Muroran Main Line
Encyclopedia
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
operated by Hokkaido Railway Company
Hokkaido Railway Company
The is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....
(JR Hokkaido), between Oshamambe Station
Oshamambe Station
is a railway station in Oshamambe, Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company .-Lines:Oshamambe Station is served by the Hakodate Main Line from to and the Muroran Main Line to ....
in Oshamambe and Iwamizawa Station
Iwamizawa Station
is a railway station on the JR Hokkaido. It is located in Iwamizawa, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station structure:The station has three platforms serving five tracks.PlatformsOrdinary tickets, express tickets, and reserved-seat tickets for all JR lines are on sale....
in Iwamizawa
Iwamizawa, Hokkaido
is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.On March 27, 2006 the town of Kurisawa, and the village of Kita, both from Sorachi District, Sorachi Subprefecture, have merged into Iwamizawa....
, running through the coast of Iburi Subprefecture
Iburi Subprefecture
is a subprefecture of Hokkaidō, Japan.- Geography :Located in south-central Hokkaido, Iburi stretches East-West and North-South. Iburi covers an area of . Iburi borders Oshima subprefecture to the West, Shiribeshi, Ishikari, and Sorachi subprefectures to the North, and Hidaka subprefecture to the...
. There also is a branch line within Muroran
Muroran, Hokkaido
is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 96,724 and a density of 1,210 people per km². The total area is 80.65 km².- History :...
, between Higashi-muroran
Higashi-Muroran Station
is a railway station on the JR Hokkaido Muroran Main Line. It is located in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.- Station layout :* Above-ground station with two platforms serving four tracks.Platforms...
and Muroran Station
Muroran Station
is a JR Hokkaidō railway station located in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station layout:*bay platform with 2-ways.-Adjacent stations:...
.
The 28.7 km (17.8 mi.) section between Shiraoi and Numanohata is the longest straight railway section in Japan.
Basic Data
- Operators, distances
- Hokkaido Railway CompanyHokkaido Railway CompanyThe is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group , and thus often known as . It operates intercity rail services in Hokkaido, Japan. The company introduced Kitaca, a smart card ticketing system, from autumn 2008....
(Services and tracks)- From Oshamambe to Iwamizawa: 211.0 km
- From Higashi-Muroran to Muroran: 7.0 km
- Japan Freight Railway CompanyJapan Freight Railway Company, or , is one of the constituent companies of Japan Railways Group . It provides transportation of cargo nationwide. Its headquarters are in Shibuya, Tokyo near Shinjuku Station....
(Services)- From Oshamambe to Iwamizawa: 211.0 km
- Hokkaido Railway Company
- Stations: 47, including 1 freight terminal and 1 signal boxSignal boxOn a rail transport system, signalling control is the process by which control is exercised over train movements by way of railway signals and block systems to ensure that trains operate safely, over the correct route and to the proper timetable...
- GaugeRail gaugeTrack gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
: 1067 mm - Track:
- Double: 176.7 km
- From Oshamambe to Tōya: 41.5 km
- From Usu to Nagawa: 4.9 km
- From Mareppu to Mikawa: 118.2 km
- From Muroran to Higashi-Muroran: 7.0 km
- Single: the remainder
- Double: 176.7 km
- Electric supply:
- From Muroran to Numanohata: 74.9 km (20,000 V AC)
- Other sections are not electrified.
- Block system: Automatic
History
In 1892, opened the line from Muroran (now Higashi-muroran) to Iwamizawa. The line was built to link coal minesCoal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
in inland and Muroran Port. The line extended to the current Muroran in 1897.
The section between Oshamambe and Higashi-Muroan, on the other hand, was built as by , which later becomes Japanese National Railways
Japanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
. The line was built to bypass the mountainous section of Hakodate Main Line
Hakodate Main Line
is a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company ....
, as well as to link the inland Iburi and Muroran Port. Osawa line completed in 1928. The two lines were merged into one in 1931, renamed as Muroran Main Line.
Historically, the line mainly functioned as a freight line. However, from 1960s, the line's primary function shifted to a passenger service. Currently, all the intercity
Inter-city rail
Inter-city rail services are express passenger train services that cover longer distances than commuter or regional trains.There is no precise definition of inter-city rail. Its meaning may vary from country to country...
express trains between Sapporo and Hakodate run this "bypass" route, not the northbound Hakodate Main Line route.
Services
The section between Oshamambe and Numanohata is the part of the main link route between SapporoSapporo Station
is a train station located in Kita-ku and Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is served by Hakodate Main Line and other lines of Hokkaido Railway Company , and is also connected to the Sapporo Subway. The JR Hokkaido part is in Kita-ku while the Sapporo Subway part is in Chūō-ku.Sapporo Station...
and Hakodate
Hakodate Station
is a railway station in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company . It is the terminus of the Hakodate Main Line and the Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line; Hakodate Municipal Transit streetcars stop at the adjacent Hakodate Eki-mae Station....
. As such, the limited express trains Super Hokuto
Super Hokuto
The and are limited express train services between and in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company . The journey time of the Super Hokuto is approximately 3 hours, faster than that of the Hokuto....
and Hokuto run between two cities once per 1 to 2 hours, as well as Suzuran
Suzuran
is the name of a limited express train service operated by Hokkaido Railway Company between and in Hokkaido, Japan. The current limited express service was introduced in July 1992, but the name was first used from 1956 for an express service operated by JNR between and Sapporo. "Suzuran" is the...
between Sapporo and Muroran
Muroran Station
is a JR Hokkaidō railway station located in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station layout:*bay platform with 2-ways.-Adjacent stations:...
.
There also are sleeper
Sleeping car
The sleeping car or sleeper is a railway/railroad passenger car that can accommodate all its passengers in beds of one kind or another, primarily for the purpose of making nighttime travel more restful. The first such cars saw sporadic use on American railroads in the 1830s and could be configured...
trains between Honshu
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and Hokkaido
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
, such as Hokutosei
Hokutosei
The is a limited express sleeping car train service in Japan which connects Ueno Station in Tokyo and Sapporo Station in the northern island of Hokkaido, taking approximately 16½ hours...
, Cassiopeia
Cassiopeia (train)
The is a luxury overnight limited express train service in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company . It runs between Ueno Station in Tokyo and the city of Sapporo in the northern island of Hokkaido. The one-way journey lasts approximately 16½ hours.Going from Ueno to Sapporo, trains call...
, Twilight Express
Twilight Express
The is the longest overnight train service operating in Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company , it runs between the city of Sapporo on the northern island of Hokkaido and Osaka on south-western Honshu...
, and Hamanasu.
As for the local service, the line is roughly divided into four sections, namely the section between Oshamambe and Higashi-Muroran, between Higashi-Muroran and Muroran, between Higashi-Muroran and Tomakomai, and between Tomakomai and Iwamizawa. The last section was once an important freight route, but became a quiet local line after coal mines closed.
Stations
| Station | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Line | |||||
| H47 | Oshamambe Oshamambe Station is a railway station in Oshamambe, Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company .-Lines:Oshamambe Station is served by the Hakodate Main Line from to and the Muroran Main Line to .... |
長万部 | 0.0 | ■ Hakodate Main Line Hakodate Main Line is a railway line between the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company .... |
Oshamambe, Yamakoshi Yamakoshi District, Hokkaido is a district located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 7,424 and a density of 23.89 persons per km²... |
| H46 | Shizukari Shizukari Station is a railway station in Oshamambe, Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company .-Adjacent stations:... |
静狩 | 10.6 | ||
| H45 | Koboro Koboro Station is a railway station in Oshamambe, Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company .-Station structure:* 2-way, 3-track.* The station is in the narrow place between two long tunnels... |
小幌 | 17.5 | Toyoura Toyoura, Hokkaido is a town located in Abuta District, Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 4,653 and a density of 21.95 persons per km². The total area is 233.54 km².-External links:... , Abuta Abuta District, Hokkaido is a district located in Iburi and Shiribeshi Subprefectures in Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 31,526 and a density of 28.30 persons per km²... |
|
| H44 | Rebun Rebun Station is a train station in Toyoura, Abuta District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
礼文 | 23.6 | ||
| H43 | Ōkishi Ōkishi Station is a train station in Toyoura, Abuta District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
大岸 | 27.7 | ||
| H42 | Toyoura Toyoura Station is a train station in Toyoura, Abuta District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
豊浦 | 36.1 | ||
| H41 | Tōya | 洞爺 | 41.5 | Tōyako Toyako, Hokkaido is a town in Abuta District, Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. This town was formed on 23 March 2006 through the merger of the town Abuta and the village of Tōya... , Abuta |
|
| H40 | Usu Usu Station is a train station in Date, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
有珠 | 46.6 | Date Date, Hokkaido is a city located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan.Date was established around 1869 and became a city on April 1, 1972.Date lies at the conjunction of National Highway Route 37 and Route 453.... |
|
| H39 | Nagawa Nagawa Station is a train station in Date, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
長和 | 51.5 | ||
| H38 | Date-Mombetsu Date-Mombetsu Station is a train station in Date, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
伊達紋別 | 54.5 | ||
| H37 | Kita-Funaoka Kita-Funaoka Station is a train station in Date, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
北舟岡 | 57.4 | ||
| H36 | Mareppu Mareppu Station is a train station in Date, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
稀府 | 60.6 | ||
| H35 | Kogane Kogane Station (Hokkaidō) is a train station in Date, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
黄金 | 65.1 | ||
| H34 | Sakimori Sakimori Station is a train station in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
崎守 | 67.3 | Muroran Muroran, Hokkaido is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is the capital city of Iburi Subprefecture.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 96,724 and a density of 1,210 people per km². The total area is 80.65 km².- History :... |
|
| Jinyamachi Freight Terminal | 陣屋町(貨) | 69.7 | |||
| H33 | Moto-Wanishi Moto-Wanishi Station is a train station in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
本輪西 | 72.7 | ||
| H32 | Higashi-Muroran Higashi-Muroran Station is a railway station on the JR Hokkaido Muroran Main Line. It is located in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.- Station layout :* Above-ground station with two platforms serving four tracks.Platforms... |
東室蘭 | 77.2 | ■ Muroran Main Line (Branch Line) | |
| Higashi-Muroran Freight Terminal | 東室蘭(貨) | 78.2 | |||
| H31 | Washibetsu Washibetsu Station is a railway station on the Muroran Main Line of Hokkaido Railway Company located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan. The station is assigned the station number H31.The station was opened by Hokkaido Colliery and Railway Company on December 1, 1901.... |
鷲別 | 79.1 | Noboribetsu Noboribetsu, Hokkaido is a city in Iburi subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan. Part of Shikotsu-Toya National Park, it is southwest of Sapporo, west of Tomakomai and northeast of Hakodate. The name, Noboribetsu, derives from an Ainu word, nupur-pet, which means dark-coloured river.... |
|
| H30 | Horobetsu Horobetsu Station is a railway station on the Muroran Main Line of Hokkaido Railway Company located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan. The station is assigned the station number H30.... |
幌別 | 86.8 | ||
| H29 | Tomiura Tomiura Station (Hokkaido) is a railway station on the Muroran Main Line located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan operated by Hokkaido Railway Company .... |
富浦 | 92.3 | ||
| H28 | Noboribetsu Noboribetsu Station is a railway station on the Muroran Main Line of Hokkaido Railway Company located in Noboribetsu, Hokkaidō, Japan. The station is assigned the station number H28.... |
登別 | 94.7 | ||
| H27 | Kojōhama Kojōhama Station is a train station in Shiraoi, Shiraoi District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
虎杖浜 | 98.1 | Shiraoi Shiraoi, Hokkaido is a town located in Shiraoi District, Iburi, Hokkaidō, Japan. As of 31 May 2008, the town had a population of 20,371 The town was established in 1867 by the feudal lords of Sendai. Most of the area of the town is forested and parts lie within the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park.-History:Shiraoi like... , Shiraoi Shiraoi District, Hokkaido is a district located in Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 20,866 and a density of 49.01 persons per km². The total area is 425.75 km².-Towns and villages:*Shiraoi... |
|
| H26 | Takeura Takeura Station Takeura Station is a railway station of Muroran Main Line located in Hokkaidō, Japan.... |
竹浦 | 102.9 | ||
| H25 | Kita-yoshihara Kita-Yoshihara Station Kita-Yoshihara Station is a railway station of Muroran Main Line located in Hokkaidō, Japan.... |
北吉原 | 105.7 | ||
| H24 | Hagino Hagino Station is a train station in Shiraoi, Shiraoi District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
萩野 | 107.8 | ||
| H23 | Shiraoi Shiraoi Station is a train station in Shiraoi, Shiraoi District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
白老 | 113.6 | ||
| H22 | Shadai Shadai Station is a train station in Shiraoi, Shiraoi District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
社台 | 119.1 | ||
| H21 | Nishikioka Nishikioka Station is a train station in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
錦岡 | 125.4 | Tomakomai Tomakomai, Hokkaido is a city and port located in Iburi, Hokkaido, Japan. Though its name implies a small, idyllic town, it is the largest city in the Iburi Subprefecture. As of 2008, it had an estimated population of 173,504 and a population density of 310 persons per km²... |
|
| H20 | Itoi Itoi Station is a train station in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
糸井 | 130.6 | ||
| H19 | Aoba Aoba Station is a train station in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
青葉 | 132.8 | ||
| H18 | Tomakomai Tomakomai Station is a railway station in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company .-Station layout:* Above-ground station with two platforms serving four tracks.... |
苫小牧 | 135.2 | Hidaka Main Line | |
| Tomakomai Freight Terminal | 苫小牧(貨) | 138.6 | |||
| H17 | Numanohata Numanohata Station is a railway station on the Chitose Line and the Muroran Main Line of JR Hokkaidō located in Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan.... |
沼ノ端 | 144.0 | ■ Chitose Line Chitose Line is a railway line in Hokkaidō operated by JR Hokkaidō, between Numanohata, Tomakomai and Shiroishi Station, Shiroishi Ward, Sapporo, linking Muroran Main Line and Hakodate Main Line. There also is a branch line to New Chitose Airport.-Basic Data:... |
|
| Toasa Toasa Station is a train station in Abira, Yūfutsu District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
遠浅 | 152.9 | Abira Abira, Hokkaido is a town in Yufutsu District, Iburi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.Abira was founded on March 27, 2006 by the merger of the towns of Hayakita and Oiwake, both from Yufutsu District.... , Yūfutsu Yufutsu District, Hokkaido is a district divided between Iburi and Kamikawa Subprefectures.-Towns and villages:*Iburi**Abira **Atsuma**Mukawa*Kamikawa**Shimukappu-History:... |
||
| Hayakita Hayakita Station is a train station in Abira, Yūfutsu District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
早来 | 158.3 | |||
| Abira Abira Station is a train station in Abira, Yūfutsu District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
安平 | 164.0 | |||
| K15 | Oiwake Oiwake Station (Hokkaido) is a railway station on the JR Hokkaido. It is located in Abira, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station structure:The above-ground station has two platforms serving four tracks.Platforms- Adjacent stations :Hokkaido Railway Company... |
追分 | 170.8 | ■ Sekishō Line Sekisho Line The is a railway line in Japan operated by Hokkaido Railway Company . The main Sekishō Line runs between in Chitose and Shintoku Station in the town of Shintoku. A branch line runs from to... |
|
| Mikawa Mikawa Station (Hokkaidō) is a train station in Yuni, Yūbari District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
三川 | 178.8 | Yuni Yuni, Hokkaido is a town located in Yūbari District, Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 6,410 and a density of 49.88 persons per km². The total area is 133.86 km².-External links:* in Japanese... , Yūbari Yubari District, Hokkaido is a district located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2004, the district has an estimated population of 33,253 and a density of 65.71 persons per km². The total area is 506.06 km².-Towns and villages:*Kuriyama*Naganuma*Yuni... |
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| Furusan Furusan Station is a train station in Yuni, Yūbari District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
古山 | 182.2 | |||
| Yuni Yuni Station is a train station in Yuni, Yūbari District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
由仁 | 186.4 | |||
| Kuriyama Kuriyama Station is a train station in Kuriyama, Yūbari District, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
栗山 | 191.5 | Kuriyama Kuriyama, Hokkaido is a town located in Yūbari District, Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.As of 2007, the town has an estimated population of 14,089 and a density of 69.73 persons per km². The total area is 203.84 km².-External links:* in Japanese... , Yūbari |
||
| Kurioka Kurioka Station is a train station in Iwamizawa, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
栗丘 | 195.7 | Iwamizawa Iwamizawa, Hokkaido is a city located in Sorachi Subprefecture, Hokkaidō, Japan.On March 27, 2006 the town of Kurisawa, and the village of Kita, both from Sorachi District, Sorachi Subprefecture, have merged into Iwamizawa.... |
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| Kurisawa Kurisawa Station is a train station in Iwamizawa, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
栗沢 | 199.6 | |||
| Shibun Shibun Station is a train station in Iwamizawa, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
志文 | 203.9 | |||
| A13 | Iwamizawa Iwamizawa Station is a railway station on the JR Hokkaido. It is located in Iwamizawa, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station structure:The station has three platforms serving five tracks.PlatformsOrdinary tickets, express tickets, and reserved-seat tickets for all JR lines are on sale.... |
岩見沢 | 211.0 | ■ Hakodate Main Line | |
| Branch Line | |||||
| H32 | Higashi-Muroran | 東室蘭 | 0.0 | ■ Muroran Main Line (Main Line) | Muroran |
| M33 | Wanishi Wanishi Station is a train station in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
輪西 | 2.3 | ||
| M34 | Misaki Misaki Station (Hokkaidō) is a train station in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
御崎 | 4.2 | ||
| M35 | Bokoi Bokoi Station is a train station in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... |
母恋 | 5.9 | ||
| M36 | Muroran Muroran Station is a JR Hokkaidō railway station located in Muroran, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Station layout:*bay platform with 2-ways.-Adjacent stations:... |
室蘭 | 7.0 | ||