Tazawako Line

Tazawako Line
File:2022-10-31 Shinkansen E6 on Akita Shinkansen.jpg Series E6 Shinkansen EMU runs on Tazawako Line
Overview
Native name	田沢湖線
Locale	Iwate, Akita prefectures
Termini	Morioka Ōmagari
Stations	18
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	701 series
History
Opened	25 June 1921 (1921-06-25)
Technical
Line length	75.6 km (47.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	20,000 V AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map File:JR Tazawako Line linemap.svg km File:BSicon CONTg@G.svg File:BSicon CONTg@G.svg Tōhoku Shinkansen │ Tōhoku Main Line File:BSicon dBHF-L.svg File:BSicon dKBHFa-M.svg File:BSicon dBHF-M.svg File:BSicon dKBHFa-R.svg 0.0 Morioka Akita Shinkansen File:BSicon dSTR.svg File:BSicon vÜSTr.svg File:BSicon dSTR.svg File:BSicon dCONTgq.svg File:BSicon cSTRq.svg File:BSicon dKRZo.svg File:BSicon dSTRr.svg File:BSicon SPLe.svg File:BSicon dSTR.svg Yamada Line File:BSicon ABZgl.svg File:BSicon dKRZu.svg File:BSicon ABZg+r.svg File:BSicon CONTf.svg File:BSicon dCONTf.svg File:BSicon STR.svg Tōhoku Shinkansen │ Iwate Galaxy Railway Line File:BSicon HST.svg 3.4 Maegata File:BSicon HST.svg 6.0 Ōkama File:BSicon HST.svg 10.5 Koiwai File:BSicon BHF.svg 16.0 Shizukuishi Akita Shinkansen File:BSicon HST.svg 18.7 Harukiba File:BSicon HST.svg 22.0 Akabuchi File:BSicon exKHSTaq.svg File:BSicon eABZgr.svg Hashiba closed 1944 File:BSicon BUILDINGr.svg File:BSicon PSL.svg 28.6 Ochizawa signal box File:BSicon tSTRa@g.svg Sengan Tunnel 3.915 mi 6.301 km File:BSicon GRZq-.svg File:BSicon tSTRe@f.svg Iwate Prefecture Akita Prefecture File:BSicon BUILDINGr.svg File:BSicon dPSL.svg 34.4 Shiodonai signal box File:BSicon BHF.svg 40.1 Akita ShinkansenTazawako File:BSicon HST.svg 44.4 Sashimaki File:BSicon HST.svg 52.8 Jindai File:BSicon HST.svg 55.3 Shōden File:BSicon CONTgq.svg File:BSicon ABZg+r.svg Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line File:BSicon BHF.svg 58.8 Kakunodate Akita Shinkansen File:BSicon HST.svg 61.6 Uguisuno File:BSicon HST.svg 64.6 Ugo-Nagano File:BSicon HST.svg 67.9 Yariminai File:BSicon HST.svg 70.2 Ugo-Yotsuya File:BSicon HST.svg 72.0 Kita-Ōmagari File:BSicon CONTgq.svg File:BSicon ABZg+r.svg Ōu Main Line File:BSicon BHF.svg 75.6 Ōmagari Akita Shinkansen File:BSicon CONTf@F.svg Ōu Main Line

The Tazawako Line (田沢湖線, Tazawako-sen) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) connecting Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate and Ōmagari Station in Daisen, Akita, Japan.

Akita Shinkansen Komachi trains travel over the line, which was regauged in 1997 from 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in).

History

The section from Morioka to Shizukuishi opened on 25 June 1921, as the Hashiba Light Railway (橋場軽便), and was extended to Hashiba on 2 September 1922. Services to Hashiba Station ended in the 1940s.

The Omagari - Jindai section was opened in 1921 and extended to Tazawako in 1923.

In 1964, the Shizukuishi to Akabuchi section opened, and upon completion of the 3,915 m (2.433 mi) Sengan Tunnel, the Akabuchi to Tazawako section opened on 20 October 1966, completing the line.

Freight services ceased in 1982, the year the entire line was electrified.

In 1997, the line was converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge, and became part of the Akita Shinkansen, with standard-gauge electric multiple unit (EMU) trains providing local services on the line.

In January 2022 it was announced that Maegata Station would be added between Morioka Station and Ōkama Station. Maegata station opened for service on 18 March 2023.

Station list

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) from Morioka	Transfers		Location
Morioka	盛岡	0.0	Akita Shinkansen, Tohoku Shinkansen, Tohoku Main Line, Yamada Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line	v	Morioka	Iwate
Maegata	前潟	3.4		｜
Ōkama	大釜	6.0		◇	Takizawa
Koiwai	小岩井	10.5		◇
Shizukuishi	雫石	16.0	Akita Shinkansen	◇	Shizukuishi
Harukiba	春木場	18.7		｜
Akabuchi	赤渕	22.0		◇
Tazawako	田沢湖	40.1	Akita Shinkansen	◇	Senboku	Akita
Sashimaki	刺巻	44.4		◇
Jindai	神代	52.8		◇
Shōden	生田	55.3		｜
Kakunodate	角館	58.8	Akita Shinkansen, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line	◇
Uguisuno	鶯野	61.6		｜	Daisen
Ugo-Nagano	羽後長野	64.6		◇
Yariminai	鑓見内	67.9		｜
Ugo-Yotsuya	羽後四ツ屋	70.2		◇
Kita-Ōmagari	北大曲	72.0		｜
Ōmagari	大曲	75.6	Ōu Main Line, Akita Shinkansen (for Akita)	^

Passing loops

• Ōchizawa passing loop (大地沢信号場, Ōchizawa-shingōjō) is a passing loop located in Shizukuishi, Iwate. ()
• Shidonai passing loop (志度内信号場, Shidonai-shingōjō) is a passing loop located in Senboku, Akita.()

Rolling stock

As of 2022, 701-5000 series trains belonging to Akita General Rolling Stock Center are used on this line.

External links

• Stations of the Tazawako Line (JR East) (in Japanese)