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Tōkaidō Main Line

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Tōkaidō Main Line
JT
Trains on the Tokaido Line. Clockwise from top left:
Overview
Other name(s)
Native name東海道本線
LocaleKantō, Tōkai, Kansai regions
Termini
Stations166 (passenger only)
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s) JR East
JR Central
JR West
JR Freight
History
OpenedOctober 14, 1872; 152 years ago (1872-10-14)
Technical
Track length589.5 km (366.3 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)

The Tōkaidō Main Line (Japanese: 東海道本線, romanized: Tōkaidō-honsen) is one of the most important railway corridors in Japan, connecting the major cities of Tokyo and Kobe via Shizuoka, Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. The line, with termini at Tokyo and Kobe stations, is 589.5 km (366.3 mi) long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities. The high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen largely parallels the line.

The term "Tōkaidō Main Line" is largely a holdover from pre-Shinkansen days; now various portions of the line have different names which are officially used by JR East, JR Central, and JR West. Today, the only daily passenger train that travels the entire length of the line is the combinedSunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto service which runs overnight. During the day, longer intercity trips using the line require several transfers along the way.

The Tokaido Main Line is owned and operated by three Japan Railways Group (JR Group) companies:

History

[edit]

Completion and early days, 1872–1913

[edit]
Train hauled by a JGR Class 160 locomotive at Shinbashi Station, c. 1875

The Tōkaidō route takes its name from the ancient road connecting the Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka) with the Kantō region (Tokyo, then Edo) through the Tōkai region (including Nagoya). Its name meant "Tōkai road", or the road running through Tōkai. The Tōkaidō Line does not follow the old road exactly, since the latter diverges at Nagoya toward the Mie Prefecture coastline; to follow it by train, the Kansai Main Line and Kusatsu Line would have to be followed from Nagoya to Kusatsu. Japan's largest population centers are all along this route: Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe. Since construction of the line, these centers have since grown to occupy an ever more dominant role in the country's government, financial, manufacturing, and cultural life.[1]

Historically, one of the first priorities of Japanese railway planners was to build a line from Tokyo to the Kansai region, either following the Tokaido route or the northern Nakasendō route. This decision remained unresolved as regional needs were addressed. The first railway in Japan was the line from Shimbashi to Sakuragicho in Yokohama, which opened in 1872; another segment of today's Tokaido Main Line, between Kyoto and Kobe, opened in 1877.[2]

In 1883, the government decided to use the Nakasendō route, and construction of several segments commenced (including the modern-day Takasaki Line). Railways were opened between Ogaki and Nagahama (1884) and between Nagoya and Kisogawa (1886) in line with the Nakasendo plan. However, by 1886, it was clear that the Tokaido route would be more practical, and so the Nakasendo plan was abandoned.[2]

JGR Class 9850 Mallet locomotives (1912) were used as bank engines on the mountainous Gotemba stretch of the line; this example is preserved at the Railway Museum.[3]

The lines between Kisogawa and Ogaki, Yokohama and Kozu, and Hamamatsu and Obu were completed in 1887, and the first line from Tokyo to Kobe was completed in 1889, when Kozu and Hamamatsu were connected through the present-day Gotemba Line corridor. The final segments were completed between Kasumigahara and Otsu. At the time, there was one Tokyo–Kobe train in each direction per day, taking over 20 hours each way. The "Tokaido Line" name was formally adopted in 1895. In October 1895, following the Sino-Japanese War, through service to the Sanyo Railway (now the San'yō Main Line) began.[2]

Express service between Tokyo and Kobe began in 1896, sleeper service in 1900, and dining car service in 1901. In 1906, all privately run main lines were nationalized under the newly created Japanese Government Railways, which at the time had a network of just over 7,000 km (4,300 mi) of track.

Capacity expansion and route changes, 1914–1945

[edit]
JNR Class C53 hauling the Tsubame near Nishi-Akashi, 9 December 1934

On 20 December 1914, Tokyo Station opened and succeeded Shinbashi Station as the Tokyo-side terminus of the line. On the same day, an electrified commuter line was inaugurated along the section between Tokyo Station and today’s Yokohama Station, which is now part of the Keihin–Tōhoku Line.[2] Automatic couplers were introduced on all freight wagons in 1926. In 1930, the first Tsubame ("swallow") express was introduced, reducing the Tokyo - Kobe travel-time to nine hours - a significant reduction from the twenty hours required in 1889 and fifteen in 1903.[1]

JNR Class EF55 hauling the Fuji (Tokyo–Shimonoseki express) near Shinagawa, 4 August 1936

By the start of the Taishō era, route changes on several stretches of the line were deemed necessary to accommodate growing demand. The route bypassing Osakayama (between Ōtsu and Kyoto Stations), in use since 1878, was closed when the current, less steep route with two long tunnels was completed on 25 September 1919. The mountainous Gotemba stretch required an even larger-scale route change, culminating in the completion of the Tanna Tunnel in 1934 after 15 years of construction. The new route through the tunnel is 11.2 kilometres long, compared to the old Gotemba route, which took a 60.2-kilometre detour around the Tanna Basin.[4] With the opening of the tunnel, the section between Tokyo and Numazu was fully electrified, as steam locomotives were unable to operate through the long tunnel safely.[5]

52 Series EMUs were used for commuter services between Kyoto and Kobe following the electrification of the section.

Electrification also progressed on the other end of the line around the same time, in 1934. Commuter rapid services between Kyoto and Kobe, using 52 Series streamliner EMUs, began in 1937. However, further electrification of the line was overshadowed by the Second World War and did not resume until after the war. For security reasons, the army preferred to keep the middle portion of the line unelectrified, as unelectrified tracks were much easier to repair in the event of an enemy attack.[6]

During the war, the line's focus shifted towards freight services. Express services were significantly reduced, and sleepers and restaurant cars were withdrawn from service in 1944. JNR Class D52 locomotives were introduced for wartime freight transport, but their poor manufacturing quality led to several boiler explosion accidents.[7]

As the main transport artery of postwar Japan, 1945–1964

[edit]
JNR Class C62 hauling the Tsubame near Kyoto, c. 1954

In the immediate aftermath of the war, almost all surviving express train carriages were requisitioned by the Allied Occupation Forces. Services such as the Allied Limited (Tokyo–Moji), Dixie Limited (Tokyo–Hakata), and the BCOF Train (Tokyo–Kure) operated on the Tōkaidō Line. Express trains for Japanese nationals resumed in April 1947, with sleeper services following in July 1948.[8]

In 1949, the Limited Express Heiwa, a successor to the pre-war Tsubame service, and the sleeper express Ginga both began operating between Tokyo and Osaka. In January 1950, Heiwa was renamed Tsubame. Makeshift D52 freight locomotives were converted into C62 express locomotives, the largest and fastest steam engines in Japan's rail history, to haul these services. One of the C62s, C62 17, holds the narrow-gauge steam world speed record, which was achieved on the Tokaido line near Nagoya on 15 December 1954, and is preserved at the SCMaglev and Railway Park.[9]

151 series EMUs, which were originally introduced for the Kodama, near Shin-Koyasu, circa 1964.
20 series carriages, the first-generation Blue Train carriages, hauled by a Class EF58 locomotive at Shin-Osaka Station, circa 1977

On 19 November 1956, the line was fully electrified. The Tokyo–Osaka express trains, Tsubame and Hato, began to be hauled by JNR EF58 locomotives for the entire length of the route, reducing travel time from 8 hours to 7 hours and 30 minutes.[10] With no concerns about smoke polluting the carriages, these trains were painted light green and nicknamed Aodaishō (green snakes, referring to the Japanese rat snake).[11]

On 1 October 1958, the Kodama, the first limited express service operated by EMUs rather than locomotive-hauled carriages, commenced. This service further reduced travel time to 6 hours and 50 minutes. The Series 151 EMUs marked a significant milestone in railway technology, as EMUs were previously considered unsuitable for high-speed and long-distance services due to issues like noise, vibration, and cost. Since then, all non-sleeper express rolling stock, including the Shinkansen, has been designed as EMUs. On the same day, the Asakaze sleeper express entered service with the newly built Series 20 carriages. These carriages were fully air-conditioned and nicknamed the 'hotel on the rail'.[12][13] Because these sleeper carriages and their successors were painted blue, sleeper trains in Japan came to be known as Blue Trains.

After the opening of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, 1964–1987

[edit]

The capacity constraints on the Tokaido Main Line had been clear prior to World War II, and work started on a new 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge "bullet train" line in 1940. Intercity passenger traffic between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka largely transferred to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen after it was completed in 1964. Since then, the Tokaido Main Line has been used as a commuter and freight line, serving a very small number of long-distance passenger trains (mainly overnight and sleeper services).

Privatisation, 1987–present

[edit]

Following the Hanshin earthquake on 17 January 1995, the line was shut down between Takatsuki and Kobe, with certain segments remaining impassable until 1 April of that year.

On 20 August 2016, station numbering was introduced, with stations between Tokyo and Osaki assigned station numbers of JT01 to JT07.[14][15] Numbers increase towards in the southbound direction towards Osaki. Station numbers would be assigned to stations beyond Osaki as far as Atami in 2018.

On the evening of 5 August 2023, a JR East Tokaido Line service struck a utility pole near Ofuna and lost power, resulting in a suspension of service.[16] Four people, including the driver, sustained minor injuries. Service was restored on the morning of 6 August 2023.

Basic data

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  • Total distance: 713.6 km (443.4 mi) (including branch lines; Tokyo – Kōbe is 589.5 km (366.3 mi))
    • East Japan Railway Company (JR East) (Services and tracks)
      • Tokyo – Atami: 104.6 km (65.0 mi)
      • Shinagawa – Shin-Kawasaki – Tsurumi: 17.8 km (11.1 mi)
      • Hamamatsuchō – Tokyo Freight Terminal – Kawasaki Freight Terminal – Hama-Kawasaki: 20.6 km (12.8 mi) (Tōkaidō Freight Line)
      • Tsurumi – Hatchō-Nawate: 2.3 km (1.4 mi) (Tōkaidō Freight Line)
      • Tsurumi – Higashi-Takashima – Sakuragichō: 8.5 km (5.3 mi) (Takashima Line)
      • Tsurumi – Yokohama-Hazawa – Higashi-Totsuka: 16.0 km (9.9 mi) (Tōkaidō Freight Line)
    • Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) (Services and tracks)
      • Atami – Maibara: 341.3 km (212.1 mi) (3.3 km (2.1 mi) between Kanayama – Nagoya overlaps with Chuo Main Line)
      • Ōgaki – Mino-Akasaka: 5.0 km (3.1 mi) (Mino-Akasaka branch line)
      • Ōgaki – (Shin-Tarui) – Sekigahara: 13.8 km (8.6 mi) (Shin-Tarui Line)
    • West Japan Railway Company (JR West) (Services and tracks)
      • Maibara – Kōbe: 143.6 km (89.2 mi)
      • Kyōto Freight Terminal – Tambaguchi: 3.3 km (2.1 mi) (not in use by passenger trains)
      • Suita – (Miyahara Rail Yard) – Amagasaki: 10.7 km (6.6 mi) (Hoppō Freight Line)
      • Suita – Umeda – Fukushima: 8.5 km (5.3 mi) (Umeda Freight Line, used by Haruka and Kuroshio limited expresses)
    • Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Tracks and services)
      • Sannō Signal – Nagoya-Minato: 6.2 km (3.9 mi) (Nagoya-Minato Line)
      • Suita Signal – Osaka Freight Terminal: 8.7 km (5.4 mi) (Osaka Terminal Line)
    • Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services only)
      • Shinagawa – Atami: 97.8 km (60.8 mi)
      • Shinagawa – Shin-Tsurumi Signal: 13.9 km (8.6 mi)
      • Tokyo Freight Terminal – Hama-Kawasaki: 12.9 km (8.0 mi)
      • Tsurumi – Yokohama-Hazawa – Higashi-Totsuka: 16.0 km (9.9 mi)
      • Tsurumi – Hatchō-Nawate: 2.3 km (1.4 mi)
      • Tsurumi – Shinkō – Sakuragichō: 11.2 km (7.0 mi)
      • Atami – Maibara: 341.3 km (212.1 mi)
      • Minami-Arao Signal – Sekigahara: 10.7 km (6.6 mi)
      • Minami-Arao Signal – Mino-Akasaka: 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
      • Maibara – Kōbe: 139.0 km (86.4 mi) (via Hoppō Freight Line)
      • Kyōto Freight Terminal – Tambaguchi: 3.3 km (2.1 mi)
      • Suita – Umeda – Fukushima: 8.5 km (5.3 mi)
  • Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Narrow gauge railway
  • Stations:
    • Passenger: 166 (does not include Shinagawa – Shin-Kawasaki – Tsurumi section or branches other than Mino-Akasaka branch line)
      • JR East: 34
      • JR Central: 82
      • JR West: 50
    • Freight only: 14
  • Tracks:
    • Four or more
      • Tokyo – Odawara: 83.9 km (52.1 mi)
      • Nagoya – Inazawa: 11.1 km (6.9 mi)
      • Kusatsu – Kōbe: 98.1 km (61.0 mi)
    • Two
      • Odawara – Nagoya
      • Inazawa – Kusatsu
      • Shinagawa – Shin-Kawasaki – Tsurumi
      • Hamamatsuchō – Tokyo Freight Terminal – Kawasaki Freight Terminal – Hama-Kawasaki
      • Tsurumi – Hatchō-Nawate
      • Tsurumi – Higashi-Takashima
      • Tsurumi – Yokohama-Hazawa – Higashi-Totsuka
      • Suita – Umeda
      • Suita – (Miyahara Rail Yard) – Amagasaki
    • Single-track: All other sections
  • Electrification: 1,500 V DC (except for Sannō Signal – Nagoya-Minato)
  • Railway signalling: Automatic Train Control
  • Maximum speed:
    • Tokyo – Ōfuna, Odawara – Toyohashi: 110 km/h (68 mph)
    • Ōfuna – Odawara, Toyohashi – Maibara: 120 km/h (75 mph)
    • Minami-Arao Signal – Tarui – Sekigahara, Minami-Arao Signal – Mino-Akasaka: 85 km/h (53 mph)
    • Maibara – Kōbe: 130 km/h (81 mph) (Special Rapid Shin-Kaisoku only, local trains max at 120 km/h or 75 mph)

Station list

[edit]

JR East

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The Tōkaidō Main Line shown in orange in this map of the southern approaches to Tokyo
Tōkaidō Main Line (JR East) service pattern diagram

The section between Tokyo and Atami is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and it is located in the Greater Tokyo Area. It has local services (Japanese: 普通, romanized: Futsū) and a rapid service called Rapid Acty (Japanese: 快速アクティー, romanized: Kaisoku Akutī). It runs on dedicated tracks parallel to the Yamanote Line between Tokyo and Shinagawa, the Keihin–Tōhoku Line between Tokyo and Yokohama, and the Yokosuka Line between Yokohama and Ōfuna. Some Shōnan–Shinjuku Line trains share the segment south of Yokohama to Ōfuna and Odawara. Until 12 March 2021, there were also commuter rapid (Japanese: 通勤快速, romanized: Tsūkin Kaisoku) and Shōnan Liner (Japanese: 湘南ライナー, romanized: Shōnan Rainā) services.[17]

The Ueno–Tokyo Line, a JR East project, extended the services of the Utsunomiya Line, the Takasaki Line, and the Joban Line to Tokyo Station, allowing for through services to and from the Tōkaidō Line from March 2015.[18]

Almost all trains along this section of the line have bi-level "Green Cars" with forward-facing seats, with each set of trains having 2 of them. Green Cars can be used after paying an additional fee.

A new station between Ōfuna and Fujisawa is being planned to serve passengers near the former JR Freight Shōnan Freight Terminal. Construction is expected to start in early 2022. The new station is expected to open for service in 2032.[19]

Legend:

  • ● : All trains stop
  • ｜ :All trains pass
  • ▲ : Shōnan–Shinjuku Line trains use Yokosuka Line platforms
No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Local,
Rapid Rabbit
& Urban 		Jōban Line through service Shōnan–Shinjuku Line Transfers Location
Between
Stations 		Total Rapid Special Rapid
Through service from/to: JU Ueno-Tokyo Line JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line (for JU Takasaki Line)
JU Utsunomiya
& Takasaki Line 		JJ Jōban Line (Rapid)
TYOJT01
 Tokyo 東京 - 0.0 ● ● Tohoku Shinkansen

Hokkaido Shinkansen
Yamagata Shinkansen
Akita Shinkansen
Joetsu Shinkansen
Hokuriku Shinkansen
JY Yamanote Line
JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line
JO Yokosuka Line．Sōbu Line (Rapid)
JE Keiyō Line
JU Ueno-Tokyo Line (Through to JU Utsunomiya．Takasaki Line/JJ Jōban Line)
JC Chūō Line (Rapid)
Tokaido Shinkansen
M Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

Chiyoda Tokyo
SMBJT02
 Shimbashi 新橋 1.9 1.9 ● ● JY Yamanote Line
JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line
JO Yokosuka Line
G Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(G-08)
A Toei Asakusa Line(A-10)
Yurikamome 		Minato
SGWJT03
 Shinagawa 品川 4.7 6.8 ● ● JY Yamanote Line
JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line
JO Yokosuka Line
Tōkaidō Shinkansen
KK Keikyu Main Line
KWSJT04
 Kawasaki 川崎 11.4 18.2 ● JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line
JN Nambu Line
(Keikyu-Kawasaki) KK Keikyu Main Line and KK Keikyu Daishi Line 		Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki Kanagawa
YHMJT05
 Yokohama 横浜 10.6 28.8 ● ▲ ▲ JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Negishi Line
JH Yokohama Line
JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line
JO Yokosuka Line
TY Tōkyū Tōyoko Line
KK Keikyu Main Line
Sotetsu Main Line
Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line
Minatomirai Line 		Nishi-ku, Yokohama
TTKJT06
 Totsuka 戸塚 12.1 40.9 ● ▲ ▲ JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line
JO Yokosuka Line
Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line 		Totsuka-ku, Yokohama
OFNJT07
 Ōfuna 大船 5.6 46.5 ● ● ● JK Negishi Line
JO Yokosuka Line
Shonan Monorail
JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line 		Sakae-ku, Yokohama
Kamakura
JT08 Fujisawa 藤沢 4.6 51.1 ● ● ● Odakyū Enoshima Line
Enoshima Electric Railway 		Fujisawa
JT09 Tsujidō 辻堂 3.7 54.8 ● ● ｜
JT10 Chigasaki 茅ヶ崎 3.8 58.6 ● ● ● ■ Sagami Line Chigasaki
JT11 Hiratsuka 平塚 5.2 63.8 ● ● ●   Hiratsuka
JT12 Ōiso 大磯 4.0 67.8 ● ● ｜   Ōiso, Naka District
JT13 Ninomiya 二宮 5.3 73.1 ● ● ｜   Ninomiya, Naka District
JT14 Kōzu 国府津 4.6 77.7 ● ● ● Gotemba Line Odawara
JT15 Kamonomiya 鴨宮 3.1 80.8 ● ● ｜  
JT16 Odawara 小田原 3.1 83.9 ● ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Odakyū Odawara Line
Hakone Tozan Line
Izu-Hakone Railway Daiyūzan Line
JT17 Hayakawa 早川 2.1 86.0 ●
JT18 Nebukawa 根府川 4.4 90.4 ●
JT19 Manazuru 真鶴 5.4 95.8 ●   Manazuru, Ashigarashimo District
JT20 Yugawara 湯河原 3.3 99.1 ●   Yugawara, Ashigarashimo District
JT21 Atami 熱海 5.5 104.6 ● JT Itō Line (Some through trains for Ito)
Tōkaidō Shinkansen 		Atami Shizuoka
Local: Some operate through service from/to Numazu or Ito
  • Some trains run through services beyond Atami, as far as Numazu.
  • With the Ueno–Tokyo Line, Utsunomiya Line Rapid Rabbit and Takasaki Line Rapid Urban services now run along the Tokaido Line, and stop at all stations on this line. As such, the two services are classified as 'Local' service trains within the Tokaido Line.
  • Tokaido Line Rapid Acty services operate only evening services from Tokyo to Odawara. Rapid Acty services will be discontinued effective the timetable revision on 18 March 2023 after 34 years of operation.[20]
  • Shōnan Limited Express services are special, all-reserved commuter express trains with comfortable seating. They operate from Odawara to Tokyo on weekday mornings, with a few services terminating in Shinagawa. Return services run from Tokyo to Odawara on weekday evenings. Like commuter rapid trains, Shōnan Liner services normally make no stops between Shinagawa and Fujisawa. Between Fujisawa and Odawara, varying stops are made. In addition to the standard fare, a reserved seat fee of ¥500 is required to use the Shōnan Liner.
  • Keihin-Tōhoku Line stations between Tokyo and Yokohama officially are a part of the Tōkaidō Main Line. These stations are: Yūrakuchō, Hamamatsuchō, Tamachi, Takanawa Gateway, Ōimachi, Ōmori, Kamata, Tsurumi, Shin-Koyasu, and Higashi-Kanagawa.
  • Yokosuka Line stations between Tokyo and Ōfuna officially are a part of the Tōkaidō Main Line. These stations are: Nishi-Ōi, Musashi-Kosugi, Shin-Kawasaki, Hodogaya, and Higashi-Totsuka. The route of the Yokosuka Line between Shinagawa and Tsurumi is separate from the main line and is referred to as the Hinkaku Line, on which Nishi-Ōi, Musashi-Kosugi, and Shin-Kawasaki stations are located.
  • The Shōnan–Shinjuku Line operates through services to the Tōkaidō Main Line. Trains operate from the Takasaki Line to Ōsaki and enter the Yokosuka Line at Nishi-Ōi to Totsuka then switches tracks to the Tōkaidō Main Line towards Odawara, and vice versa. Rapid Service stop at all stations on the Tōkaidō Main Line (Totsuka - Odawara), while Special Rapid Service operate the same pattern as a Rapid Acty Service.

JR Central

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The point between JR East and JR Central operation is divided at Atami Station. The section of the line between Atami and Maibara is operated by JR Central, and covers the Tōkai region: Shizuoka Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, and Gifu Prefecture. Some services from Odawara on the JR East section continues to travel on this section until Numazu Station.

Shizuoka Block

[edit]
No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Rapid Services Home Liner Transfers Location
Between
Stations 		Total
(From
Tokyo) 		Semi
Rapid 		Rapid New
Rapid 		Special
Rapid
CA00 Atami 熱海 104.6           Tōkaidō Shinkansen
JT Itō Line 		Atami Shizuoka
CA01 Kannami 函南 9.9 114.5             Kannami, Tagata District
CA02 Mishima 三島 6.2 120.7   ●       Tōkaidō Shinkansen
■ Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line (some morning/evening through services) 		Mishima
CA03 Numazu 沼津 5.5 126.2   ●     ● Gotemba Line Numazu
CA04 Katahama 片浜 4.1 130.3   ●     ｜  
CA05 Hara 原 2.5 132.8   ●     ｜  
CA06 Higashi-Tagonoura 東田子の浦 4.6 137.4   ●     ｜   Fuji
CA07 Yoshiwara 吉原 3.9 141.3   ●     ｜ ■ Gakunan Railway Line
CA08 Fuji 富士 4.9 146.2   ●     ● Minobu Line
CA09 Fujikawa 富士川 3.5 149.7   ｜     ｜  
CA10 Shin-Kambara 新蒲原 2.8 152.5   ｜     ｜   Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka
CA11 Kambara 蒲原 2.4 154.9   ｜     ｜  
CA12 Yui 由比 3.5 158.4   ｜     ｜  
CA13 Okitsu 興津 5.9 164.3   ｜     ｜  
CA14 Shimizu 清水 4.7 169.0   ●     ●  
CA15 Kusanagi 草薙 5.2 174.2   ｜     ｜ Shizuoka Railway Shizuoka-Shimizu Line
CA16 Higashi-Shizuoka 東静岡 3.5 177.7   ｜     ｜   Aoi-ku, Shizuoka
CA17 Shizuoka 静岡 2.5 180.2   ●     ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Shizuoka Railway Shizuoka-Shimizu Line (Shin-Shizuoka)
CA18 Abekawa 安倍川 4.3 184.5         ｜   Suruga-ku, Shizuoka
CA19 Mochimune 用宗 2.1 186.6         ｜  
CA20 Yaizu 焼津 7.1 193.7         ｜   Yaizu
CA21 Nishi-Yaizu 西焼津 3.3 197.0         ｜  
CA22 Fujieda 藤枝 3.3 200.3         ●   Fujieda
CA23 Rokugō 六合 4.6 204.9         ｜   Shimada
CA24 Shimada 島田 2.9 207.8         ●  
CA25 Kanaya 金谷 5.1 212.9         ｜ Oigawa Railway Oigawa Main Line
CA26 Kikugawa 菊川 9.3 222.2         ●   Kikugawa
CA27 Kakegawa 掛川 7.1 229.3         ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Tenryū Hamanako Railroad 		Kakegawa
CA28 Aino 愛野 5.3 234.6         ｜   Fukuroi
CA29 Fukuroi 袋井 3.5 238.1         ●  
CA30 Mikuriya 御厨 4.6 242.7         ｜   Iwata
CA31 Iwata 磐田 3.2 245.9         ●  
CA32 Toyodachō 豊田町 2.9 248.8         ｜  
CA33 Tenryūgawa 天竜川 3.9 252.7         ｜   Chūō-ku, Hamamatsu
CA34 Hamamatsu 浜松 4.4 257.1     ● ● ● Tokaido Shinkansen
Enshū Railway Line (Shin-Hamamatsu)
CA35 Takatsuka 高塚 5.3 262.4     ● ●    
CA36 Maisaka 舞阪 5.1 267.5     ● ●    
CA37 Bentenjima 弁天島 2.3 269.8     ● ●    
CA38 Araimachi 新居町 3.1 272.9     ● ●     Kosai
CA39 Washizu 鷲津 3.7 276.6     ● ●    
CA40 Shinjohara 新所原 5.8 282.4     ● ●   Tenryū Hamanako Railroad
CA41 Futagawa 二川 4.3 286.7     ● ●     Toyohashi Aichi
CA42 Toyohashi 豊橋 6.9 293.6 ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Iida Line
 NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line
Toyohashi Railroad Atsumi Line (Shin-Toyohashi), Toyohashi Railroad Azumada Main Line (Ekimae)

Nagoya Block Main Line

[edit]
No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Rapid Services Home Liner Transfers Location
Between
Stations 		Total
(From
Tokyo) 		Semi
Rapid 		Rapid New
Rapid 		Special
Rapid
CA42 Toyohashi 豊橋 6.9 293.6 ● ● ● ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Iida Line
 NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line
Toyohashi Railroad Atsumi Line (Shin-Toyohashi), Toyohashi Railroad Azumada Main Line (Ekimae) 		Toyohashi Aichi
CA43 Nishi-Kozakai 西小坂井 4.8 298.4 ● ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Toyokawa
CA44 Aichi-Mito 愛知御津 3.7 302.1 ● ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA45 Mikawa-Ōtsuka 三河大塚 3.1 305.2 ● ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Gamagori
CA46 Mikawa-Miya 三河三谷 3.1 308.3 ● ▲ ▲ ｜ ｜  
CA47 Gamagōri 蒲郡 2.3 310.6 ● ● ● ● ●  GN  Meitetsu Gamagōri Line
CA48 Mikawa-Shiotsu 三河塩津 2.3 312.9 ● ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  GN  Meitetsu Gamagōri Line (Gamagōri-Kyōteijō-Mae)
CA49 Sangane 三ヶ根 2.6 315.5 ● ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Kōta, Nukata District
CA50 Kōda 幸田 3.0 318.5 ● ▲ ▲ ｜ ｜  
CA51 Aimi 相見 3.1 321.6 ● ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA52 Okazaki 岡崎 7.4 325.9 ● ● ● ● ● ■ Aichi Loop Line Okazaki
CA53 Nishi-Okazaki 西岡崎 4.2 330.1 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA54 Anjō 安城 3.6 333.7 ● ● ｜ ｜ ｜   Anjō
CA55 Mikawa-Anjō 三河安城 2.6 336.3 ● ● ● ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
CA56 Higashi-Kariya 東刈谷 1.8 338.1 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Kariya
CA57 Noda-Shinmachi 野田新町 1.6 339.7 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA58 Kariya 刈谷 1.9 341.6 ● ● ● ● ●  MU  Meitetsu Mikawa Line
CA59 Aizuma 逢妻 1.9 343.5 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA60 Ōbu 大府 3.0 346.5 ● ● ● ｜ ● Taketoyo Line Ōbu
CA61 Kyōwa 共和 3.0 349.5 ● ● ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA62 Minami-Ōdaka 南大高 2.3 351.8 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Midori-ku, Nagoya
CA63 Ōdaka 大高 1.8 353.6 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA64 Kasadera 笠寺 3.2 356.8 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Minami-ku, Nagoya
CA65 Atsuta 熱田 4.0 360.8 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Atsuta-ku, Nagoya
CA66 Kanayama 金山 1.9 362.7 ● ● ● ● ● Chūō Main Line
 NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line
Nagoya Municipal Subway:
Meijō Line (M01)
Meikō Line (E01) 		Naka-ku, Nagoya
CA67 Otōbashi 尾頭橋 0.9 363.6 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya
CA68 Nagoya 名古屋 2.4 366.0 ● ● ● ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Kansai Main Line
Chūō Main Line
 E  Kintetsu Nagoya Line (Kintetsu-Nagoya)
 NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line (Meitetsu-Nagoya)
Nagoya Municipal Subway:
Higashiyama Line (H08)
Sakura-dōri Line (S02)
 AN  Aonami Line (AN01) 		Nakamura-ku, Nagoya
CA69 Biwajima 枇杷島 4.0 370.0 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ■ Tōkai Transport Service Jōhoku Line Kiyosu
CA70 Kiyosu 清洲 3.8 373.8 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜   Inazawa
CA71 Inazawa 稲沢 3.3 377.1 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA72 Owari-Ichinomiya 尾張一宮 6.0 383.1 ● ● ● ● ●  NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line,  BS  Meitetsu Bisai Line (Meitetsu-Ichinomiya) Ichinomiya
CA73 Kisogawa 木曽川 3.5 388.6 ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜ ｜  
CA74 Gifu 岐阜 7.7 396.3 ● ● ● ● ● Takayama Main Line
 NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line,  KG  Meitetsu Kagamihara Line (Meitetsu Gifu) 		Gifu Gifu
CA75 Nishi-Gifu 西岐阜 3.2 399.5 ● ● ● ● ｜
CA76 Hozumi 穂積 1.0 400.5 ● ● ● ● ●   Mizuho
CA77 Ōgaki 大垣 9.5 410.0 ● ● ● ● ● Tōkaidō Main Line (Mino-Akasaka, Shin-Tarui branch lines)
■ Yōrō Railway Yōrō Line
■ Tarumi Railway Tarumi Line 		Ōgaki
CA78 Tarui 垂井 8.1 418.1 ● ● ● ● ●   Tarui, Fuwa District
CA79 Sekigahara 関ヶ原 5.7 423.8 ● ● ● ● ● Tōkaidō Main Line (Shin-Tarui branch line) Sekigahara, Fuwa District
CA80 Kashiwabara 柏原 7.1 430.9 ● ● ● ●     Maibara Shiga
CA81 Ōmi-Nagaoka 近江長岡 4.3 435.2 ● ● ● ●    
CA82 Samegai 醒ヶ井 4.6 439.8 ● ● ● ●    
CA83 Maibara * 米原 6.1 445.9 ● ● ● ●   Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Hokuriku Main Line
Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line)
■ Ohmi Railway Main Line

Maibara is shared by JR Central and JR West; JR West manages the station

Before March 2016, JR West operated trains from Maibara as far as Ogaki on JR Central territory. After the two companies realized this invasion, on 25 March 2016, all JR West departures were changed to JR Central trains to Maibara station.

Branch lines

[edit]
Track diagram around Minami-arao Junction
Track diagram between Ōgaki and Sekigahara

Both the Mino-Akasaka and Tarui branch lines separate from the Main Line at Minami-Arao Junction [ja], located 3.1 km west of Ōgaki Station.

Mino-Akasaka Branch Line
[edit]
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
Stations 		Total (from Ōgaki)
Ōgaki 大垣 - 0.0 Tōkaidō Main Line Ōgaki Gifu
Arao 荒尾 3.4 3.4  
Mino-Akasaka 美濃赤坂 1.6 5.0  
Tarui Branch Line
[edit]

Between Ōgaki and Sekigahara, there is a 25 per mil grade. In 1944, a single track bypass (in brown on the diagram) was built to avoid this steep slope of the main line. The old section, informally referred to as the "Shin-Tarui Line", remains largely unused, and Shin-Tarui Station [ja] was closed in 1986. Today, the only rail vehicles that travel on this section of track are freight trains and westbound express trains (the Shirasagi, Hida #36, and Sunrise Seto/Izumo services).

Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
Stations 		Total (from Ōgaki)
Ōgaki 大垣 - 0.0 Tōkaidō Main Line Ōgaki Gifu
Tarui 垂井 8.1 8.1 Tarui, Fuwa District
Sekigahara 関ヶ原 5.7 13.8 JR Central: Tōkaidō Main Line Sekigahara

JR West

[edit]

The western part of the Tōkaidō Main Line from Maibara to Kōbe is operated by JR West and forms the main trunk of the company's Urban Network in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. Although the line is divided into three segments, known as the Biwako Line, JR Kyoto Line, and JR Kobe Line, they are part of a single contiguous network, with many services traversing multiple sections. The Biwako Line includes a segment of the Hokuriku Main Line. Some services on the Kosei, JR Takarazuka and Gakkentoshi lines run through onto the Tōkaidō Main Line.

Biwako Line

[edit]
Main article: Biwako Line

The section between Maibara and Kyoto is known as the Biwako Line.

  • ●: Trains stop.
  • ○: Limited stop, early morning and late night only
  • |: Trains pass.
  • Local (4-door Commuter trains): JR Kyoto Line local trains
  • Local (3-door Suburban trains): Operate as Rapid service trains west of Takatsuki (west of Kyoto in the morning)
Official line name No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Stop Transfers Location
Between Stations Total

(from Tokyo)

Local
(Commuter) 		Local
(Suburban) 		Special Rapid Ward, City Prefecture
Through service from/to Hokuriku Main Line
Tōkaidō Main Line  A12  Maibara 米原 - 445.9 ● ● Hokuriku Main Line for Ōmi-Shiotsu and Tsuruga

JR Central:

■ Ohmi Railway Main Line

Maibara Shiga
 A13  Hikone 彦根 6.0 451.9 ● ● ■ Ohmi Railway Main Line Hikone
 A14  Minami-Hikone 南彦根 3.3 455.2 ● |
 A15  Kawase 河瀬 3.1 458.3 ● |
 A16  Inae 稲枝 3.7 462.0 ● |
 A17  Notogawa 能登川 3.7 465.7 ● ● Higashiōmi
 A18  Azuchi 安土 5.1 470.8 ● | Ōmihachiman
 A19  Ōmi-Hachiman 近江八幡 3.5 474.3 ● ● ■ Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line
 A20  Shinohara 篠原 4.0 478.3 ● |
 A21  Yasu 野洲 5.6 483.9 ○ ● ● Yasu
 A22  Moriyama 守山 3.1 487.0 ○ ● ● Moriyama
 A23  Rittō 栗東 2.1 489.1 ○ ● | Rittō
 A24  Kusatsu 草津 2.3 491.4 ● ● ● Kusatsu Line Kusatsu
 A25  Minami-Kusatsu 南草津 2.5 493.9 ● ● ●
 A26  Seta 瀬田 2.7 496.6 ● ● | Ōtsu
 A27  Ishiyama 石山 2.5 499.1 ● ● ● OT Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT03: Keihan Ishiyama Station)
 A28  Zeze 膳所 2.8 501.9 ● ● | OT Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT09: Keihan Zeze Station)
 A29  Ōtsu 大津 1.7 503.6 ● ● ●
 A30  Yamashina 山科 4.5 508.1 ● ● ● Kosei Line (JR-B30)
Kyoto Municipal Subway Tōzai Line (T07)
OT Keihan Keishin Line (OT31: Keihan Yamashina Station) 		Yamashina-ku, Kyoto Kyoto
 A31  Kyoto 京都 5.5 513.6 ● ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
JR Kyoto Line
Nara Line (JR-D01)
Sagano Line (Sanin Main Line) (JR-E01)
Kintetsu Kyoto Line (B01)
Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line (K11) 		Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Through service from/to JR Kyoto Line
Within JR Kyoto Line: Local

(Northbound only)

Rapid Special Rapid

JR Kyoto Line

[edit]
Main article: JR Kyoto Line

The section between Kyoto and Osaka is known as the JR Kyoto Line. Trains from the Biwako and Kosei lines travel through onto the JR Kyoto Line and continue west towards the JR Kobe Line at Osaka.

Legend:

  • ● : All trains stop
  • | : All trains pass
  • ▲ : Trains only after morning rush stop

Local trains stop at all stations. Rapid trains in the morning skip some stops between Kyoto and Takatsuki.

Official Line Name No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Stops Transfers Location
Rapid Special Rapid Ward, City Prefecture
Through services from Biwako Line and Kosei Line
Tōkaidō Main Line  A31  Kyoto 京都 0.0 ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Biwako Line
Kosei Line ( B31 )
Nara Line ( D01 )
Sagano Line ( E01 )
Kintetsu Kyoto Line (B01)
Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line (K11) 		Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto Kyoto
 A32  Nishiōji 西大路 2.5 ▲ | Minami-ku, Kyoto
 A33  Katsuragawa 桂川
(久世) 		5.3 ▲ |
 A34  Mukōmachi 向日町 6.4 ▲ | Mukō
 A35  Nagaokakyō 長岡京 10.1 ● | Nagaokakyō
 A36  Yamazaki 山崎 14.1 ▲ | Ōyamazaki
 A37  Shimamoto 島本 16.3 ▲ | Shimamoto Osaka
 A38  Takatsuki 高槻 21.6 ● ● Takatsuki
 A39  Settsu-Tonda 摂津富田 24.5 | |
 A40  JR-Sōjiji[21] JR総持寺 26.2 | | Ibaraki
 A41  Ibaraki 茨木 28.2 ● |
 A42  Senrioka 千里丘 31.1 | | Settsu
 A43  Kishibe 岸辺 32.8 | | Suita
 A44  Suita 吹田 35.2 | |
 A45  Higashi-Yodogawa 東淀川 38.3 | | Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
 A46  Shin-Ōsaka 新大阪 39.0 ● ● Tōkaidō Shinkansen
Sanyō Shinkansen
Osaka Higashi Line ( F02 )
Osaka Metro Midōsuji Line (M13)
 A47  Ōsaka 大阪 42.8 ● ● JR Kōbe Line
JR Takarazuka Line ( G47 )
Osaka Loop Line ( O11 )
Osaka Higashi Line ( F01 )
JR Tōzai Line ( H44 :Kitashinchi Station)
Hankyū Kōbe Main Line, Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line, Hankyu Kyoto Main Line (HK-01:Osaka-umeda Station)
Hanshin Main Line (HS 01:Osaka-Umeda Station)
Osaka Metro:
Midōsuji Line (M16: Umeda Station)
Tanimachi Line (T20: Higashi-Umeda Station)
Yotsubashi Line (Y11: Nishi-Umeda Station) 		Kita-ku, Osaka
Through services on JR Kobe Line

Through services on JR Takarazuka Line (Local only)

JR Kobe Line

[edit]
Main article: JR Kobe Line

The westernmost section between Osaka and Kōbe is part of the JR Kobe Line, which continues west to Himeji on the San'yō Main Line. Although Kōbe is the official terminus of the Tōkaidō Main Line, most trains continue to Nishi-Akashi, Himeji and beyond.

●: Trains stop at all times
｜: Trains pass at all times
▲: Eastbound trains pass in the morning
○:Trains stop at morning of Weekdays only

Official line name No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Stop Transfers Location
Between stations from Osaka Local Rapid Special Rapid Ward, City Prefecture
Through service to/from the JR Kyoto Line
Tokaido Main Line  A47  Osaka 大阪 - 0.0 ● ● ● JR Kyoto Line (Tokaido Main Line)
JR Takarazuka Line (JR-G47)
Osaka Loop Line (JR-O11)
Osaka Higashi Line (JR-F01)
JR Tōzai Line (JR-H44:Kitashinchi Station)
Hankyu Kobe Main Line, Hankyu Takarazuka Main Line, Hankyu Kyoto Main Line (HK-01:Osaka-umeda Station)
Hanshin Main Line (HS 01:Osaka-Umeda Station)
Osaka Metro: 		Kita-ku, Osaka Osaka
 A48  Tsukamoto 塚本 3.4 3.4 ● | | Yodogawa-ku, Osaka
 A49  Amagasaki 尼崎 4.3 7.7 ● ● ● JR Takarazuka Line (Fukuchiyama Line) (JR-G49)
JR Tōzai Line (JR-H49) 		Amagasaki Hyōgo
 A50  Tachibana 立花 3.0 10.7 ● | |
 A51  Kōshienguchi 甲子園口 2.2 12.9 ● | | Nishinomiya
 A52  Nishinomiya 西宮 2.5 15.4 ● ● |
 A53  Sakura Shukugawa さくら夙川 1.5 16.9 ● | |
 A54  Ashiya 芦屋 2.3 19.2 ● ● ○ Ashiya
 A55  Kōnan-Yamate 甲南山手 1.4 20.6 ● | | Higashinada-ku, Kobe
 A56  Settsu-Motoyama 摂津本山 1.5 22.1 ● | |
 A57  Sumiyoshi 住吉 1.6 23.6 ● ● ● Kobe New Transit Rokko Island Line (R01)
 A58  Rokkōmichi 六甲道 2.2 25.9 ● ● | Nada-ku, Kobe
 A59  Maya 摩耶 1.4 27.3 ● | |
 A60  Nada 灘 0.9 28.2 ● | |
 A61  Sannomiya 三ノ宮 2.4 30.6 ● ● ● Hankyu Kobe Line, Kobe Kosoku Line (HK-16: Kobe Sannomiya Station)
Hanshin Main Line (HS 32: Kobe Sannomiya Station)
Kobe New Transit Port Island Line (P01)
Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line (S03: Sannomiya Station)
Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line (K01: Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station) 		Chuo-ku, Kobe
 A62  Motomachi 元町 0.8 31.4 ● ● | Hanshin Main Line, Kobe Kosoku Line (HS 33)
 A63  Kobe 神戸 1.7 33.1 ● ● ● Hanshin Kobe Kosoku Line, Hankyu Kobe Kosoku Line (HS 35: Kōsoku Kōbe Station)
Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line (K04: Harborland Station)
Through service to/from the Sanyo Main Line and the Ako Line

Former connecting lines

[edit]
The handcar line near Yoshihama (see Atami Station)
The Yoshihama line after conversion to steam power, circa 1920
Mishima-Tamachi Station circa 1914 (see Numazu Station)
Mukogawa Station in 1944, note the dual-gauge track (see Nishinomiya Station)

Kanagawa Prefecture

[edit]
  • Ninomiya Station: The Shonan Horse-drawn Tramway opened a 10 km (6.2 mi) line to Hatano in 1906 to haul tobacco. Steam locomotion was introduced in 1913. Passenger services ceased in 1933, and the line closed in 1935.[citation needed]
  • Odawara Station: The Japan Tobacco and Salt Public Corporation operated an approximately 1 km line to its factory, electrified at 1,500 V DC, between 1950 and 1984. The line was also serviced by the adjoining Odakyu Odawara Line from its Ashigara station.[citation needed]

Shizuoka Prefecture

[edit]
  • Atami Station: In 1895, a 10 km (6.2 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line opened to Yoshihama, and was extended 4 km (2.5 mi) to Odawara the following year. In 1907, the line was converted to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge and steam locomotives were introduced. The line closed in 1923 as a result of the Great Kanto earthquake.[citation needed]
  • Numazu Station: The Sunzu Electric Railway opened a 7 km (4.3 mi) line to Mishima-Tamachi on the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line in 1906. In 1915, the line was truncated 1 km to connect at Mishima-Hirokoji, and the line was electrified at 600 V DC in 1919. The line closed in 1961 following the destruction of the Kisegawa bridge during a flood.[citation needed]
  • Yoshiwara Station: The Fuji Horse Tramway (富士馬車鉄道, Fuji Basha Tetsudō) opened a 610 mm (2 ft) gauge line to Ōmiya (presentday Fujinomiya) in 1890. The Fuji Minobu Railway (富士身延鉄道, Fuji Minobu Tetsudō) purchased the tramway in 1912, converted it to a 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge steam railway the following year and gradually extended it (eventually becoming the Minobu Line). In 1924, the company built a new alignment which connected to Fuji station on the Tokaido main line, at which time the original section from Omiya to Yoshiwara closed.[citation needed]
  • Shimizu Station: Shimizukō Line from 1916 to 1984.
  • Shizuoka Station:
    • The Abe Railway opened a 9 km (5.6 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line from Inomiya (approximately 2 km from Shizuoka) to Ushizuma in 1914 to haul timber. Plans to extend the line to Shizuoka did not eventuate and the line closed in 1934.[citation needed]
    • The Shizuoka Electric Railway opened a 2 km (1.2 mi) line to Anzai, connecting to its Shimizu Line, electrified at 600 V DC, between 1922 and 1926. The line closed in 1962.[citation needed]
  • Yaizu Station: A 5 km (3.1 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) handcar line operated to Fujieda between 1891 and 1900.[citation needed]
  • Fujieda Station: The Tōsō Railway opened a 4 km (2.5 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Ote in 1913, and by 1926 had extended the line progressively in both directions for a length of 38 km (24 mi) from Jitogata to Suruga-Okabe, although in 1936 the 5 km (3.1 mi) section from Suruga-Okabe to Ote was closed. In 1943, the company merged with the Shizuoka Railway (see Fujiroi Station below), and in 1948, a 7 km (4.3 mi) line between Mitsumata and Jitogata opened, linking the two sections. This section of the combined line closed between 1964 and 1970.[citation needed]
  • Shimada Station: The Fuji Prefectural Government opened a 3 km (1.9 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line in 1898 to haul timber. In 1944, following the destruction of the nearby Tokaido Line bridge over the Oigawa, it was proposed to use the alignment of this line as a replacement, including a 930 m (3,050 ft) wooden bridge over the river. The bridge was about 25% completed when the end of the war resulted in the termination of the proposal. A diesel locomotive was introduced in 1955 to haul construction material for the construction of the adjacent national highway, and the line closed in 1959.[citation needed]
  • Kikukawa Station: The Joto horse-drawn tramway opened a 15 km (9.3 mi) 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line to Ikeshinden in 1899. In 1923, the line was converted to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge, and a single-cylinder diesel locomotive introduced. The line closed in 1935.[citation needed]
  • Fukuroi Station:
    • The Akiba horse-drawn tramway opened a 12 km (7.5 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Enshumori-Cho in 1902. In 1926, the company renamed itself the Shizuoka Electric Railway, converted the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge and electrified it at 600 V DC. The line closed in 1962.[citation needed]
    • The Shizuoka Railway opened a 10 km (6.2 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Yokosuka in 1914, extending it 7 km (4.3 mi) to Mitsumata in 1927. The company merged with the Fuji-sho Railway in 1943 (see Fujieda Station above), and in 1948, a 7 km (4.3 mi) line between Mitsumata and Jitogata opened, linking the two sections. This section of the combined line closed between 1964 and 1967.[citation needed]
  • Hamamatsu Station: The Dainippon Railway opened a 7 km (4.3 mi), 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Kuniyoshi in 1909. In 1919, the line was acquired by the Enshu Railway Line, which closed the first 1 km (0.62 mi) of the line in 1925, so the new connecting station became Enshu-Magome. The line closed in 1937 while the section to Enshu-Magome would close in 1985.[citation needed]

Aichi Prefecture

[edit]
  • Okazaki Station:
    • The Nishio Railway opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Nishio in 1911, and extended it to Kira-Yoshida on the Meitetsu Gamagōri Line between 1915 and 1916. In 1926, the company merged with the Aichi Electric Railway, which between 1928 and 1929 converted the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge, electrified it at 600 V DC, and connected it to the line from Shin-Anjō on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line at Nishioguchi. The line to Nishio closed in 1962.[citation needed]
    • A 6 km (3.7 mi) tram line connected to the Meitetsu Koromo line at Okazaki-Ida Station, which between 1929 and 1962 connected to the Meitetsu Mikawa Line at Uwagoromo, the tramway also closing in 1962.[citation needed]
  • Owari-Ichinomiya Station: The 6 km (3.7 mi) Meitetsu line to Okoshi, electrified at 600 V DC, opened in 1924. When the voltage on the Meitetsu main line was increased to 1,500 V DC in 1952, services were suspended on this line. The substitute bus service proved so popular the line was closed rather than upgraded.[citation needed]

Gifu Prefecture

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  • Ogaki Station: The Seino Railway opened a 3 km (1.9 mi) line from Mino-Akasaka to Ichihashi in 1928, and operated a passenger service from 1930 to 1945.[citation needed]
  • Arao Station (on the Mino Akasaka branch): A 2 km (1.2 mi) freight-only line to the Mino Okubo limestone quarry operated between 1928 and 1990.[citation needed]

Hyōgo Prefecture

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  • Nishinomiya Station: A 2 km (1.2 mi) freight-only line was opened in 1944 to connect to Mukogawa Station on the Hanshin Main Line. As the former was 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge, and the latter 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge, some tracks at Mukogawa were dual gauge. Service on the line ceased in 1958, but it was not formally closed until 1970.[citation needed]
  • Rokkomichi Station: A 6 km (3.7 mi) line to Kobe Port opened in 1907, electrified at 1,500 V DC. Passenger services ceased in 1974, and the line closed in 2003.[citation needed]

Limited express services

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In addition to standard local, rapid, and special rapid service trains, the Tōkaidō Main Line also hosts a number of limited express services.

Daytime trains

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Overnight trains

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Overnight trains on the Tōkaidō Line go from Tokyo to western Honshū and Shikoku.

Discontinued trains

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  • Overnight limited express Sakura (Tokyo – Nagasaki (discontinued March 2005), Tokyo – Sasebo (discontinued 1999))
  • Overnight limited express Izumo (Tokyo – Izumo via Tottori), discontinued March 2006
  • Limited express Wide View Tōkai (Tokyo – Shizuoka), discontinued March 2007
  • Overnight express Ginga (Tokyo – Osaka), discontinued March 2008
  • Overnight limited express Fuji (Tokyo – Ōita), discontinued March 2009
  • Overnight limited express Hayabusa (Tokyo – Kumamoto), discontinued March 2009
  • Overnight limited express Sunrise Yume (Tokyo – Hiroshima), discontinued March 2009
  • Moonlight Nagara (Tokyo – Ōgaki) (Operates seasonally - rapid service with reserved seats), discontinued March 2020
  • Super View Odoriko, Resort Odoriko, Fleur Odoriko (Tokyo – Izukyu-Shimoda), discontinued March 2020

Rolling stock for local and rapid services

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JR East

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JR East E231-1000 series

JR Central

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JR Central 313 series

JR West

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See also: Biwako Line, JR Kyoto Line, and JR Kobe Line
JR West 223-2000 series

Former rolling stock

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  • KiHa 75 (through services onto the Taketoyo Line, 1999 - March 2015)
  • KiHa 85 series (Nagoya / Osaka – Gifu, through service on the Takayama Main Line, 1989 – 9 July 2023)
  • 113-1000 series (April 1972 - March 2006)
  • 185 series (Tokyo – Atami, Misima through services onto the Itō Line, March 1981 - March 2021)
  • 211 series (Tokyo – Atami – Numazu, through services onto the Itō Line, 1985 - April 2012)
  • 215 series (Tokyo – Atami, 1992 - March 2021)
  • E217 series (Tokyo – Atami, March 2006 - March 2015)[22]
  • 251 series (Ikebukuro/Tokyo, Atami, through service onto the Itō Line, April 1990 - March 2020)
  • 651 series (Izu Craile services: Odawara – Atami, through service onto the Itō Line, July 2016 - June 2020)
  • E217 series in Tokaido Line Shōnan livery, April 2007
    E217 series in Tokaido Line Shōnan livery, April 2007
  • A 113 series approaching Yokohama, March 2006.
    A 113 series approaching Yokohama, March 2006.

References

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  1. ^ a b Smith, Roderick A. (2003). "The Japanese Shinkansen". The Journal of Transport History. 24/2. Imperial College, London: 22–236.
  2. ^ a b c d 日本国有鉄道 (1969). 日本国有鉄道百年史 [Centenary of the Japan National Railways] (in Japanese). Vol. 1. 日本国有鉄道. doi:10.11501/12061412.
  3. ^ "車両ステーション1F｜フロアマップ 1F 車両ステーション周辺｜鉄道博物館 - THE RAILWAY MUSEUM -". www.railway-museum.jp. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  4. ^ "第3回 丹那トンネル｜鹿島の軌跡｜鹿島建設株式会社". www.kajima.co.jp. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  5. ^ "6月19日 丹那トンネルが貫通（1933年）（ブルーバックス編集部）". ブルーバックス | 講談社 (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ Onoda, Shigeru (January 2020). "鉄道人物伝". Railway Technical Research Institute. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  7. ^ "最強蒸気機関車のはずだったデゴイチ弟の不遇 「戦時量産型」D52 戦後はヒーローへ"転生"". 乗りものニュース (in Japanese). 27 November 2021. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  8. ^ 連合軍専用列車の時代: 占領下の鉄道史探索 [The Era of Allied Special Trains: a history of Japan's railway under the Allied occupation] (in Japanese). Japan: 潮書房光人新社. 1 May 2000. ISBN 978-4769809548.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  9. ^ "C62 17". 鉄道ホビダス. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  10. ^ "＜あのころ＞東海道線全線が電化 特急「つばめ」も新装". 47NEWS (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  11. ^ "BSフジ 鉄道伝説、「鉄道の変革者・篠原武司〜全国新幹線網を構想した男〜」6月24日 | レイルラボ ニュース". レイルラボ(RailLab) (in Japanese). 21 June 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  12. ^ "【復刻掲載】「"リアル鉄"・石破茂とゆく寝台特急の旅！」2009年の週プレ独占インタビューを再掲載！（週プレNEWS）". Yahoo!ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  13. ^ "ブルートレインに乗られた上皇陛下 最初に夜行を利用されたのは… - 2ページ目 (2ページ中)". おとなの週末公式｜おいしくて、ためになる食のニュースサイト (in Japanese). 10 August 2024. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  14. ^ "⾸都圏エリアへ 「駅ナンバリング」を導⼊します" [Introduce “station numbering” to the Tokyo metropolitan area] (PDF). jreast.co.jp (in Japanese). 6 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  15. ^ Kusamachi, Yoshikazu (7 April 2016). "JA・JK・JT・AKB…JR東日本、首都圏で駅ナンバリングなど導入へ" [JA, JK, JT, AKB … JR East to introduce station numbering in the Tokyo metropolitan area]. Response Automotive Media (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Services resume after 1,500 trapped in train near Tokyo". Kyodo News. Yokohama. 6 August 2023. Archived from the original on 6 August 2023.
  17. ^ "March 2021 Timetable Revision" (PDF). 18 December 2020.
  18. ^ An Interview with the President on JR East website, retrieved 2009-05-13
  19. ^ "東海道線 村岡新駅設置で合意 JR東と県、藤沢、鎌倉市". Kanagawa Shimbun (in Japanese). 8 February 2021. Archived from the original on 8 February 2021.
  20. ^ "快速「アクティー」最後の2列車が消滅へ 34年の歴史に幕 JR東海道線" [The last two trains of the rapid "Acty" will disappear, ending 34 years of service on the JR Tokaido Line]. trafficnews.jp (in Japanese). 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 18 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  21. ^ "Jr京都線、摂津富田～茨木駅間新駅の駅名が「Jr総持寺駅」に決定：Jr西日本".
  22. ^ JR東日本、東海道線E217系の営業運転終了 - 「湘南色」の帯で活躍した車両 [JR East E217 series withdrawn from Tokaido Line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 30 March 2015.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tōkaidō Main Line.

Further reading

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Middleton, William D. (August 2023) [April 1966]. "Tomorrow's railroad". Trains. Vol. 83, no. 8. Kalmbach Media. pp. 34–43.

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