Biwako Line

Last updated
Biwako Line
JRW kinki-A.svg
JRW series223 Biwako.jpg
Biwako Line
Overview
Native name琵琶湖線
Owner JR West
Locale Kyoto Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture
Termini
  • Maibara
  • Kyoto (Tōkaidō Line)
    Nagahama (Hokuriku Line)
Stations23
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemUrban Network
Operator(s)JR West
JR Freight
History
OpenedMay 1, 1882 (as part of Tōkaidō Main Line)
March 13, 1988 (renamed as Biwako Line)
Technical
Line length75.4 km (46.9 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC overhead line
Operating speed130 km/h (81 mph)
Route map

Contents

BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon exSTRq.svg
Tōkaidō Main Line
BSicon BHF.svg
7.7
Nagahama
BSicon BHF.svg
4.7
Tamura
BSicon BHF.svg
2.4
Sakata
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon KBHFa.svg
0.0
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR+GRZq.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon LDER.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon KHSTa.svg
445.9
0.0
Maibara
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon HST.svg
451.9
6.0
Hikone
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STRl.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
455.2
9.3
Minami-Hikone
BSicon BHF.svg
458.3
12.4
Kawase
BSicon BHF.svg
462.0
16.1
Inae
BSicon BHF.svg
465.7
19.8
Notogawa
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
470.8
24.9
Azuchi
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon xABZq+l.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon KHSTe.svg
474.3
28.4
Ōmi-Hachiman
BSicon BHF.svg
478.3
32.4
Shinohara
BSicon BHF.svg
483.9
38.0
Yasu
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
487.0
41.1
Moriyama
BSicon BHF.svg
489.1
43.2
Rittō
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon STRq.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
491.4
45.5
Kusatsu
BSicon KRZWu.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
493.9
48.0
Minami-Kusatsu
BSicon BHF.svg
496.6
50.7
Seta
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon HST.svg
499.1
53.2
Ishiyama
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon HST.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
501.9
56.0
Zeze
BSicon eABZg+l.svg
BSicon eABZgr.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon eABZgl.svg
BSicon exSTR+r.svg
BSicon exSTR+l.svg
BSicon eABZgr.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon exKBHFe.svg
BSicon HST.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon BOOT.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
503.6
57.7
Ōtsu
Ōtsu Port
BSicon ABZgl.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
BSicon xKRZo.svg
BSicon STR+r.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon tSTRa.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
Ishiyama Sakamoto Line
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon exTUNNEL1.svg
BSicon TUNNEL1.svg
Ōsakayama Tunnel
BSicon tSTR+l.svg
BSicon tSTRr.svg
BSicon exBHF.svg
BSicon HST.svg
Ōtani
BSicon tSTR+r.svg
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon tSTRe.svg
BSicon tSTRe.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon xKRZu.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon STR+GRZq.svg
BSicon STR+GRZq.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon exSTR+GRZq.svg
Shiga/Kyoto border
BSicon STRl.svg
BSicon ABZg+r.svg
BSicon LSTR.svg
BSicon exSTRl.svg
BSicon exSTR+r.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon HST.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
508.1
62.2
Yamashina
BSicon tABZg+l.svg
BSicon KRZo.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon exBHF.svg
(old) Yamashina
BSicon tSTRa.svg
BSicon exSTR.svg
Higashiyama Tunnel
BSicon tSTR.svg
BSicon xABZg+l.svg
to Kizu
BSicon tSTRe.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
Inari
BSicon KRZo.svg
BSicon STRq.svg
BSicon HSTq.svg
BSicon KRZu.svg
left to Sanjō
BSicon STR.svg
BSicon STR+l.svg
BSicon BHFq.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon hKRZWae.svg
BSicon ABZg+l.svg
BSicon STRr.svg
BSicon BHF.svg
BSicon LDER.svg
513.6
67.7
Kyoto
BSicon ABZgr.svg
to Hatabu
BSicon LSTR.svg
To Osaka

The Biwako Line (琵琶湖線, Biwako-sen) is the nickname used by the operator of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to refer to the portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line (between Maibara Station and Kyoto Station) and the Hokuriku Main Line (between Maibara Station and Nagahama Station). The section, along with JR Kyoto Line and JR Kobe Line, forms a contiguous service that is the main trunk of JR West's "Urban Network" commuter rail network in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area.

Overview

The line is named after Lake Biwa (琵琶湖, Biwa-ko), which the route runs along. Line nicknames were introduced when the newly privatized JR West intended to use "familiar" names over official line names, such as Tōkaidō Main Line and Fukuchiyama Line. Biwako Line did not appear on the first list, and instead The JR Kyoto Line was to be called up to Maibara. A move in Shiga Prefecture opposed the name, claiming that the name of Kyoto Line in Shiga sounds like an auxiliary, requiring its own name in the prefecture. Biwako Line was thus made to refer to the section between Maibara and Kyoto.

The section of the name was extended to Nagahama, on the alteration of electric supply from 20 kV AC to 1,500 V DC, which enabled through operation to Kyoto and Osaka.

Although the "Biwako Line" nickname is used by the operator JR West for passenger announcements, the official status of Tōkaidō Main Line has not been changed or discussed. The counterpart for the line, Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) uses its official name "Tōkaidō Main Line" for the section of JR West, at the connections of Kyoto and Maibara. The "Biwako Line" nickname appears in some local newspapers and real estate advertisements. Frequent passengers understand that the Biwako, JR Kyoto, JR Kobe lines are in fact one line, however, public recognition of the name is still in question, especially among non-users along the line.

Trains

Stations

Stations are listed from east to west. The distance of Tokyo – Maibara is 445.9 km, and that of Tokyo – Kyoto is 513.6 km. Historically, the Tōkaidō Main Line continued from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond, through Maibara. In the Japanese timetable books, the distances from Tokyo are still shown in the table, although the Biwako Line's officially begins at Maibara.

Official line nameNo.StationJapaneseStopTransfersLocation
Local
(Commuter)
Local
(Suburban)
Special RapidWard, CityPrefecture
Through service from/to Hokuriku Main Line
Hokuriku Main Line  JR-A09  Nagahama 長浜 JRW kinki-A.svg Hokuriku Main Line for Ōmi-Shiotsu and Tsuruga Nagahama Shiga
 JR-A10  Tamura 田村
 JR-A11  Sakata 坂田 Maibara
 JR-A12  Maibara 米原 JR Central:

Ohmi Railway Main Line

Tōkaidō Main Line
 JR-A13  Hikone 彦根 Ohmi Railway Main Line Hikone
 JR-A14  Minami-Hikone 南彦根|
 JR-A15  Kawase 河瀬|
 JR-A16  Inae 稲枝|
 JR-A17  Notogawa 能登川 Higashiōmi
 JR-A18  Azuchi 安土| Ōmihachiman
 JR-A19  Ōmi-Hachiman 近江八幡 Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line
 JR-A20  Shinohara 篠原|
 JR-A21  Yasu 野洲 Yasu
 JR-A22  Moriyama 守山 Moriyama
 JR-A23  Rittō 栗東| Rittō
 JR-A24  Kusatsu 草津 JRW kinki-C.svg Kusatsu Line Kusatsu
 JR-A25  Minami-Kusatsu 南草津
 JR-A26  Seta 瀬田| Ōtsu
 JR-A27  Ishiyama 石山 Number prefix Otsu lines.png Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT03: Keihan Ishiyama Station)
 JR-A28  Zeze 膳所| Number prefix Otsu lines.png Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT09: Keihan Zeze Station)
 JR-A29  Ōtsu 大津
 JR-A30  Yamashina 山科 JRW kinki-B.svg Kosei Line (JR-B30)
Subway KyotoTozai.png Kyoto Municipal Subway Tōzai Line (T07)
Number prefix Otsu lines.png Keihan Keishin Line (OT31: Keihan Yamashina Station)
Yamashina-ku, Kyoto Kyoto
 JR-A31  Kyoto 京都 Shinkansen jrc.svg Tōkaidō Shinkansen
JRW kinki-A.svg JR Kyoto Line
JRW kinki-D.svg Nara Line (JR-D01)
JRW kinki-E.svg Sagano Line (Sanin Main Line) (JR-E01)
 B  Kintetsu Kyoto Line (B01)
Subway KyotoKarasuma.png Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line (K11)
Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Through service from/to JR Kyoto Line
Within JR Kyoto Line:Local

(Northbound only)

RapidSpecial Rapid

Rolling stock

Local

Special Rapid and Local

Limited Express

Former

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiga Prefecture</span> Prefecture of Japan

Shiga Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu. Shiga Prefecture has a population of 1,412,916 and has a geographic area of 4,017 km2 (1,551 sq mi). Shiga Prefecture borders Fukui Prefecture to the north, Gifu Prefecture to the northeast, Mie Prefecture to the southeast, and Kyoto Prefecture to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Japan Railway Company</span> Japanese railway company

The West Japan Railway Company, also referred to as JR West, is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshu. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka. It is listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange, is a constituent of the TOPIX Large70 index, and is also one of only three Japan Railways Group constituents of the Nikkei 225 index: the others are JR East and JR Central. It was also listed in the Nagoya and Fukuoka stock exchanges until late 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tōkaidō Main Line</span> Railway line in Japan

The Tōkaidō Main Line is a major Japanese railway line of the Japan Railways Group network, connecting Tokyo and Kōbe stations. It is 589.5 km (366.3 mi) long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities. The high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen largely parallels the line.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyōto Station</span> Major railway and metro station in Kyoto, Japan

Kyōto Station is a major railway station and transportation hub in Kyōto, Japan. It has Japan's second-largest station building and is one of the country's largest buildings, incorporating a shopping mall, hotel, movie theater, Isetan department store, and several local government facilities under one 15-story roof. It also housed the Kyōto City Air Terminal until August 31, 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shin-Ōsaka Station</span> Railway and metro station in Osaka, Japan

Shin-Osaka Station is a railway station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan. It is the western terminus of the high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen line from Tokyo, the eastern terminus of the San'yō Shinkansen and one of Osaka's main railway terminals to the north. The lines are physically joined, and many trains offer through service.

The Railway Construction Act was promulgated by the Diet of Japan on June 21, 1892, and designated government support for a network of thirty-three railway lines covering most of Japan, with the exception of Hokkaidō. On April 11, 1922, the Diet amended the law to add an additional network of regional and local routes. Today, these lines form the backbone of the national railway network, JR.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">JR Kyōto Line</span> Railway line in Keihanshin, Japan

The JR Kyōto Line is a commuter rail line in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company. The name applies to the section of the Tōkaidō Main Line between Kyōto Station and Ōsaka Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keihanshin</span> Metropolitan region in the Kansai region of Japan

Keihanshin is a metropolitan region in the Kansai region of Japan encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Kyoto in Kyoto Prefecture, Osaka in Osaka Prefecture and Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture. The entire region has a population of 19,302,746 over an area of 13,228 km2 (5,107 sq mi). It is the second-most-populated urban region in Japan, containing approximately 15% of Japan's population.

<i>Kitaguni</i> Former overnight train service (1961–2013)

The Kitaguni (きたぐに) was an overnight train service that operated in Japan from October 1961 until January 2013. Operated by West Japan Railway Company, it ran between Niigata and Osaka, taking approximately nine hours northbound and eight hours southbound. Reduced to seasonal operations in March 2012, the service was officially discontinued in January 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kosei Line</span> Railway line in Japan

The Kosei Line is a commuter rail line in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, operated by West Japan Railway Company. The line was completed in 1974 by the former Japanese National Railways (JNR) to provide faster access from the Kansai region to the Hokuriku region. It originates at Yamashina Station in Yamashina-ku, Kyoto and ends at Ōmi-Shiotsu Station in Nagahama, Shiga.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōtsu</span> Core city in Kansai, Japan

Ōtsu is the capital city of Shiga Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 October 2021, the city had an estimated population of 343,991 in 153,458 households and a population density of 740 persons per km2. The total area of the city is 464.51 square kilometres (179.35 sq mi).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">223 series</span> Japanese train type

The 223 series is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) in the Kansai region, Chūgoku region and s of Japan. Multiple batches of the model have been built with varying differences, although the overall general appearance remains similar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōmi-Shiotsu Station</span> Railway station in Nagahama, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Ōmi-Shiotsu Station is a junction passenger railway station located in the city of Nagahama, Shiga, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company. It is the northernmost station in Shiga Prefecture

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohmi Railway</span>

Ohmi Railway Co., Ltd. is a Japanese private railway company which operates in Shiga Prefecture, and a member of the Seibu group since 1943. The company is named after the Ōmi Province, the former name of the present-day Shiga. The railway is nicknamed "Gachakon train" by local users because of its noisy sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohmi Railway Main Line</span>

The Ohmi Railway Main Line is a regional railway line in Shiga Prefecture operated by the private railway operator Ohmi Railway. It connects the cities of Maibara and Koka. Its alignment is parallel with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen between Takamiya and Gokasho.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ōtsu Station</span> Railway station in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Ōtsu Station is a passenger railway station located in the city of Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yamashina Station</span> Railway and metro station in Kyoto, Japan

Yamashina Station is a train station in Yamashina-ku ward, city of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">221 series</span> Japanese train type

The 221 series is a suburban electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) in the Kansai Region of Japan since March 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">225 series</span> Japanese train type

The 225 series is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West) on suburban services in the "Keihanshin" Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area since December 2010.

Greater Kyoto is a metropolitan area in Japan encompassing Kyoto City, the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as its surrounding areas including Ōtsu, the capital of Shiga Prefecture.

References