Kusatsu Line

Not to be confused with Kusatsu (train), operated by JR East.

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).

Kusatsu Line
113 series on the Kusatsu Line
Overview
Native name	草津線
Status	Operational
Owner	JR West
Locale	Mie Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture
Termini	Tsuge Kusatsu
Stations	11
Service
Type	Heavy rail
System	Urban 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
Opened	1889 (1889)
Technical
Line length	36.7 km (22.8 miles)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC, overhead catenary
Operating speed	95 km/h (59 mph)
Route map Legend Kansai Main Line 0.0 Tsuge (柘植) Kansai Main Line River Kurabe 5.3 Aburahi (油日) River Ichino 7.4 Kōka (甲賀) Shin-Meishin Expressway (E1A) 10.5 Terashō (寺庄) 12.5 Kōnan (甲南) Shigaraki Kohgen Railway 15.3 Kibukawa (貴生川) Ohmi Railway Main Line River Soma 20.5 Mikumo (三雲) River Osa 24.3 Kōsei (甲西) 27.6 Ishibe (石部) Meishin Expressway (E1) 32.7 Tehara (手原) National Route 8 Prefectural Route 31 Tōkaidō Shinkansen Tōkaidō Main Line 36.7 Kusatsu (草津) Tōkaidō Main Line

Overview

Kusatsu line mainly runs through area around Kōka City, on the mostly flat terrain along Somagawa and Yasu Rivers. Due to the long distance between consecutive stations, the scheduled speed is fast for a single-track train, with a top speed of 95 km/h.^[1] The symbol of the route is C.^[2]

History

The Kansai Railway Co. opened the entire line in 1889/90, and was nationalised in 1907. The section of railway between Kusatsu Station and Tsuge Station received the name "Kusatsu Line" on October 12, 1909.^[3]

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

Station		km from Tsuge	Connections	Location
Tsuge	柘植	0.0	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	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

• List of railway lines in Japan