Kusatsu Line

Last updated
Kusatsu Line
JRW kinki-C.svg
JR West series 113 5700 subset running between Mikumo and Kibukawa.jpg
113 series on the Kusatsu Line
Overview
Native name草津線
Owner JR logo (west).svg JR West
Locale Mie Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture
Termini
Stations11
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemUrban Network
Rolling stock
  • 113 series EMU
  • 117 series EMU
  • 221 series EMU
  • 223-1000 series EMU
  • 223-2000 series EMU
  • 225-0 series EMU
  • 225-100 series EMU
History
Opened1889
Technical
Line length36.7 km (22.8 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC (overhead line)
Operating speed95 km/h (59 mph)

The Kusatsu Line (草津線, Kusatsu-sen) is a railway line in western Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Tsuge on the Kansai Main Line with Kusatsu on the Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line).

Contents

History

The Kansai Railway Co. opened the entire line in 1889/90, and was nationalised in 1907.

CTC signalling was commissioned in 1979, the line was electrified in 1980 and freight services ceased in 1987.

Construction of a new station, "Minami-Biwako", began in May 2006 and was planned to be completed in 2012; the station was proposed to allow passengers to transfer between the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Kusatsu lines; however, in September 2006, the Otsu district court concluded that Ritto City issuing bonds to fund the station's construction was illegal under local finance law and the project was halted; the project was officially abandoned in October 2007.

Stations

Stationkm from
Tsuge
ConnectionsLocation
Tsuge 柘植0.0 JRW kinki-V.svg Kansai Main Line Iga, Mie Prefecture
Aburahi 油日5.3  Kōka Shiga Prefecture
Kōka 甲賀7.4 
Terashō 寺庄10.5 
Kōnan 甲南12.5 
Kibukawa 貴生川15.3 Shigaraki Kōgen Railway Shigaraki Line
Ohmi Railway Main Line
Mikumo 三雲20.5  Konan
Kōsei 甲西24.3 
Ishibe 石部27.6 
Tehara 手原32.7  Ritto
Kusatsu 草津36.7 JRW kinki-A.svg Tokaido Main Line (Biwako Line) Kusatsu
Continuing service on the Biwako Line to Kyoto Station in mornings and evenings, and to Osaka Station in mornings only.

Train stops at all stations and operates as a local train within the line.

See also

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References