Honshi–Bisan Line Explained

Honshi-Bisan Line
Color:0073bc
Color2:00acd1
Type:Heavy rail
Locale:Okayama, Kagawa prefectures
Stations:6
Open:1988
Linelength:31km (19miles)
Electrification:1,500 V DC overhead
Speed:130 km/h (81 mph)
Map State:collapsed

The is a Japanese railway line which connects Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture with Utazu in Kagawa Prefecture. It is owned and operated jointly by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku). The line is the central section of the Seto-Ōhashi Line, a service connecting and ; as a result, the Honshi-Bisan Line is rarely referred to by itself, but rather as a part of the larger Seto-Ōhashi Line service.

The line's name comes from the two islands it links: Honshu and Shikoku, and the old provincial names of the areas through which the line passes, Bitchū Province/Bizen Province and Sanuki Province.

History

The 13km (08miles) Chayamachi - Kojima section opened on 20 March 1988,[1] and the 18km (11miles) Kojima - Utazu on 10 April 1988 in conjunction with the opening of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge system.

This provided the first rail connection between Honshu and Shikoku, prior to this passengers traveled via the Uno Line and train ferry to Takamatsu.

The opening of the line also facilitated electrification of the Yosan Line between Takamatsu and Matsuyama, enabling direct services from both cities to Okayama.

Basic data

narrow gauge

1500 V DC

Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)

Station list

No.StationJapaneseDistance
(km)
TransfersLocation
茶屋町0.0 Uno LineKurashikiOkayama
植松2.9 Okayama
木見5.6 Kurashiki
上の町9.7 
児島12.9 
Border between JR West and JR Shikoku
宇多津31.0 Yosan LineUtazu, Ayauta DistrictKagawa

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 . データで見るJR西日本 2022 . JR West Japan 2022 in Data . https://web.archive.org/web/20221214074840/https://www.westjr.co.jp/company/info/issue/data/pdf/data2022.pdf . 14 December 2022 . 7 February 2023 . westjr.co.jp . 88–90 . ja.