Sagami Line Explained

Sagami Line
Color:339999
Stations:18
Open:1921
Linelength:33.3km (20.7miles)
Tracks:Single track
Map State:collapsed

The is a railway line in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan, operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It approximately parallels the east bank of the Sagami River. The line connects Hashimoto Station in Sagamihara and Chigasaki Station in Chigasaki.

Services

All services on the line are operated as local trains.

Between March 1991 and 11 March 2022,[1] some trains operated through services onto the Yokohama Line beyond Hashimoto and made four additional stops, terminating at Hachiōji Station.

Rolling stock

Former Rolling Stock:

The Sagami Line formerly operated a series of Diesel Multiple Unit passenger trains before electrification. The 205-500 series four-car EMUs were introduced in 1991 after the line was electrified. New E131-500 series EMUs replaced the older 205 series EMUs starting from Fall 2021.[3]

Stations

StationJapaneseDistance (km)Transfers Location
Between
stations
Total
茅ヶ崎style="text-align:right;"-0.0 Tōkaidō Line
Shōnan-Shinjuku Line
vChigasaki
北茅ヶ崎1.31.3 o
香川2.13.4 
寒川1.75.1 oSamukawa, Kōza District
宮山2.17.2 
倉見1.48.6 o
門沢橋1.410.0 Ebina
社家1.611.6 o
厚木2.614.2 Odakyū Odawara Line
海老名1.715.9 Odakyū Odawara Line
Sagami Railway Main Line
o
入谷3.018.9 Zama
相武台下1.720.6 oMinami-ku, Sagamihara
下溝2.923.5 
原当麻1.324.8 o
番田2.126.9 oChūō-ku, Sagamihara
上溝1.528.4 
南橋本2.931.3 o
橋本2.033.3 Yokohama Line
Keiō Sagamihara Line
^Midori-ku, Sagamihara

History

The Chigasaki to Samukawa section was opened by the Sagami Railway (Sōtetsu) in 1921, primarily to haul gravel. The line was extended to Atsugi in 1926, and to Hashimoto in 1931.[4] [5] [6]

The line was nationalized in 1944 during World War II; the private Sagami Railway began operating the then, now the Sagami Railway Main Line.

A short branch to Nishi-Samukawa Station from Samukawa Station was closed in 1984, and freight services ceased in 1998.

After privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) in 1987, the line was electrified in 1991. Before the JNR privatization, there were discussions to transfer the line to the Sagami Railway in order meet the expected demands of passenger traffic in the Tokyo and Yokohama suburbs. Because it had long been left as a non-electrified rural line, the cost to upgrade the line was beyond the ability of then financially constrained JNR; Sagami Railway, on the other hand, was running a profitable operation on its own line. However, the two companies did not agree on a deal, and plans to transfer the line were cancelled.

Upon electrification, through services to the Yokohama Line began, using the new 205-500 series EMUs. The through service operation ended on 11 March 2022.[1]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022年3月ダイヤ改正について(八王子支社). March 2022 timetable revision, Hachidoji Branch. 17 December 2021.
  2. Web site: 相模線E131 系営業運転開始について. About the entry of service of the Sagami Line E131 series. 17 September 2021.
  3. Web site: 相模線への新型車両の投入について. Information about new train type for the Sagami Line. 17 June 2021. 17 June 2021.
  4. Web site: 鉄道省鉄道統計資料. 大正10年度 - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション. 2021-12-23. dl.ndl.go.jp. ja.
  5. Web site: 官報. 1926年07月20日 - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション. 2021-12-23. dl.ndl.go.jp. ja.
  6. Web site: 官報. 1931年05月05日 - 国立国会図書館デジタルコレクション. 2021-12-23. dl.ndl.go.jp. ja.