Harman Patil (Editor)

Nagasaki Main Line

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Type
  
Heavy rail

Opened
  
1891

Line length
  
148.8 km (92.5 mi)

Terminis
  
Tosu, Nagasaki Expressway

Stations
  
41

Operator(s)
  
JR Kyushu, JR Freight

Owner
  
Kyushu Railway Company

Nagasaki Main Line uploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthumbee9

Locale
  
Saga, Nagasaki prefectures

The Nagasaki Main Line (長崎本線, Nagasaki-honsen), or simply Nagasaki Line, is a railway line owned by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu) connecting Tosu Station in Saga Prefecture to Nagasaki Station in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. There is a separate branch of this line from Kikitsu Station to Urakami Station by way of Nagayo Station.

Contents

Route data

  • Operators and route length:
  • JR Kyushu (services and tracks)
  • Tosu - Nagasaki: 125.3 km (77.86 mi)
  • Kikitsu - Nagayo - Urakami: 23.5 km (14.60 mi)
  • JR Freight (services)
  • Tosu - Nagasaki: 125.3 km (77.86 mi)
  • Stations: 41 (including seasonal stations)
  • Double-tracking:
  • Tosu - Hizen-Yamaguchi
  • Isahaya - Kikitsu
  • Urakami - Nagasaki
  • Electrification: Tosu - Nagasaki (20kV AC 60 Hz)
  • Railway signalling: Automatic
  • CTC center: Hakata Integrated Operations Center

    • Route description

    The line is single-tracked between Hizen-Yamaguchi and Isahaya stations due to the coastal geography of the area making double-tracking prohibitively expensive. The "old route" (旧線) is the branch of the Nagasaki Main Line between Kikitsu and Urakami via Nagayo that existed before the opening of the new route. Prior to the opening of the new route, express and limited express trains ran on this section. Vestiges of this can be seen at Michinoo and other stations along the route. The "new line" (新線) is the branch of the Nagasaki Main Line between Isahaya and Urakami via Ichinuno through the Nagasaki Tunnel. It is electrified.

    Limited express

    The Kamome limited express operates on the Nagasaki Main Line. The merged Midori/Huis Ten Bosch limited express operates east of Hizen-Yamaguchi Station. Limited express trains travel over the new route between Isahaya and Urakami stations.

    Overnight sleeper trains, such as the Sakura (between Tokyo and Nagasaki) and Akatsuki (between Kyoto and Nagasaki), were discontinued in 2008.

    Regional trains

    Other than trains that are operated on the entire Nagasaki Line, there are trains which operate in specific sections, such as from Tosu to Hizen-Kashima, and trains which continue on to other lines.

  • In the morning, from Hizen-Nanaura Station, there is a direct train to Mojikō Station (on the Kagoshima Main Line).
  • The new line from Isahaya to Nagasaki uses EMUs, but the old line, including direct trains to the Omura Line, uses DMUs. However, the rapid service train Seaside Liner, despite being a DMU, uses the new line.
  • Between Hizen-Nanaura Station and Yue Station, because it is a relatively inactive part of the line, local trains only run for about five hours into the daytime after the morning rush.
  • Wanman Driver-only operation trains are operated on the entire Nagasaki Line. On the new line, the 817 series EMU is used, and on the old line, the KiHa 66, 67, and 200 DMUs are used.

    • Freight

    Freight trains are operated between Tosu and Nabeshima. High-speed freight trains make three round trips a day from Tosu Freight Terminal to Nabeshima. The electric locomotive used is the Class ED76. Freight trains only arrive and depart from Nabeshima station.

    Stations

    Legend

  • All trains stop at stations marked "●", some stop at stations marked "▲". All trains pass stations marked "｜".
  • Double-tracked sections are marked "∥", single-tracked sections where trains may pass are marked "◇", and single-tracked sections where trains cannot pass are marked "｜".

    • New route (via Ichinuno)

  • "Rapid" refers to the Seaside Liner rapid service.
  • Local trains make all stops. For information on the Kamome and Midori limited express services consult their respective articles.

    • Old route (via Nagayo)

  • All stations located within Nagasaki Prefecture.
  • All trains make all stops.

    • Rolling stock

  • 783 series (Kamome, Midori, Huis ten Bosch)
  • 885 series (Kamome)
  • 811 series
  • 813 series
  • 817 series
  • 415 series
  • KiHa 66/67 DMUs (Seaside Liner)
  • KiHa 200 DMUs (Seaside Liner)

    • History

    The Kyushu Railway Co. opened the Tosu - Saga section in 1891, extending it to Nagasaki via Haiki in 1898.

    In 1907, the Railway Nationalization Act was passed in Japan, nationalising all major railways. The Hizen-Yamaguchi - Isahaya direct line was opened in 1934, with the Hizen-Yamaguchi - Haiki section being renamed the Sasebo Line and the Haiki - Isahaya section the Omura Line.

    The Saga - Nabeshima section was the first to be duplicated in 1966, and by 1969 the Tosu - Hizen-Yamaguchi and Isahaya - Kikitsu sections were duplicated. The Urakami-Nagasaki section was duplicated in 1990.

    The 6173m Shin-Nagasaki tunnel and associated Kititsu - Urakami deviation opened in 1972, and the entire line was electrified in 1976. Freight services beyond Nabeshima ceased in 1999.

    Former connecting lines

  • Saga station - The 24km line to Setaka (on the Kagoshima Main Line) opened 1931-35, and closed in 1987. This line crossed three major watercourses by substantial bridges.

    • References

    Nagasaki Main Line Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA