Kishin Line

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Kishin Line
A Himeji-bound KiHa 127 series train
Overview
Native name	姫新線
Status	In operation
Locale	Hyōgo Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture
Termini	Himeji Niimi
Stations	36
Service
Operator(s)	JR West
Rolling stock	KiHa 40 series DMU, KiHa 120 series DMU, KiHa 122/127 series DMU
History
Opened	21 August 1923; 100 years ago (1923-08-21)
Technical
Line length	158.1 km (98.2 mi)
Number of tracks	Entire line single tracked
Character	Rural
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	None
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph) (Himeji–Kōzuki) 85 km/h (53 mph) (Kōzuki–Niimi)

Kishin Line (姫新線, Kishin-sen) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Himeji, Hyōgo and Niimi, Okayama, Japan. The name of the line comes from the first kanji of Himeji (姫路) and Niimi (新見) which the line connects.

Stations

• S: Trains stop
• s: Some trains stop
• ｜: Trains pass

Name		Distance (km)	Rapid		Transfers	Location
Himeji	姫路	0.0			Sanyō Shinkansen Sanyō Main Line (JR Kobe Line) Bantan Line Sanyo Railway Main Line (SY 43: Sanyo Himeji)	Himeji	Hyōgo
Harima-Takaoka	播磨高岡	3.8
Yobe	余部	6.1
Ōichi	太市	9.9
Hon-Tatsuno	本竜野	14.9				Tatsuno
Higashi-Hashisaki	東觜崎	17.8
Harima-Shingū	播磨新宮	22.1
Sembon	千本	27.6
Nishi-Kurisu	西栗栖	31.2
Mikazuki	三日月	36.6				Sayō, Sayō District
Harima-Tokusa	播磨徳久	42.5
Sayo	佐用	45.9	S		Chizu Express Chizu Line
Kōzuki	上月	50.9	S
Mimasaka-Doi	美作土居	57.6	s			Mimasaka	Okayama
Mimasaka-Emi	美作江見	63.0	S
Narahara	楢原	66.4	s
Hayashino	林野	70.4	S
Katsumada	勝間田	74.3	S			Shōō, Katsuta District
Nishi-Katsumada	西勝間田	77.3	s
Mimasaka-Ōsaki	美作大崎	79.3	s			Tsuyama
Higashi-Tsuyama	東津山	83.7	S		Inbi Line
Tsuyama	津山	86.3	S	S	Tsuyama Line
Innoshō	院庄	90.8		s
Mimasaka-Sendai	美作千代	95.6		S
Tsuboi	坪井	98.3		S
Mimasaka-Oiwake	美作追分	103.9		｜		Maniwa
Mimasaka-Ochiai	美作落合	110.9		S
Komi	古見	114.6		s
Kuse	久世	118.9		S
Chūgoku-Katsuyama	中国勝山	123.8		S
Tsukida	月田	128.6		S
Tomihara	富原	134.7		s
Osakabe	刑部	141.2		S		Niimi
Tajibe	丹治部	145.0		s
Iwayama	岩山	149.8		s
Niimi	新見	158.1		S	Hakubi Line Geibi Line

Rolling stock

New KiHa 122 and KiHa 127 series diesel multiple units (DMUs) were introduced on the line between Himeji and Kōzuki from spring 2009. Journey times were reduced from spring 2010 after the entire fleet of new trains had been delivered.^[1]

History

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The first section of the line opened was from Tsuyama to the north in 1923, and the line was progressively extended until it reached Niimi in 1929. The section from Himeji opened in stages from 1930, and the line was completed in 1936.

CTC signalling was commissioned in 1986, and freight services ceased the following year.

Former connecting lines

• Shingu Station: The Tatsuno Electric Railway Co. opened a 17 km 1,435 mm gauge line electrified at 600 V DC from Shingu-Cho to Aboshiko between 1909 and 1915 which connected at this station, as well as the Sanyo Main Line at Aboshi. The line closed in 1934.

References

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