San'in Main Line Explained

Sanin Main Line
Other Name:	Sagano Line (Kyoto - Sonobe)
Native Name:	山陰本線
Native Name Lang:	ja
Color:	0073bc
Type:	Regional rail
Locale:	Kyoto, Hyōgo, Tottori, Shimane and Yamaguchi Prefectures
Stations:	159
Operator:	JR West JR Freight
Linelength Km:	676.0
Speed:
Map State:	collapsed

The is a railway line in western Japan, which connects Kyoto and Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi, operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is the major railway line of the San'in region, approximately paralleling the Japan Sea, crossing Kyoto, Hyōgo, Tottori, Shimane, and Yamaguchi prefectures. The main portion from Kyoto to Hatabu is the longest single continuous railway line in Japan at 673.8km (418.7miles), although no regularly scheduled train operates over the entire line.

The section between Kyoto and Sonobe, connecting Kyoto and its northern suburbs, is a part of JR West's Urban Network and is nicknamed the Sagano Line.

Basic data

Distances: 676km (420miles)
Operators
- West Japan Railway Company (Category 1)
  - Kyoto - Hatabu: 673.8km (418.7miles)
  - Nagatoshi - Senzaki: 2.2km (01.4miles)
- Japan Freight Railway Company (Category 2)
  - Hōki-Daisen - Higashi-Matsue: 27.1km (16.8miles)

Yonago - Higashi-Matsue temporary closed

- - Okami - Masuda: 16.9km (10.5miles)
Track:
- Double: Kyoto – Sonobe, Ayabe – Fukuchiyama, Hōki-Daisen – Yasugi, Higashi-Matsue – Matsue, Tamatsukuri-Onsen – Kimachi
- Single: the rest
Electric supply:
- Kyoto – Kinosaki-Onsen, Hōki-Daisen – Nishi-Izumo: 1,500 V DC
Railway signalling

- Kyoto – Nishi-Izumo: Automatic
- Nishi-Izumo – Hatabu, including "Senzaki branch line": Special Automatic; a simplified automatic system
Maximum speed in service:
- Kyoto – Saga-Arashiyama: 120km/h
- Saga-Arashiyama – Umahori: 130km/h
- Umahori – Ayabe: 120km/h
- Ayabe – Fukuchiyama: 130km/h
- Fukuchiyama – Tottori: 95km/h
- Tottori – Izumoshi: 120km/h
- Izumoshi – Masuda: 110km/h
- Masuda – Hatabu: 95km/h
- Nagatoshi – Senzaki: 85km/h

Stations

From Kyoto to Sonobe (Sagano Line)

Stations on this segment

- Umekōji-Kyōtonishi - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

From Sonobe to Kinosaki-Onsen

This section is designated the letter "E".

Rapid trains are operated as local trains and stop at every station between Sonobe and Fukuchiyama.

	Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
園部	34.2	(Sagano Line)		Kyoto
船岡	38.2
日吉	41.9
鍼灸大学前	44.3
胡麻	47.1
下山	51.9		Kyōtamba, Funai
和知	58.6
安栖里	60.7
立木	65.5
山家	69.0		Ayabe
綾部	76.2	Maizuru Line
高津	80.3
石原	82.8		Fukuchiyama
福知山	88.5
上川口	95.2
下夜久野	102.4
上夜久野	109.8
梁瀬	115.6			Hyōgo
和田山	119.0	Bantan Line
養父	124.2		Yabu
八鹿	131.2		Yabu
江原	138.7		Toyooka
国府	142.4
豊岡	148.4	Willer Trains Miyatoyo Line
玄武洞	153.7
城崎温泉	158.0

From Kinosaki-Onsen to Yonago

This section is designated the letter "A".

Station		Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
	城崎温泉	158.0		Toyooka	Hyōgo
	竹野	166.0		Toyooka
Satsu	佐津	173.4		Kami, Mikata
Shibayama	柴山	175.7
Kasumi	香住	180.0
Yoroi	鎧	185.4
Amarube	餘部	187.2
Kutani	久谷	191.8		Shin'onsen, Mikata
Hamasaka	浜坂	197.9
Moroyose	諸寄	199.8
Igumi	居組	204.2
Higashihama	東浜	207.5		Iwami, Iwami	Tottori
Iwami	岩美	211.9
Ōiwa	大岩	214.8
Fukube	福部	219.1		Tottori
Tottori	鳥取	230.3	Inbi Line
Koyama	湖山	234.5
Tottoridaigakumae	鳥取大学前	235.8
Suetsune	末恒	239.6
Hōgi	宝木	244.7
Hamamura	浜村	247.6
Aoya	青谷	252.8
Tomari	泊	258.9		Yurihama, Tōhaku
Matsuzaki	松崎	264.6		Yurihama, Tōhaku
Kurayoshi	倉吉	270.1		Kurayoshi
Shimohōjō	下北条	275.2		Hokuei, Tōhaku
Yura (Conan Station)	由良（コナン駅）	280.1		Hokuei, Tōhaku
Urayasu	浦安	285.8		Kotoura, Tōhaku
Yabase	八橋	287.6
Akasaki	赤碕	291.3
Nakayamaguchi	中山口	295.5		Daisen, Saihaku
Shimoichi	下市	297.7
Mikuriya	御来屋	303.6
Nawa	名和	304.7
Daisenguchi	大山口	308.8
Yodoe	淀江	312.7		Yonago
Hōki-Daisen	伯耆大山	318.2	Hakubi Line
Higashiyama-kōen	東山公園	321.2
Yonago	米子	323.0	Sakai Line

From Yonago to Masuda

This section is designated the letter "D".

TL:
AL:
CL:
All the trains stop at stations signed "+". Most trains stop at "‡". Most trains do not stop at "*". No trains (other than local) stop at "-".
Rapid Commuter Liner runs from Nishi-Izumo to Yonago, one direction alone

Station		Distance (km)	TL	AL	CL	Transfers	Location
Yonago	米子	323.0	+	+	+	Sakai Line	Yonago	Tottori
	安来	align=right	331.8	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+			Shimane
	荒島	align=right	336.6	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+
	揖屋	align=right	342.2	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+		Matsue
	東松江	align=right	345.3	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+
	松江	align=right	351.9	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+
	乃木	align=right	354.6	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	-
	玉造温泉	align=right	358.5	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	-
	来待	align=right	364.5	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	-
	宍道	align=right	368.9	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+	Kisuki Line
	荘原	align=right	373.0	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+		Izumo
	直江	align=right	379.1	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+
	出雲市	align=right	384.6	align=center	+	align=center	+	align=center	+	Kita-Matsue Line (Dentetsu-Izumoshi)
	西出雲	align=right	389.4	align=center		align=center	‡	align=center
	出雲神西	align=right	391.4		align=center
	江南	align=right	393.5		align=center
	小田	align=right	400.1		align=center
	田儀	align=right	404.0		align=center
	波根	align=right	411.5		align=center				Ōda
	久手	align=right	413.7		align=center
	大田市	align=right	417.2		align=center	+
	静間	align=right	420.2		align=center
	五十猛	align=right	422.8		align=center
	仁万	align=right	428.9		align=center	+
	馬路	align=right	431.9		align=center
	湯里	align=right	434.8		align=center
	温泉津	align=right	437.9		align=center	+
	石見福光	align=right	440.8		align=center
	黒松	align=right	443.6		align=center				Gōtsu
	浅利	align=right	448.0		align=center
	江津	align=right	454.3		align=center	+		Sankō Line (closed 1 April 2018)
	都野津	align=right	458.7		align=center	+
	敬川	align=right	460.5		align=center
	波子	align=right	463.3		align=center	+
	久代	align=right	465.6		align=center				Hamada
	下府	align=right	469.7		align=center
	浜田	align=right	473.3		align=center	+
	西浜田	align=right	478.7		align=center	+
	周布	align=right	482.8		align=center
	折居	align=right	487.6		align=center	+
	三保三隅	align=right	492.6		align=center	+
	岡見	align=right	497.6		align=center
	鎌手	align=right	502.7		align=center				Masuda
	石見津田	align=right	507.2		align=center
	益田	align=right	514.5		align=center	+		Yamaguchi Line

From Masuda to Shimonoseki

Station		Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
Sanin Main Line
	益田	align=right	514.5		Masuda	Shimane
	戸田小浜	align=right	524.3
	飯浦	align=right	528.0
	江崎	align=right	533.8			Yamaguchi
	須佐	align=right	540.4
	宇田郷	align=right	549.2		Abu, Abu
	木与	align=right	555.6
	奈古	align=right	560.2
	長門大井	align=right	564.5		Hagi
	越ヶ浜	align=right	569.1
	東萩	align=right	572.0
	萩	align=right	575.8
	玉江	align=right	578.2
	三見	align=right	583.9
	飯井	align=right	588.1
		長門三隅	align=right	594.5			Nagato
	長門市	align=right	599.6	Mine Line, Sanin Main Line "Senzaki branch line"
	黄波戸	align=right	604.9
	長門古市	align=right	609.0
	人丸	align=right	613.5
	伊上	align=right	617.9
	長門粟野	align=right	622.1		Shimonoseki
	阿川	align=right	627.4
	特牛	align=right	631.1
	滝部	align=right	635.1
	長門二見	align=right	639.9
	宇賀本郷	align=right	643.5
	湯玉	align=right	645.7
	小串	align=right	650.2
	川棚温泉	align=right	652.9
	黒井村	align=right	655.4
	梅ヶ峠	align=right	658.8
	吉見	align=right	662.7
	福江	align=right	665.6
	安岡	align=right	668.2
	梶栗郷台地	align=right	679.6
	綾羅木	align=right	670.7
	幡生	align=right	673.8	Sanyō Main Line
	下関	align=right	677.3

Senzaki Branch Line

Station		Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
Nagatoshi	長門市	align=right	0.0	Mine Line, Sanin Main Line	Nagato	Yamaguchi
	仙崎	align=right	2.2		Nagato	Yamaguchi

History

The line was built by three different private companies, which were subsequently nationalised and connected by the Japanese Government Railway (JGR). The Kyoto Railway opened the section to Sonobe between 1897 and 1899. The Bantsuru Railway opened the Ayabe to Fukuchiyama section (as part of the current Maizuru Line) in 1904. Both companies were nationalised in 1907.

The first section opened by the JGR was between Yonago and Mikuriya in 1902, and the line was then progressively extended eastward, reaching Tottori in 1907 and Iwami in 1908, the same year the current Bantan Line opened to Wadayama and Yoka. Construction of that line continued westward, and the two lines were connected in 1912. In the meantime, the Sonobe to Ayabe section was opened in 1910, and the Fukuchiyama to Wadayama section the following year. In addition, construction from Yonago progressed westward, opening to Matsue in 1908 and Izumoshi in 1910, resulting in the 385km (239miles) continuous line upon the 1912 connection mentioned above. At the western end, the Choshu Railway opened the Hatabu to Kogushi section in 1914.From Izumoshi, construction continued progressively westward, opening to Masuda in 1923, and to Todakohama in 1925, the year that the Choshu Railway was nationalised and the Kogushi to Takibe section opened, with construction then continuing from both directions until the two sections were connected in 1933, completing the current line.

Double-tracking

The Yonago to Hoki-Daisen section was double-tracked between 1962 and 1966, with the Ayabe to Fukuchiyama section double-tracked in between 1968 and 1969, and the Tamatsukuri-Onsen to Kimachi section in 1970. The Matsue to Higashi-Matsue section was double-tracked in 1979, and the Yonago to Yasugi section in 1980. The original Saga-Arashiyama to Umahori section was built on the banks of the Hozugawa in a narrow gorge. A new double-track alignment was opened in 1989, and the original alignment became the Sagano Scenic Railway. Further double-tracking occurred in stages, with the entire Kyoto to Sonobe section double-tracked by 2010.

Electrification

The Hoki-Daisen to Izumoshi section was electrified in 1982 in conjunction with the electrification of the Hakubi Line. The Fukuchiyama to Kinosaki section was electrified in 1986 in conjunction with the electrification of the Fukuchiyama Line. The Sonobe to Fukuchiyama section was electrified between 1985 and 1986, and the Kyoto to Sonobe section in 1990.

Former connecting lines

Fukuchiyama Station: The Hokutan Railway operated a 12km (07miles) line to Koumori between 1923 and 1971.
Ebara Station: The Izushi Railway operated an 11km (07miles) line to Izushi between 1929 and 1970.
Iwami Station: The Iwai Prefectural Government opened a 3km (02miles) gauge line to Iwai Onsen in 1925. In June 1934, 149 of the 216 buildings at Iwai Onsen burnt down, and then in September that year Typhoon Muroto caused such extensive damage to the line that it was out of service until February 1936. In 1944, the line was closed and materials recycled for the Japanese war effort.
Kurayoshi Station: In 1912, a 4km (02miles) line to Kamii opened, and was extended 11km (07miles) to Sekigane in 1941 and a further 5km (03miles) (as a passenger-only section) to Yamamori in 1958. Freight services ceased in 1974 and the line closed in 1985.
Yonago Station: The Hakuhi Electric Railway operated a 12km (07miles) line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Hosshoji between 1924 and 1967. A 6km (04miles) electrified branch from Aga to Mori operated between 1930 and 1944.
Arashima Station: The Hirose Railway opened an 8km (05miles) line, electrified at 600 V DC to Izumo Hirose in 1928. In 1954, the company merged with the Ichibata Electric Railway, and the line closed in 1960.
Izumoshi Station: On the northern side of the station, the 8km (05miles) Taisha Line opened in 1912, on the opposite bank of the Ogamogawa to the Izumo-Taisha Station on the Ichibata Electric Railway line. Freight services ceased in 1974, and the line closed in 1990.
Gotsu Station: The Sanko Line operated 1930 - 2018.
Nishi-Hamada Station: A 2km (01miles) freight-only line to Hamada Minato to service the port operated between 1955 and 1982.
Hatabu Station: The Choshu Railway opened a 27km (17miles) line from Higashi-Shimonoseki to Kogushi via Hatabu in 1914. A proposed extension to Nagato was not built due to funding constraints. The part from Hatabu to Kogushi was nationalised in 1925, with the Hatabu station being moved to its present location in 1928, and the line becoming a part of the San'in Main Line in 1933. The remaining 2.2km (01.4miles) Choshu Railway line from Hatabu to Higashi-Shimonoseki was electrified at 600 V DC in 1926. The company merged with the Sanyo Electric Railway (today Sanden Kotsu, not to be confused with the eponymous company operating in the Hyōgo Prefecture) in 1928, and the line was extended to Karato in 1932 in order to connect it to the Sanyo Electric Chōfu to Hikoshima-Guchi line. The line was closed in 1971.

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia.