Kisei Main Line

The Kisei Main Line (紀勢本線, Kisei-honsen) is a railway line that parallels the coastline of the Kii Peninsula in Japan between Mie Prefecture and Wakayama Prefecture. The name takes the kanji characters from the names of the old provinces of Kii (紀伊) and Ise (伊勢).

Kisei Main Line
image
JR Central (left) and JR West (right) trains meet at the boundary, Shingū Station
Overview
Other name(s)Kinokuni Line (JR West: Shingū–Wakayama)
Native name紀勢本線
StatusIn operation
OwnerJR Central, JR West, Nankai Electric Railway
LocaleMie Prefecture, Wakayama Prefecture
Termini
  • Kameyama
  • Wakayamashi
Stations96
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemUrban Network (Wakayama–Wakayamashi)
Operator(s)JR Central, JR West, JR Freight
Rolling stockJR Central: KiHa 25 series, KiHa 75 series DMU, HC85 series DEMU
JR West: 283 series, 287 series, 289 series, 223 series, 225 series, 227 series EMU
History
Opened21 August 1891
Technical
Line length384.2 km (238.7 mi)
Number of tracksSingle track and double track sections
CharacterBoth urban and rural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone (Kameyama-Shingū)
1,500 V DC (Shingū–Wakayamashi)
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map
Kisei Main Line
km
Kansai Main Line
↑JR West
↓JR Central
0.0
 Kameyama
Kansai Main Line
Suzuka River
5.5
 Shimonoshō
12.1
 Ishinden
 Nagoya
Kintetsu Nagoya Line
& Ise Line
15.5
 Tsu
Tsu-Shimmachi
Kintetsu Nagoya Line
19.3
 Akogi
Chūsei Railway
23.4
 Takachaya
29.1
 Rokken
Kintetsu Yamada Line
Ise Electric Railway
Meishō Line
34.6
 Matsusaka
Mie Electric Railway
Kintetsu Yamada Line
37.6
 Tokuwa
Ise Electric Railway
42.5
 Taki
Sangū Line
46.4
 Ōka
49.6
 Sana
55.1
 Tochihara
60.8
 Kawazoe
67.9
 Misedani
73.0
 Takihara
77.1
 Aso
82.2
 Ise-Kashiwazaki
86.9
 Ōuchiyama
89.5
 Umegadani
Nisaka Tunnel
98.4
 Kii-Nagashima
105.9
 Minose
112.2
 Funatsu
116.6
 Aiga
123.3
 Owase
127.4
 Ōsoneura
134.4
 Kuki
138.5
 Mikisato
142.6
 Kata
146.8
 Nigishima
150.8
 Atashika
153.2
 Hadasu
155.2
 Ōdomari
157.6
 Kumanoshi
159.6
 Arii
164.1
 Kōshiyama
165.6
 Kii-Ichigi
168.4
 Atawa
173.8
 Kii-Ida
176.6
 Udono
Kumano River
180.2
 Shingū
↑JR Central
↓JR West
Kumanoji
(
closed
1982
)
 Hirosumi
(
closed
1938
)
184.9
 Miwasaki
186.6
 Kii-Sano
188.7
 Ukui
379.1
 Kushinokawa
(
closed
1967
)
193.0
 Nachi
193.9
 Kii-Temma
195.1
 Kii-Katsuura
197.8
 Yukawa
199.9
 Taiji
201.1
 Shimosato
205.0
 Kii-Uragami
209.9
 Kii-Tahara
215.0
 Koza
218.9
 Kii-Hime
221.8
 Kushimoto
227.6
 Kii-Arita
229.4
 Tanami
233.7
 Tako
236.4
 Wabuka
242.0
 Esumi
245.0
 Mirozu
250.7
Futagoyama signal box
254.0
 Susami
261.2
 Kii-Hiki
267.3
 Tsubaki
272.5
 Kii-Tonda
275.4
 Shirahama
279.7
 Asso
283.2
 Kii-Shinjō
285.4
 Kii-Tanabe
289.5
 Haya
294.5
 Minabe
299.6
 Iwashiro
305.5
 Kirime
309.3
 Inami
313.6
 Inahara
320.4
 Wasa
324.7
 Dōjōji
326.3
 Gobō
Kishū Railway
329.2
 Kii-Uchihara
 
2.0
 Yurauchi
(
closed
1968
)
334.5
0.0
 Kii-Yura
341.3
 Hirokawa Beach
343.9
 Yuasa
347.3
 Fujinami
Arida Railway
351.2
 Kii-Miyahara
355.6
 Minoshima
358.1
 Hatsushima
361.1
 Shimotsu
363.8
 Kamogō
367.7
 Shimizuura
Nogami Electric Railway
370.5
 Kainan
 Hikata
372.3
 Kuroe
375.9
 Kimiidera
378.8
 Miyamae
379.1
 Tebira
(
closed
1941
)
379.5
Wakayamasō
Yard
(
closed
1986
)
Kishigawa Line
380.9
 Wakayama
Wakayama Line
 Kii-Nakanoshima
 Tennōji
Hanwa Line
382.7
 Kiwa
383.2
Nankai Main Line
384.2
 Wakayamashi
Nankai Kada Line
Nankai Wakayamakō Line
km

The line is operated by Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) from Kameyama, the eastern terminus, to Shingū, and by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) from Shingū to Wakayamashi, the western terminus. The segment between Shingū and Wakayama is nicknamed as the Kinokuni Line (きのくに線), after the alternate name of the Kii Province.

The line has connections with through service, to the Kansai Main Line for Nagoya via the Ise Railway, and to the Hanwa Line at Wakayama for Osaka.

Line data

Services

The Nanki limited express runs between Nagoya and Shingū or Kii-Katsuura with 4 return workings a day via the Ise Railway. The Kuroshio limited express runs between Kyoto/Shin-Ōsaka/Tennōji and Shingū with 15 return workings a day.

The line is generally divided to four parts for local services, by Shingū, Kii-Tanabe, Gobō, and Wakayama.

Stations

Kameyama to Shingū (JR Central)
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Kameyama 亀山 0.0 Kansai Main Line Kameyama Mie
Shimonoshō 下庄 5.5  
Ishinden 一身田 12.1   Tsu
Tsu 津 15.5 ■ Ise Railway Ise Line (12, some through service from Nagoya)
 E  Kintetsu Nagoya Line (E39)
Akogi 阿漕 19.3  
Takachaya 高茶屋 23.4  
Rokken 六軒 29.1   Matsusaka
Matsusaka 松阪 34.6 Meishō Line (some through service from Ise-Okitsu)
 M  Kintetsu Yamada Line (M64)
Tokuwa 徳和 37.6  
Taki 多気 42.5 Sangū Line (some through service to Iseshi and Toba) Taki, Taki
Ōka 相可 46.4  
Sana 佐奈 49.6  
Tochihara 栃原 55.1   Ōdai, Taki
Kawazoe 川添 60.8  
Misedani 三瀬谷 67.9  
Takihara 滝原 73.0  
Aso 阿曽 77.1   Taiki, Watarai
Ise-Kashiwazaki 伊勢柏崎 82.2  
Ōuchiyama 大内山 86.9  
Umegadani 梅ヶ谷 89.5  
Kii-Nagashima 紀伊長島 98.4   Kihoku, Kitamuro
Minose 三野瀬 105.9  
Funatsu 船津 112.2  
Aiga 相賀 116.6  
Owase 尾鷲 123.3   Owase
Ōsoneura 大曽根浦 127.4  
Kuki 九鬼 134.4  
Mikisato 三木里 138.5  
Kata 賀田 142.6  
Nigishima 二木島 146.8   Kumano
Atashika 新鹿 150.8  
Hadasu 波田須 153.2  
Ōdomari 大泊 155.2  
Kumanoshi 熊野市 157.6  
Arii 有井 159.6  
Kōshiyama 神志山 164.1   Mihama, Minamimuro
Kii-Ichigi 紀伊市木 165.6  
Atawa 阿田和 168.4  
Kii-Ida 紀伊井田 173.8   Kihō, Minamimuro
Udono 鵜殿 176.6  
Shingū 新宮 180.2 Shingū Wakayama

Shingū to Wakayama (Kinokuni Line) (JR West)
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Shingū 新宮 180.2   ShingūWakayama
Miwasaki 三輪崎 184.9  
Kii-Sano 紀伊佐野 186.6  
Ukui 宇久井 188.7   Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro
Nachi 那智 193.0  
Kii-Temma 紀伊天満 193.9  
Kii-Katsuura 紀伊勝浦 195.1  
Yukawa 湯川 197.8  
Taiji 太地 199.9   Taiji, Higashimuro
Shimosato 下里 201.1   Nachikatsuura, Higashimuro
Kii-Uragami 紀伊浦神 205.0  
Kii-Tahara 紀伊田原 209.9   Kushimoto, Higashimuro
Koza 古座 215.0  
Kii-Hime 紀伊姫 218.9  
Kushimoto 串本 221.8  
Kii-Arita 紀伊有田 227.6  
Tanami 田並 229.4  
Tako 田子 233.7  
Wabuka 和深 236.4  
Esumi 江住 242.0   Susami, Nishimuro
Mirozu 見老津 245.0  
Susami 周参見 254.0  
Kii-Hiki 紀伊日置 261.2   Shirahama, Nishimuro
Tsubaki 椿 267.3  
Kii-Tonda 紀伊富田 272.5  
Shirahama 白浜 275.4  
Asso 朝来 279.7   Kamitonda, Nishimuro
Kii-Shinjō 紀伊新庄 283.2   Tanabe
Kii-Tanabe 紀伊田辺 285.4  
Haya 芳養 289.5  
Minabe 南部 294.5   Minabe, Hidaka
Iwashiro 岩代 299.6  
Kirime 切目 305.5   Inami, Hidaka
Inami 印南 309.3  
Inahara 稲原 313.6  
Wasa 和佐 320.4   Hidakagawa, Hidaka
Dōjōji 道成寺 324.7   Gobō
Gobō 御坊 326.3 Kishū Railway Line
Kii-Uchihara 紀伊内原 329.2   Hidaka, Hidaka
Kii-Yura 紀伊由良 334.5   Yura, Hidaka
Hirokawa Beach 広川ビーチ 341.3   Hirogawa, Arida
Yuasa 湯浅 343.9   Yuasa, Arida
Fujinami 藤並 347.3   Aridagawa, Arida
Kii-Miyahara 紀伊宮原 351.2   Arida
Minoshima 箕島 355.6  
Hatsushima 初島 358.1  
Shimotsu 下津 361.1   Kainan
Kamogō 加茂郷 363.8  
Shimizuura 冷水浦 367.7  
Kainan 海南 370.5  
Kuroe 黒江 372.3  
Kimiidera 紀三井寺 375.9   Wakayama
Miyamae 宮前 378.8  
Wakayama 和歌山 380.9 Hanwa Line (R54, through service to Tennōji), Wakayama Line
Kishigawa Line (01), Kisei Main Line

Wakayama to Wakayamashi (JR West)
Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Wakayama 和歌山 380.9 Hanwa Line (R54, through service to Tennōji), Wakayama Line
Kishigawa Line (01), Kinokuni Line		 Wakayama Wakayama
Kiwa 紀和 382.7  
Wakayamashi 和歌山市 384.2 Nankai Kada Line (Kada Sakana Line), Nankai Main Line, Nankai Wakayamako Line (NK45)

Rolling stock

JR Central

JR West

Passenger

Freight

History

The line is composed of sections opened by four different railway companies, which were then nationalised and linked by the JGR/JNR.

In 1891, the Kansai Railway opened the Kameyama to Tsu section, with the Sangu Railway opening the Tsu to Shoka section in 1893. At the western end, the Kiwa Railway opened the Wakayamashi to Wakayama section in 1903, and was acquired by the Kansai Railway the following year. The Kansai Railway and the Sangu Railway were nationalised in 1907. In 1912, the Shingu Railway opened the Kii-Katsuura to Miwasaki section, extending the line to Shingu the following year. The company was nationalised in 1934. On the eastern side of the Kii Peninsula, the Japanese Government Railway (JGR) extended the line from Shoka to Owase in sections between 1923 and 1934, whilst on the western side, it extended the line from Wakayama to Esumi in sections between 1924 and 1938. In 1935, the Kii-Katsuura to Taiji section was opened by JGR, extended to Kushimoto the following year, and to Esumi in 1940, providing a link to Wakayama and Osaka. The successor to JGR, the Japanese National Railways (JNR), opened the Owase to Shingu section in stages between 1956 and 1959, completing the line.

Double-tracking

The Akogi to Takajaya section was double-tracked in 1909, with the Matsusaka to Tokuwa section double-tracked two years later. In 1944, both sections were returned to single track and the recovered materials recycled for the Japanese war effort. The Wakayama to Kii-Tanabe section was double-tracked in stages between 1964 and 1978.

Electrification

The line was electrified between Wakayama and Shingu in 1978, with the Wakayama to Wakayamashi section being commissioned in 1984.

Other notable dates

CTC signalling was commissioned between Wakayama and Shingu in 1978, and extended to Kameyama in 1983.

Freight services ceased in 1986.

Former connecting lines
Arita Railway train, 2002
Nogami Electric Railway at Kainan
  • Akogi Station: The Chusei Railway operated a 6 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line between Iwatahashi and Hisai between 1909 and 1942. At Hisai, it connected to the Dainippon Railway 15 km 762 mm gauge line to Ise-Kawaguchi on the Meisho Line between 1925 and 1942.
  • Matsusaka Station: Mie Kotsu operated 20 km 762 mm line to Oishi between 1912 and 1964. The line was electrified at 600 V DC in 1927, although steam locomotives continued to be used until 1938.
  • Tokuwa Station: The Ise Electric Railway "main line" connected here between 1930 and 1941.
  • Funatsu Station: The Osugidani forest railway connected here to haul cedar. It was opened between 1929 and 1952 utilising 762 mm gauge, and featured a 17 km "main line" and nine branches of between 1 km and 11 km in length, as well as two cable-hauled inclines. The last line closed in 1974.
  • Fujinami Station: The 9 km Arita Railway line between Yuasa and Kanaya which operated between 1915 and 2003 connected at this station.
  • Kainan Station: The Nogami Electric Railway operated an 11 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Noburu-Yamaguchi between 1916 and 1994. Freight services operated between 1951 and 1971.
  • Wakayama station - A 3 km line to Higashi-Matsue on the Nankai Kada Line opened in 1912. The line was electrified at 600 VDC in 1930, and closed in 1955.
  • Kiwa Station: The Kishigawa Line commenced from this station from 1917 until the terminus was truncated 3 km to Wakayama in 1924.

See also

References
  1. 紀勢本線・参宮線でキハ11形からキハ25形へ置換え [Switch from KiHa 11 to KiHa 25 on Kisei Main Line and Sangu Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 3 August 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
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