Tōhoku Main Line

The Tōhoku Main Line (Japanese: 東北本線, romanized: Tōhoku-honsen) is a 575.7-kilometre-long (357.7 mi) railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The line starts from Tokyo Station in Chiyoda, Tokyo and passes through such cities as Saitama, Utsunomiya, Fukushima, and Sendai, before reaching the end of the line in Morioka. The line originally extended to Aomori, but was truncated upon the extension of the Tōhoku Shinkansen beyond Morioka, which mostly parallels the Tōhoku Main Line. A portion of the Tōhoku Main Line is also shared with the Keihin–Tōhoku Line (29.6 km (18.4 mi) between Tokyo Station and Ōmiya Station in Ōmiya-ku, Saitama) and the Saikyō Line (18 km (11 mi) between Akabane Station in the Kita ward of Tokyo and Ōmiya Station).

Tōhoku Main Line
An E721 series EMU pulling into Nagamachi
Overview
Native name	東北本線
Owner	JR East
Locale	Kantō, Tōhoku
Termini	Tokyo Morioka
Service
Type	Main line
History
Opened	28 July 1883; 141 years ago (1883-07-28)
Last extension	1 September 1891; 133 years ago (1891-09-01)
Technical
Line length	575.7 km (357.7 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead catenary with 1,500 V DC from Tokyo to Kuroiso 20 kV AC 50 Hz from Takaku to Morioka
Operating speed	120 km/h (75 mph)
Route map Tōhoku Main Line in red Legend Tokyo see Utsunomiya Line Tōhoku Shinkansen 163.3 Kuroiso 167.3 Takaku 171.5 0.0* Kurodahara 3.4* Kurogawa signal-1920 176.7 Toyohara Tochigi Prefecture/Fukushima Prefecture 182.0 Shirasaka 185.4 Shin-Shirakawa Hakuhō Line 188.2 Shirakawa 192.9 Kutano 197.4 Izumizaki 203.4 Yabuki 208.8 Kagamiishi 215.1 Sukagawa Suigun Line 221.8 Asaka-Nagamori 223.4 Kōriyama Freight Terminal 226.7 Kōriyama Miharu Horse Tramway ←Ban'etsu East Line Ban'etsu West Line→ 232.4 Hiwada 236.9 Gohyakugawa 240.7 Motomiya 246.6 Sugita 250.3 Nihonmatsu 254.5 Adachi 259.5 Matsukawa Kawamata Line 264.0 Kanayagawa 269.4 Minami-Fukushima Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka East Line 272.8 Fukushima Yamagata Shinkansen Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka Line Ōu Main Line 277.4 Yanome Signal Box Abukuma Express Line 278.8 Higashi-Fukushima Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka East Line 281.9 Date Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka East Line 285.9 Koori 289.3 Fujita 294.9 Kaida Fukushima Prefecture/Miyagi Prefecture 298.6 Kosugō 303.7 Nakame signal-1966 Shiroishi-Zaō Station 306.8 Shiroshi 311.0 Higashi-Shiroishi 313.9 Tsuda provisional signal-1911 315.3 Kita-Shirakawa Sennan Onsen Tramway 320.1 Ōgawara 323.1 Funaoka Abukuma Express Line Kakuda Tramway 327.7 Tsukinoki Jōban Line 334.2 Iwanuma 337.9 Tatekoshi Sendai Airport Transit: Sendai Airport Line 341.4 Natori Zōtō Tramway 344.1 Minami-Sendai Natori River 346.3 Tashidō Sennan Kōtsū 347.3 0.0# Nagamachi Sendai Tramway Hirose River Miyagino Freight Line 1.4 3.8# 0.0 Sendai Freight Terminal 348.8 349.9 351.8 Sendai Senseki Line 353.2 Senzan Line 355.8 6.6# Higashi-Sendai 357.5 Higashi-Sendai Signal Box Nanakita River 359.9 0.0* Iwakiri Shin-Rifu Branch Line 362.2 Rikuzen-Sannō Sendai Rinkai Railway Rinkai Main Line 363.5 Kokufu-Tagajō Shiogama Line 365.2 Shiogama Shiogama Tunnel 2.5* Shin-Rifu Sendai Shinkansen Depot 4.2* Rifu 369.1 Kita-Shiogama (signal)-1962 Senseki Line Rikuzen-Hamada 9.9* Akanuma signal-1962 Matsushima-Kaigan 2015- 375.2 Matsushima (2) 15.8* Matsushima (1) -1962 Matsushima Railroad 377.2 Atago 381.6 21.2* Shinainuma 386.6 Kashimadai 391.5 Matsuyama-Machi Matsuyama Handcar Tramway 395.0 Kogota ←Ishinomaki Line Rikuu East Line→ Yoshikawa Horse Tramway 398.4 401.1 Tajiri Senpoku Railway Tōme Line 407.8 Semine Senpoku Railway Tsukidate Line 411.5 Umegasawa 416.2 Nitta 419.6 Kurihara Electric Railway (former route) 423.5 Ishikoshi Kurihara Den'en Railway Line new route Miyagi Prefecture/Iwate Prefecture 427.0 Yushima 431.2 Hanaizumi 434.4 Shimizuhara Iwate Prefecture/Miyagi Prefecture 437.8 0.0* Arikabe Miyagi Prefecture/Iwate Prefecture 5.0* Ōfunato 445.1 Ichinoseki 448.0 Yamanome 452.3 Hiraizumi 456.3 459.9 Maesawa 465.1 Rikuchū 470.1 Mizusawa Tankō Tramway 477.7 Kanegasaki 481.1 Rokuhara 483.7 487.5 Kitakami Waga Light Railway Kitakami Line 492.2 Murasakino 496.9 Hanamaki RailwayHanamaki Line Nishi-Hanamaki Station Iwate Light Railway 500.0 Hanamaki Hanamaki Electric Railway Railway Line Kamaishi Line 505.7 Hanamaki Airport 511.4 Ishidoriya 516.8 Hizume 518.6 Shiwachūō 521.5 Furudate 525.1 Yahaba 528.8 Morioka Freight Terminal 529.6 Iwate-Iioka 533.5 Senbokuchō 535.3 Morioka Yamada Line Akita Shinkansen (Tazawako Line) Iwate Galaxy Railway Line

The 159.9-kilometre-long (99.4 mi) portion of the line between Tokyo Station and Kuroiso Station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi is referred to by JR East as the Utsunomiya Line, and the remaining section is referred to as the Tōhoku Line in regular service. Because of the difference in electrification south (1,500 V DC) and north (20 kV AC) of Kuroiso, there are no regularly scheduled passenger services that travel through that station.

Station list

These lists are separated by service patterns provided on the Tōhoku Main Line.

Tokyo – Kuroiso

Main article: Utsunomiya Line

The section between Tokyo and Kuroiso is known as the Utsunomiya Line.

Kuroiso – Shin-Shirakawa

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Transfers	Location
Kuroiso	黒磯	163.3	JU Utsunomiya Line	Nasushiobara	Tochigi Prefecture
Takaku	高久	167.3	–	Nasu
Kurodahara	黒田原	171.5
Toyohara	豊原	176.7
Shirasaka	白坂	182.0		Shirakawa	Fukushima Prefecture
Shin-Shirakawa	新白河	185.4	Tōhoku Shinkansen	Nishigo

Shin-Shirakawa – Fukushima

All stations are located in Fukushima Prefecture.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Transfers	Location
Shin-Shirakawa	新白河	185.4	Tōhoku Shinkansen	Nishigo
Shirakawa	白河	188.2		Shirakawa
Kutano	久田野	192.9
Izumizaki	泉崎	197.4		Izumizaki
Yabuki	矢吹	203.4		Yabuki
Kagamiishi	鏡石	208.8		Kagamiishi
Sukagawa	須賀川	215.1		Sukagawa
Asaka-Nagamori	安積永盛	221.8	Suigun Line	Kōriyama
Kōriyama	郡山	226.7	Tōhoku Shinkansen      Ban'etsu West Line      Ban'etsu East Line      Suigun Line (through from Asaka-Nagamori to Kōriyama)
Hiwada	日和田	232.4
Gohyakugawa	五百川	236.9		Motomiya
Motomiya	本宮	240.7
Sugita	杉田	246.6		Nihonmatsu
Nihonmatsu	二本松	250.3
Adachi	安達	254.5
Matsukawa	松川	259.5		Fukushima
Kanayagawa	金谷川	264.0
Minami-Fukushima	南福島	269.4
Fukushima	福島	272.8	Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamagata Shinkansen      Ōu Main Line Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka Line Abukuma Express Line

Fukushima – Sendai

• ●: All rapid trains stop
• |: All rapid trains pass

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Rapid	Transfers	Location
Fukushima	福島	272.8	Through to Sendai Airport Line	Tōhoku Shinkansen Yamagata Shinkansen ■ Ōu Main Line Fukushima Kōtsū Iizaka Line Abukuma Express Line	Fukushima	Fukushima Prefecture
Higashi-Fukushima	東福島	278.8
Date	伊達	281.9			Date
Koori	桑折	285.9			Koori
Fujita	藤田	289.3			Kunimi
Kaida	貝田	294.9
Kosugō	越河	298.6			Shiroishi	Miyagi Prefecture
Shiroishi	白石	306.8
Higashi-Shiroishi	東白石	311.0
Kita-Shirakawa	北白川	315.3
Ōgawara	大河原	320.1			Ōgawara
Funaoka	船岡	323.1			Shibata
Tsukinoki	槻木	327.7		Abukuma Express Line
Iwanuma	岩沼	334.2		■ Jōban Line	Iwanuma
Tatekoshi	館腰	337.9		■ Jōban Line	Natori
Natori	名取	341.4	●	■ Jōban Line Sendai Airport Line (through service to Sendai Airport)
Minami-Sendai	南仙台	344.1	|	■ Jōban Line	Taihaku-ku, Sendai
Taishidō	太子堂	346.3	|	■ Jōban Line
Nagamachi	長町	347.3	|	■ Jōban Line ■ Sendai Subway Namboku Line
Sendai	仙台	351.8	●	Tōhoku Shinkansen Akita Shinkansen ■ Senzan Line ■ Senseki Line ■ Jōban Line (through from Iwanuma to Sendai) ■ Sendai Subway Namboku Line ■ Sendai Subway Tōzai Line Sendai Airport Line (through from Natori)	Aoba-ku, Sendai

Sendai – Ichinoseki

Legends:

• ●: All rapid trains stop
• |: All rapid trains pass
• ‖: Senseki-Tōhoku Line trains do not travel on this section

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Senseki-Tōhoku Line			Transfers	Location
			Rapid		Special Rapid
			Green	Red
Sendai	仙台	351.8	●	●	●	Tōhoku Shinkansen Akita Shinkansen ■ Senzan Line ■ Senseki Line ■ Jōban Line (through from Iwanuma to Sendai) ■ Sendai Subway Namboku Line ■ Sendai Subway Tōzai Line Sendai Airport Line (through from Natori)	Aoba-ku, Sendai	Miyagi Prefecture
Higashi-Sendai	東仙台	355.8	●	|	|		Miyagino-ku, Sendai
Iwakiri	岩切	359.9	●	|	|
Shin-Rifu	新利府	2.5 (from Iwakiri)	‖	‖	‖	Branch line from Iwakiri	Rifu
Rifu	利府	4.2 (from Iwakiri)	‖	‖	‖
Rikuzen-Sannō	陸前山王	362.2	●	|	|		Tagajō
Kokufu-Tagajō	国府多賀城	363.5	●	|	|
Shiogama	塩釜	365.2	●	●	●	■ Senseki-Tōhoku Line	Shiogama
Matsushima	松島	375.2	Senseki-Tōhoku Line (for ■ Senseki Line)				Matsushima
Atago	愛宕	377.2
Shinainuma	品井沼	381.6
Kashimadai	鹿島台	386.6					Ōsaki
Matsuyama-Machi	松山町	391.5
Kogota	小牛田	395.0				■ Rikuu East Line ■ Ishinomaki Line	Misato
Tajiri	田尻	401.1					Ōsaki
Semine	瀬峰	407.8					Kurihara
Umegasawa	梅ヶ沢	411.5					Tome
Nitta	新田	416.2
Ishikoshi	石越	423.5
Yushima	油島	427.0					Ichinoseki	Iwate Prefecture
Hanaizumi	花泉	431.2
Shimizuhara	清水原	434.4
Arikabe	有壁	437.8					Kurihara	Miyagi Prefecture
Ichinoseki	一ノ関	445.1				Tōhoku Shinkansen ■ Ōfunato Line	Ichinoseki	Iwate Prefecture

Ichinoseki – Morioka

All stations are located in Iwate Prefecture.

• ●: All rapid trains stop
• |: All rapid trains pass

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Tokyo)	Rapid Hamayuri	Transfers	Location
Ichinoseki	一ノ関	445.1		Tōhoku Shinkansen ■ Ōfunato Line	Ichinoseki
Yamanome	山ノ目	448.0
Hiraizumi	平泉	452.3			Hiraizumi
Maesawa	前沢	459.9			Ōshū
Rikuchū-Orii	陸中折居	465.1
Mizusawa	水沢	470.1
Kanegasaki	金ヶ崎	477.7			Kanegasaki
Rokuhara	六原	481.1
Kitakami	北上	487.5		Tōhoku Shinkansen ■ Kitakami Line	Kitakami
Murasakino	村崎野	492.2
Hanamaki	花巻	500.0	●	■ Kamaishi Line (some through services)	Hanamaki
Hanamaki-Kūkō	花巻空港	505.7	|
Ishidoriya	石鳥谷	511.4	|
Hizume	日詰	516.8	|		Shiwa
Shiwachūō	紫波中央	518.6	|
Furudate	古館	521.5	|
Yahaba	矢幅	525.1	●		Yahaba
Iwate-Iioka	岩手飯岡	529.6	|		Morioka
Senbokuchō	仙北町	533.5	|
Morioka	盛岡	535.3	●	Tōhoku Shinkansen Akita Shinkansen ■ Yamada Line ■ Tazawako Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line

Rolling stock

Tokyo – Kuroiso

Main article: Utsunomiya Line

• E231-1000 series EMUs
• E233-3000 series EMUs
• E131-600/-680 series EMUs

Previously

• 205-600 series EMUs

From March 2013, a fleet of eight refurbished 4-car 205-600 series EMUs was phased in on Utsunomiya Line services between Koganei and Kuroiso, replacing 211 series sets.^[1]

• 
  An E231-1000 series EMU
• 
  An E233-3000 series EMU
• 
  A 205-600 series EMU

Kuroiso – Shin-Shirakawa

• E531-3000 series EMUs

Shin-Shirakawa – Ichinoseki

• 701 series EMUs
• 719 series EMUs
• E721 series/ SAT721 series EMUs
• HB-E210 series DMUs - Senseki-Tōhoku Line

Ichinoseki – Morioka

• 701 series EMUs

• 
  701 series (Sendai-based)
• 
  701 series (Morioka-based)
• 
  719 series
• 
  E721 series (right) and SAT721 series (left)
• 
  HB-E210 series hybrid DMU

History

The construction of the Tōhoku Main Line began in the Kantō region and extended to the north end of Honshu, and the city of Aomori. It is one of oldest railway lines in Japan, with construction beginning in the late 19th century. Until 1 November 1906, the current Tōhoku Main Line was run by a private company Nippon Railway.

In 1883, the first segment between Ueno and Kumagaya opened. In 1885, it was extended to Utsunomiya, but the Tone River had to be crossed by boat. Following construction of the Tone River Bridge in 1886, Utsunomiya and Ueno were directly connected. The line gradually extended further to the north; to Kōriyama, Sendai, Ichinoseki and Morioka. In 1891, the segment between Morioka and Aomori opened, creating the longest continuous railway line in Japan.

After 1906, the line was nationalized and became the Tōhoku Main Line operated by the Ministry of Railways. When Tokyo Station opened in 1925, the Tōhoku Main Line was extended from Ueno to the new station. Until the 1950s, this segment was used and many trains ran through both the Tōkaidō Main Line and Tōhoku Main Line. However, when the Tōhoku Shinkansen opened, it occupied land previously used for the tracks of mid and long-distance Tōhoku Main Line trains. As a result, only a small number of commuter lines such as the Keihin–Tōhoku Line now operate to Tokyo from the north, making Tokyo Station's status as part of the Tōhoku Main Line somewhat circumspect.

In 2002, the Tōhoku Shinkansen was extended from Morioka to Hachinohe and the operations of the local track segment between those two cities was turned over to Iwate Ginga Railway (IGR) and Aoimori Railway.^[2] With the extension of the Tōhoku Shinkansen to Shin-Aomori station in 2010, the segment between Hachinohe and Aomori was delegated to the Aoimori Railway Company. The shortened Tōhoku Main Line is now the second-longest line in Japan, after the Sanin Main Line.

With the opening of the Ueno–Tokyo Line in March 2015, most longer distance trains once again operate directly through to the Tōkaidō Main Line via Tokyo Station, with the exception of some rush hour trains which terminate at Ueno Station.

Double-tracking

The Tokyo to Omiya section was double-tracked between 1892 and 1896, extended to Furukawa in 1908, Koyama the following year, and to Utsunomiya in 1913.

The Iwanuma - Sendai - Iwakiri section was double-tracked between 1920 & 1923 and the Utsunomiya - Iwanuma section between 1959 and 1964. The Iwakiri - Morioka - Aomori section was double-tracked between 1951 and 1968, including the 17 km (11 mi) realigned section between Iwakiri and Atago in 1962.

Electrification

The 7 km (4.3 mi) Tokyo to Tabata section was electrified at 1,500 V DC in 1909, extended to Akabane in 1928, Omiya in 1932 and Kuroiso in 1959. Electrification was then continued north at 20 kV AC, reaching Fukushima in 1960, Sendai in 1961, Morioka in 1965, and Aomori in 1968.

Former connecting lines

The staff of the Bushu Railway in 1927

The railcar used on the Tsukinoki to Tateyama line

The Matsushima-Machi handcar tramway

A train on the Kurihara Railway in April 2006

Saitama Prefecture

• Hasuda Station: The Bushu Railway operated a 17 km (11 mi) line to Kamine from 1924 until 1938.

Tochigi Prefecture

• Mamada Station: A 2 km (1.2 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line to Omoigawa operated between 1899 and 1917.
• Hoshakuji Station: A 12 km (7.5 mi) line servicing the Utsunomiya Army Airfield operated between 1942 and 1945.
• Ujiie Station: An 8 km (5.0 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line operated to Kitsuregawa between 1902 and 1918.
• Yaita Station: The Tobu Railway opened the 24 km (15 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge Tobu Yaita Line to Shin Takatoku (on the Tobu Kinugawa Line) on 1 March 1924.^[3] The line was converted to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge in 1929, and closed on 30 June 1959.^[3]
• Nishi-Nasuno Station: A 15 km (9.3 mi) line was opened by the Shiobara Railway to Shiobara in 1912. The line was electrified at 550 V DC in 1921, and closed in 1936. The Higashino Railway opened a 24 km (15 mi) line to Nasu Ogawa between 1918 and 1924, the line closing in 1968. At Otawara Station, it connected with the 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) horse-drawn tramway mentioned below for the three years they were both open. A 5 km (3.1 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge handcar line to Otawara opened in 1908. In 1917, it was converted to a horse-drawn tramway, but closed in 1921. At Otawara Station, it connected with the Higashino Railway line mentioned above.

Fukushima Prefecture

• Shirakawa Station: A 23 km (14 mi) line to Iwaki Tanakura (on the Suigun Line) was opened by the Shirotana Railway in 1916. The line was nationalized in 1941, and closed in 1944. Plans to reopen the line in 1953 resulted in a decision to convert the line to a dedicated busway, which opened in 1957.
• Koriyama Station: The Fukushima Prefectural Government operated a 13 km (8.1 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Miharu between 1891 and 1914.
• Matsukawa Station: A 12 km (7.5 mi) line to Iwashiro Kawamata operated from 1926 until 1972.

Miyagi Prefecture

• The Miyagi Prefectural Government operated the following three lines, all utilising 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge track:
  • Ogawara Station: a 27 km (17 mi) line to Toogatta opened between 1917 and 1922, and closed in 1937.
  • Tsukinoki Station: a 19 km (12 mi) line to Tateyama, opened in 1899 as a horse-drawn tramway. Steam locomotion was introduced in 1917, and the line closed in 1929.
  • Natori Station: a 6 km (3.7 mi) line to Yurage, operated from 1926 until 1939.
• Nagamachi Station: A 16 km (9.9 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge horse-drawn tramway was opened to Akiu Onsen in 1912. In 1925, the Akiho Electric Railway converted the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge and electrified it at 600 V DC. The line closed in 1961.
• Kofuku-Tagajo Station: When the Tōhoku Main Line was realigned in 1956, the original line to Shiogama Wharf (on the Senseki Line) remained in place as a freight-only line, closing in 1997.
• Matsushima Station: The Miyagi Prefectural Government operated a 4 km (2.5 mi), 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge line to Matsushima Kaigan, electrified at 550 V DC, between 1922 and 1944.
• Matsushima-Machi Station: A 2 km (1.2 mi) 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line operated between 1923 and 1930.
• Kogota Station: Prior to the opening of the Rikuu East Line, a 10 km (6.2 mi) 2 ft 5 in (737 mm) gauge horse-drawn tramway operated to Furukawa between 1900 and 1913.
• Semine Station: The Senpoku Railway operated a 41 km (25 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line from Tome to Tsukidate between 1921 and 1968.
• Ishikoshi Station: The Kurihara Den'en Railway Line operated between 1921 and 2007.

Iwate Prefecture

• Hanamaki Station: An 18 km (11 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Nishinamari Onsen was opened in 1915 by the Hanamaki Electric Railway, which then opened a second line, 8 km to Hanamaki Onsen in 1925. Both lines were electrified at 600 V DC. The latter closed in 1972, and the former in 1976.

Aomori Prefecture

• Hachinohe Station: The Gonohe Electric Railway operated a 12 km (7.5 mi) line (not electrified, despite the company name) to Gonohe between 1929 and 1969.
• Misawa Station: The Towada Kanko Electric Railway Line operated between 1922 and 2012.
• Noheji Station: The Nanbu Jūkan Railway opened a 21 km (13 mi) line to Shichinohe in 1962. Freight services ceased in 1984, and the line closed in 1997.

See also

• Utsunomiya Line
• Takasaki Line
• Shōnan–Shinjuku Line
• Ueno–Tokyo Line

References

1. 日光線、宇都宮線に205系リニューアル車投入 [Refurbished 205 series to be introduced on Nikko and Utunomiya Line]. Tetsudo Hobidas (in Japanese). Japan: Neko Publishing Co., Ltd. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2012.
2. Tetsudo Hobidas: "JR東日本 東北本線八戸―青森間の廃止を届出 " (27 November 2009). Retrieved 27 November 2009. (in Japanese)
3. Hanai, Masahiro (April 1998). "東北本線沿線に失われた私鉄の接続駅を訪ねる1 東武鉄道矢板線" [Visiting Lost Private Railway Interchange Stations on the Tōhoku Main Line (1): Tobu Yaita Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine. Vol. 38, no. 444. Japan: Kōyūsha Co., Ltd. pp. 76–81.