Rikuu East Line

(Redirected from Riku'u East Line)

The Rikuu East Line (陸羽東線, Rikuu-tō-sen) is a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Kogota Station in Misato, Miyagi Prefecture to Shinjō Station in Shinjō, Yamagata Prefecture,[2] acting as a connector between the Tōhoku Main Line, Ōu Main Line, and Tōhoku Shinkansen in the southern Tōhoku region, and provides access to north-western Miyagi Prefecture and north-eastern Yamagata Prefecture.

Rikuu East Line
A Rikuu East Line diesel train near Mogami Station
Overview
Native name陸羽東線
StatusIn operation
Owner JR East
LocaleMiyagi and Yamagata Prefectures, Japan
Termini
Stations27
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)JR East
Depot(s)Kogota
Rolling stockKiHa 110 series DMU
History
Opened1913
Technical
Line length94.1 km (58.5 mi)[1]
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed95 km/h (59 mph) (Kogota - Naruko-Onsen)
85 km/h (53 mph) (Naruko-Onsen - Shinjō)
Route map

Its name refers to the ancient provinces of Mutsu (陸奥) and Dewa (出羽) (or alternatively, the Meiji period provinces of Rikuzen (前) and Uzen (前)), which the line connects.

History

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The Kogota - Naruko-Onsen section was opened in stages between 1913 and 1915, with the Shinjo - Naruko-Onsen section opened in stages between 1915 and 1917.

CTC signalling was commissioned in 1983, and freight services ceased in 1987.

The line celebrated its 100th anniversary on November 3, 2017, with a special train hauled by JNR Class DE10 locomotives.[2]

Former connecting lines

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  • Nishi-Furukawa station - A 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) narrow gauge line ultimately extending 44 km (27 mi) to Tori-Machi, and connecting to the Senzan Line at Toshogu station, was opened by the Sendai City Council between 1922 and 1929. It closed in sections between 1937 and 1960.

Station list

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Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers   Location
Kogota 小牛田 0.0 Misato Miyagi Prefecture
Kitaura 北浦 4.5
Rikuzen-Yachi 陸前谷地 6.6
Furukawa 古川 9.4   Tōhoku Shinkansen Ōsaki
Tsukanome 塚目 12.1
Nishi-Furukawa 西古川 15.9
Higashi-Ōsaki 東大崎 19.1
Nishi-Ōsaki 西大崎 21.9
Iwadeyama 岩出山 24.8
Yūbikan 有備館 25.8
Kaminome 上野目 28.6
Ikezuki 池月 32.4
Kawatabi-Onsen 川渡温泉 38.8
Naruko-Gotenyu 鳴子御殿湯 42.7
Naruko-Onsen 鳴子温泉 44.9
Nakayamadaira-Onsen 中山平温泉 50.0
Sakaida 堺田 55.3 Mogami Yamagata Prefecture
Akakura-Onsen 赤倉温泉 61.1
Tachikōji 立小路 62.8
Mogami 最上 65.6
Ōhori 大堀 69.5
Usugi 鵜杉 71.5
Semi-Onsen 瀬見温泉 75.0
Higashi-Nagasawa 東長沢 81.0 Funagata
Nagasawa 長沢 82.8
Minami-Shinjō 南新庄 89.2 Shinjō
Shinjō 新庄 94.1

Symbols:

  • | - Single-track
  • ◇ - Single-track; station where trains can pass
  • ∨ - Single-track section starts from this point

Rolling stock

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Resort Minori (This train was withdrawn 10 August 2020[3])

Past

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References

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  1. ^ ""陸羽東線全線開通100年号"運転" ["Rikuu East Line whole line opening 100 years" operation]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. November 3, 2017. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Miki, Kazuya (November 4, 2017). "陸羽東線にディーゼル列車、100周年祝う 宮城・山形" [A diesel train on the Rikuu East Line celebrates 100 years Miyagi and Yamagata]. Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 12, 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  3. ^ About operating "Thank Resort Minori" and establishing a new special page
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