Tazawako Line

Tazawako Line
701-5000 series EMU at Morioka Station
Overview
Native name	田沢湖線
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Iwate, Akita prefectures
Termini	Morioka Ōmagari
Stations	19
Operation
Opened	25 June 1921
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	701 series
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
Route map

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).

Station list

Akita Shinkansen Komachi trains stop at stations marked "●".

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) from Morioka	Komachi	Transfers		Location
Morioka	盛岡	0.0	●	Akita Shinkansen, Tohoku Shinkansen, Tohoku Main Line, Yamada Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line	v	Morioka	Iwate
Ōkama	大釜	6.0	｜		◇	Takizawa
Koiwai	小岩井	10.5	｜		◇
Shizukuishi	雫石	16.0	●		◇	Shizukuishi
Harukiba	春木場	18.7	｜		｜
Akabuchi	赤渕	22.0	｜		◇
Tazawako	田沢湖	40.1	●		◇	Senboku	Akita
Sashimaki	刺巻	44.4	｜		◇
Jindai	神代	52.8	｜		◇
Shōden	生田	55.3	｜		｜
Kakunodate	角館	58.8	●	Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line	◇
Uguisuno	鶯野	61.6	｜		｜	Daisen
Ugo-Nagano	羽後長野	64.6	｜		◇
Yariminai	鑓見内	67.9	｜		｜
Ugo-Yotsuya	羽後四ツ屋	70.2	｜		◇
Kita-Ōmagari	北大曲	72.0	｜		｜
Ōmagari	大曲	75.6	●	Ōu Main Line, Akita Shinkansen (for Akita)	^

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)
• 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)

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]

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

Freight services ceased in 1982, the year the entire line was electrified.

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

References

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

External links

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