The Fukuen Line (福塩線, Fukuen-sen) is a railway line in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Fukuyama Station in Fukuyama to Miyoshi Station in Miyoshi.

Fukuen Line
105 series EMUs at Yokoo Station, July 2011
Overview
Native name福塩線
OwnerLogo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West
LocaleHiroshima Prefecture
Termini
Stations27
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)JR West
Technical
Line length78.0 km (48.5 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead lines (Fukuyama–Fuchū)

Stations

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Line Name Distance (km) Transfers Location
Fukuen Line Fukuyama 福山 0.0   Sanyō Shinkansen
    Sanyō Main Line
Fukuyama Hiroshima
Bingo-Honjō 備後本庄 1.8  
Yokoo 横尾 6.1  
Kannabe 神辺 8.4 Ibara Railway Ibara Line
Yudamura 湯田村 10.4  
Michinoue 道上 11.3  
Managura 万能倉 13.4  
Ekiya 駅家 14.6  
Chikata 近田 16.0  
Tode 戸手 17.0  
Kamitode 上戸手 18.8  
Shin-ichi 新市 20.0  
Takagi 高木 21.7   Fuchū
Ukai 鵜飼 22.7  
Fuchū 府中 23.6
Shimo-Kawabe 下川辺 27.9  
Nakahata 中畑 31.8  
Kawasa 河佐 34.9  
Bingo-Mikawa 備後三川 42.4   Sera, Sera
Bingo-Yano 備後矢野 46.6   Fuchū
Jōge 上下 50.3  
Kōnu 甲奴 54.7   Miyoshi
Kajita 梶田 57.1  
Bingo-Yasuda 備後安田 62.3  
Kisa 吉舎 67.3  
Mirasaka 三良坂 73.6  
Shiomachi 塩町 78.0   Geibi Line
Geibi Line
Kamisugi 神杉 79.5  
Yatsugi 八次 82.8  
Miyoshi 三次 85.1   Geibi Line

Former connecting lines

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Rolling stock

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History

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The Ryobi Light Railway opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Fuchu in 1914, and electrified it at 750 V DC in 1927. The company was nationalised in 1933, the same year the Japanese Government Railway opened the Shiomachi to Kisa section of the line (then as an extension of the Geibi Line).[citation needed] The Fukuyama to Fuchu section was regauged to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) in 1935, the year the Kisa to Joge section opened. The two sections were connected with the opening of the Fuchu to Joge section in 1938.[citation needed]

The Fuchu to Shimo-Kawabe section was electrified in 1954, and whilst the voltage on the Fukuyama to Fuchu section was increased to 1500 V DC in 1961, the Fuchu to Shimo-Kawabe electrification was decommissioned the following year.[citation needed]

Freight services ceased in 1986, and in 1989, the 6,123 m Hattabara Tunnel and associated deviation were commissioned, shortening the route by 1.4 km.[citation needed]

Wanman driver only operation commenced on the non-electrified section between Fuchū and Miyoshi on 1 April 1991, using KiHa 120-300 DMUs.[1] Driver-only operation commenced on the electrified section between Fukuyama and Fuchū on 14 March 1992, using 105 series EMUs.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b JR気動車客車編成表 '04年版 [JR DMU & Coaching Stock Formations – 2004]. Japan: JRR. 1 July 2004. p. 199. ISBN 4-88283-125-2.