi opened on 25 June 1921, as the Hashiba Light Railway (橋場軽便), and was extended to Hashiba on 2 September 1922.^[1] Services to Hashiba Station ended in the 1940s.

The Omagari - Jindai section was opened in 1921 and extended to Tazawako in 1923.

In 1964, the Shizukuishi to Akabuchi section opened, and upon completion of the 3,915 m (2.433 mi) Sengan Tunnel, the Akabuchi to Tazawako section opened on 20 October 1966, completing the line.^[1]

Freight services ceased in 1982, the year the entire line was electrified.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, the line was converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge, and became part of the Akita Shinkansen, with standard-gauge electric multiple unit (EMU) trains providing local services on the line.

In January 2022 it was announced that Maegata Station would be added between Morioka Station and Ōkama Station.^[2] Maegata station opened for service on 18 March 2023.

Station list

Station	Distance (km) from Morioka	Transfers	Location
Morioka	0.0	Akita Shinkansen Tōhoku Shinkansen Tōhoku Main Line Yamada Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line	Morioka	Iwate Prefecture
Maegata	3.4		Morioka
Ōkama	6.0		Takizawa
Koiwai	10.5		Takizawa
Shizukuishi	16.0	Akita Shinkansen	Shizukuishi
Harukiba	18.7
Akabuchi	22.0
Tazawako	40.1	Akita Shinkansen	Senboku	Akita Prefecture
Sashimaki	44.4
Jindai	52.8
Shōden	55.3
Kakunodate	58.8	Akita Shinkansen Akita Nairiku Line
Uguisuno	61.6		Daisen
Ugo-Nagano	64.6
Yariminai	67.9
Ugo-Yotsuya	70.2
Kita-Ōmagari	72.0
Ōmagari	75.6	Akita Shinkansen Ōu Main Line

Passing loops

Ōchizawa passing loop (大地沢信号場, Ōchizawa-shingōjō) is a passing loop located in Shizukuishi, Iwate. (39°40′29″N 140°50′31″E / 39.674763°N 140.842074°E / 39.674763; 140.842074)
Shidonai passing loop (志度内信号場, Shidonai-shingōjō) is a passing loop located in Senboku, Akita.(39°41′25″N 140°46′48″E / 39.690316°N 140.780134°E / 39.690316; 140.780134)

Rolling stock

As of 2022, 701-5000 series trains belonging to Akita General Rolling Stock Center are used on this line.

References

1 2 Ishino, Tetsu, ed. (1998). 停車場変遷大辞典国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Japan: JTB. p. 75. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.
↑ "田沢湖線盛岡駅～大釜駅間の新駅名を「前潟駅」に決定しました" [The new station name between Morioka Station and Okama Station on the Tazawako Line has been decided to be "Maegata Station".] (PDF). jreast.co.jp (in Japanese). 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.

External links

Stations of the Tazawako Line (JR East) (in Japanese)

[teishajo1998-1] 1 2 Ishino, Tetsu, ed. (1998). 停車場変遷大辞典国鉄・JR編 [Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Vol. I. Japan: JTB. p. 75. ISBN 4-533-02980-9.

[2] "田沢湖線盛岡駅～大釜駅間の新駅名を「前潟駅」に決定しました" [The new station name between Morioka Station and Okama Station on the Tazawako Line has been decided to be "Maegata Station".] (PDF). jreast.co.jp (in Japanese). 27 January 2022. Retrieved 27 January 2022.

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