| Kawagoe Line | |
| Native Name: | 川越線 |
| Native Name Lang: | ja |
| Color: | 2E8B57 |
| Color2: | A9A9A9 |
| Type: | Heavy rail |
| Locale: | Saitama Prefecture |
| Stations: | 11 |
| Open: | 1940 |
| Owner: | East Japan Railway Company (JR East) |
| Depot: | Kawagoe |
| Linelength: | 30.6km (19miles) |
| Electrification: | 1,500 V DC overhead catenary |
| Map State: | collapsed |
The Kawagoe Line (Japanese: 川越線|Kawagoe-sen) is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which connects the cities of Saitama, Kawagoe, and Hidaka in Saitama Prefecture. The main transfer stations on the line are,, and .
The eastern section between Kawagoe and Ōmiya operates as an extension of the Saikyō Line from central Tokyo, with most trains traveling through to/from and on to/from via the Rinkai Line. On the western section between Kawagoe and Komagawa, about half of all trains travel through to/from via the Hachikō Line.
Except for a few rush-hour trains that start and terminate at Minami-Furuya, all eastbound trains from Komagawa and westbound trains from Ōmiya terminate at Kawagoe. Passengers wishing to travel beyond Kawagoe must change trains there.
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Track layout | Location | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations | Total | ||||||||
| Through services to/from on the Rinkai Line via the Saikyo LineThrough service to via the Saikyo Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, and Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama Line | |||||||||
| 大宮 | style="text-align:center;" | - | 0.0 | from 36.9 | ∥ | Ōmiya-ku | Saitama | ||
| 日進 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 40.6 | ∨ | Kita-ku | ||||
| 西大宮 | 2.6 | 6.3 | 43.2 | ◇ | Nishi-ku | ||||
| 指扇 | 1.4 | 7.7 | 44.6 | ◇ | |||||
| 南古谷 | 4.7 | 12.4 | 49.3 | ◇ | Kawagoe | ||||
| 川越 | 3.7 | 16.1 | 53.0 | ◇ | |||||
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Track layout | Location | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations | Total | ||||||||
| 川越 | 3.7 | 16.1 | from Hachiōji 45.6 | ◇ | Kawagoe | ||||
| 西川越 | 2.6 | 18.7 | 43.0 | ｜ | |||||
| 的場 | 2.2 | 20.9 | 40.8 | ◇ | |||||
| 笠幡 | 2.9 | 23.8 | 37.9 | ｜ | |||||
| 武蔵高萩 | 3.2 | 27.0 | 34.7 | ◇ | Hidaka | ||||
| 高麗川 | 3.6 | 30.6 | 31.1 | Hachiko Line (through service) | ◇ | ||||
| Through services to/from on the Hachiko Line | |||||||||
The electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet used on Kawagoe Line services is based at Kawagoe Depot (close to Minami-Furuya Station).[1] The first of a fleet of 31 new 10-car E233-7000 series sets were introduced on Saikyo Line, Kawagoe Line, and Rinkai Line services between and from 30 June 2013, displacing all but one of the fleet of 205 series EMUs.[2] [3] The sole 205 series set was withdrawn from service in October 2016, then in 2019 seven more E233-7000 series sets entered service, bringing the total number of E233-7000's to 38.
From 2017, former E231-0 series ten-car sets based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chuo-Sobu Line services were reformed and converted to become four-car E231-3000 series sets based at Kawagoe for use on Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line services.[4] The first set entered revenue service on the line on 19 February 2018.[5]
From 2018, former 209-500 series ten-car sets based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chuo-Sobu Line services were reformed and converted to become four-car 209-3500 series sets based at Kawagoe for use on Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line services.[6]
, all Saikyo Line 205 series sets have been removed from service.[8]
A line linking Ōmiya with Kawagoe and continuing to the Hachikō Line at Komagawa was first proposed in March 1920. Construction work started in September 1935, with the line opening on 22 July 1940.[9]
Services were initially steam hauled, but diesel multiple unit trains were introduced from 1 June 1950. The final steam-hauled passenger train ran on 30 September 1969.[9]
The line was electrified (1,500 V DC) from 30 September 1985, and through running commenced to and from the Saikyō Line, which opened at the same time. The tracks were doubled between Ōmiya to Nisshin, and a new EMU depot was opened close to Minami-Furuya Station. A special "Kawagoe Line Diesel Sayonara" train ran on the line on 3 November 1985.[9]
Through services between Kawagoe and Hachiōji on the Hachikō Line began on 16 March 1996 following the electrification of the southern section of the Hachikō Line between Komagawa and Hachiōji.[9]