Nara Line
Encyclopedia
The is a commuter rail line in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area
, operated by the West Japan Railway Company
(JR West). Its official termini are Kizu Station
in Kizugawa
and Kyōto Station
in Kyoto
, within Kyoto Prefecture
; however, all trains continue past Kizu on the Yamatoji Line
(Kansai Main Line
) to Nara Station in Nara
, Nara Prefecture
.
, as visiting the historical landmarks of Uji and Nara makes an easy day-trip from Kyoto. At Kyōto, the line connects to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the Tōkaidō Main Line
(Biwako Line / JR Kyoto Line
), and the San'in Main Line
(Sagano Line
), while at Kizu, it connects to the Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) for Kamo
, and the Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line) for Kyōbashi Station
in Osaka
. At Nara, travelers can change trains to continue westward to Hōryūji
and JR Namba
.
As Kintetsu
operates a "Nara Line" of its own, the line is often referred to as the "JR Nara Line" ("JNR
Nara Line" prior to 1988). Strictly speaking, the Kintetsu Nara Line links Osaka and Nara (a counterpart to the Yamatoji Line), rather than Kyoto and Nara (connected primarily by the Kintetsu Kyoto Line). However, there are many through trains to the Kintetsu Nara Line from Kyōto Station, so "JR" is often appended for clarity. This was aided by the 1988 introduction of the official nicknames "JR Kyoto Line", "JR Kobe Line
" (for parts of the Tōkaidō Main Line and San'yō Main Line
) and "JR Takarazuka Line" (southern half of the Fukuchiyama Line
) within the Urban Network, making the "JR Nara Line" construction a natural parallel, if unofficial, usage.
Since the formation of JR West in 1988, the line has been under the jurisdiction of the Tennoji Railway Operations Office in Osaka, and its trains use the Osaka Branch's rail yards in Nara. On the other hand, the stations themselves (apart from Kizu) are administered by the Kyoto Branch of JR West.
The official line color used on JR West route maps and station guides is brown . The stated reason for selecting this color is because "it brings to mind a relaxed, classical image of the old capitals" (i.e., Kyoto and Nara).
The entirety of the line is part of the Greater Osaka Metropolitan Area. As such, all stations are outfitted with card readers for ICOCA
and compatible smart fare-cards; however, Nagaike
– Kamikoma
are unmanned, and have only simplified automatic ticket gates. Apart from a few stations, the J-Through Card (a prepaid, single-charge fare card) can be used in lieu of cash to buy passenger tickets.
While Kizu is properly the end of the line, the Kansai Main Line's historically greater importance with respect to the Nara Line means that it is treated as . Thus, trains bound for Nara are "down" trains, and those bound for Kyoto are "up", according to the direction they travel on the Yamatoji Line between Kizu and Nara. Except where noted, this article will adhere to the same convention.
; it has no trackage whatsoever in Nara Prefecture
. However, the line was originally built by Nara Railway between Kyoto Station and Nara Station; it was only later, after merging with Kansai Railway, that the section between Kizu and Nara became a part of the Osaka – Nagoya
route and was officially made a separate line.
Of course, the Nara Line service runs between Nara and Kyōto stations, and is treated as such by passenger announcements and route maps. Thus, even while operating on the Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line), trains to and from Kyoto are considered as being on the "Nara Line".
} (double-track)
} (single-track)
) – Kyoto alignment via the Higashiyama Tunnel, the Kyōto – Inari portion of the old route became part of the Nara Line, and new track was laid between Inari and Momoyama. At the same time, the original Kyōto – Fushimi alignment was abandoned, and the Fushimi – Momoyama section became freight-only. Later on, the old right-of-way from Kyoto to Fushimi was sold off to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line's predecessor, Nara Electric Railway.
After the Nara Electric Railway line opened in 1928, its frequency of service and drastically reduced transit time took away much of the demand for through-service between the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Nara Line. In the 1950s, the Nara Line was among the earliest of the JNR lines to be converted from steam locomotive
s to diesel trainsets
, and new stations were opened; after that, however, not much capital was spent on the line, and was not until 1984 that it was finally electrified. In short, it was treated entirely as a local line, rather than as an intercity commuter corridor. The turning point for the Nara Line was only after Japanese National Railways was privatized, and it became part of the JR West network. An article in the Asahi Shimbun
from 1991, the same year as JR announced it would be pumping capital into the Nara Line, described the perceived cause for this sudden interest as follows: "During [the previous year's] string of visits by the new Emperor and Empress, their Majesties arrived in Kyoto via JR Central's Tōkaidō Shinkansen, then immediately boarded the Kintetsu line for Nara, ignoring the local JR West's trains entirely." However, despite the improvements since the 1990s, the Imperial Family has continued to use Kintetsu for their visits to Nara, not riding on the Nara Line since.
will be completed in March 2010, JR West and Kyoto Prefecture have agreed to start conferring with regards to track duplication of the Nara Line; they are due to begin discussing matters such as costs, funding burdens, and right-of-way acquisition with municipalities along the line starting in April 2010.
However, due to the financial conditions of these local governments, as well as JR West's own situation, it is likely that the line will be double-tracked only in certain sections, not the entire line. Moreover, it is anticipated that construction will face a timeframe similar to that of the Sagano Line: even if construction begins in 2011, the duplication project will not be finished until 2018 at the earliest.
Kyoto Line.
Kyoto (0.00 km) – Hachijō Temporary Station (0.80 km) – Tōji Temporary Station
(1.13 km) – Fushimi (5.31 km) – Momoyama (7.08 km)
JR West 221-series EMU
JNR 103-series EMU
Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto
is a Japanese metropolitan region encompassing the metropolitan areas of the cities of Osaka in Osaka prefecture, Kobe in Hyōgo Prefecture, and Kyoto in Kyoto prefecture. The entire region has a population of 18,644,000 over an area of 11,170 km²...
, operated by the West Japan Railway Company
West Japan Railway Company
, also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:...
(JR West). Its official termini are Kizu Station
Kizu Station (Kyoto)
is a railway station located in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Operated by West Japan Railway Company . It is the junction point between the Yamatoji Line , the Nara Line and the Gakkentoshi Line...
in Kizugawa
Kizugawa, Kyoto
is a city in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on March 12, 2007 by the merger of the towns of Kamo, Kizu and Yamashiro, all from Sōraku District. It is the southernmost city in the prefecture...
and Kyōto Station
Kyoto Station
is the most important transportation hub in Kyoto, Japan. It has Japan's second-largest train 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...
in Kyoto
Kyoto
is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:...
, within Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
; however, all trains continue past Kizu on the Yamatoji Line
Yamatoji Line
The is the common name of the western portion of the Kansai Main Line, and the name has been used since March 13, 1988. The electrified portion is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company...
(Kansai Main Line
Kansai Main Line
The is a Japanese railway line which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company and the West Japan Railway Company with the boundary between both companies being located at Kameyama Station in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture.The section...
) to Nara Station in Nara
Nara, Nara
is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
, Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
.
Overview
The Nara Line is a part of the JR West Urban Network in the Kyoto-Osaka-Kobe area. Its primary role is that of an intercity-suburban commuter line, ferrying people to and from work and school in Kyoto and Nara; it is also well-used by foreign tourists holding the Japan Rail PassJapan Rail Pass
The is a railpass for overseas visitors sold by the Japan Railways Group, and is good for travel on all major forms of transportation provided by the JR Group, with a few exceptions. The Rail Pass is designed to stimulate travel and tourism throughout the country....
, as visiting the historical landmarks of Uji and Nara makes an easy day-trip from Kyoto. At Kyōto, the line connects to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen, the Tōkaidō Main Line
Tokaido Main Line
The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities...
(Biwako Line / JR Kyoto Line
JR Kyoto Line
The is the common name of a portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line, between Kyoto Station and Osaka Station. The line is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company ....
), and the San'in Main Line
San'in Main Line
The is a railway line in western Japan that runs from Kyoto to Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It is the major railway line of the San'in region, running along the Japan Sea, crossing Kyoto, Hyōgo, Tottori, Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures...
(Sagano Line
Sagano Line
The is the popular name for a portion of the Sanin Main Line in the suburbs of Kyoto, Japan. The electrified and double-tracked railway is a commuter rail line in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company . The line starts at Kyoto Station and ends at...
), while at Kizu, it connects to the Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) for Kamo
Kamo Station (Kyoto)
is a train station on the West Japan Railway Company Kansai Main Line in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:*There are two island platforms with three tracks on the ground level.-Stations next to Kamo:...
, and the Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line) for Kyōbashi Station
Kyobashi Station (Osaka)
Kyobashi Station is a train station in the Kyōbashi district of Jōtō-ku and Miyakojima-ku Osaka, Japan.-Lines:*JR West**Osaka Loop Line**Gakkentoshi Line **JR Tōzai Line...
in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
. At Nara, travelers can change trains to continue westward to Hōryūji
Horyuji Station
is a train station on the West Japan Railway Company Kansai Main Line in the town of Ikaruga, Ikoma District, Nara Prefecture, Japan.-Layout:*There are 2 side platforms serving 2 tracks on the 1st level.-Surrouding:...
and JR Namba
JR Namba Station
is a train station in Namba, Naniwa Ward, Osaka, Japan, adjacent to Namba Station and Osaka Namba Station operated by the West Japan Railway Company....
.
As Kintetsu
Kintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
operates a "Nara Line" of its own, the line is often referred to as the "JR Nara Line" ("JNR
Japanese National Railways
, abbreviated or "JNR", was the national railway network of Japan from 1949 to 1987.-History:The term Kokuyū Tetsudō "state-owned railway" originally referred to a network of railway lines operated by nationalized companies under the control of the Railway Institute following the nationalization...
Nara Line" prior to 1988). Strictly speaking, the Kintetsu Nara Line links Osaka and Nara (a counterpart to the Yamatoji Line), rather than Kyoto and Nara (connected primarily by the Kintetsu Kyoto Line). However, there are many through trains to the Kintetsu Nara Line from Kyōto Station, so "JR" is often appended for clarity. This was aided by the 1988 introduction of the official nicknames "JR Kyoto Line", "JR Kobe Line
JR Kobe Line
The is the nickname of portions of the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Sanyō Main Line, between Osaka Station in Osaka, Osaka Prefecture and Himeji Station in Himeji, Hyōgo Prefecture...
" (for parts of the Tōkaidō Main Line and San'yō Main Line
San'yō Main Line
The is the JR main railway line in western Japan, connecting Kobe Station and Moji Station, largely running parallel the coast of the Inland Sea, in other words the southern edge of western Honshu. The Sanyō Shinkansen line runs largely parallel to its route since 1972...
) and "JR Takarazuka Line" (southern half of the Fukuchiyama Line
Fukuchiyama Line
The is a railway line of West Japan Railway between Osaka and Fukuchiyama, Japan. Within JR West's "Urban Network" covering the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan region, the line from Osaka to Sasayamaguchi is also called the JR Takarazuka Line...
) within the Urban Network, making the "JR Nara Line" construction a natural parallel, if unofficial, usage.
Since the formation of JR West in 1988, the line has been under the jurisdiction of the Tennoji Railway Operations Office in Osaka, and its trains use the Osaka Branch's rail yards in Nara. On the other hand, the stations themselves (apart from Kizu) are administered by the Kyoto Branch of JR West.
The official line color used on JR West route maps and station guides is brown . The stated reason for selecting this color is because "it brings to mind a relaxed, classical image of the old capitals" (i.e., Kyoto and Nara).
The entirety of the line is part of the Greater Osaka Metropolitan Area. As such, all stations are outfitted with card readers for ICOCA
ICOCA
The card is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on JR West rail network in Japan. The card was launched on November 1, 2003 for usage on the Urban Network, which encompasses the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe...
and compatible smart fare-cards; however, Nagaike
Nagaike Station
is a train station located in Jōyō, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
– Kamikoma
Kamikoma Station
is a train station located in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
are unmanned, and have only simplified automatic ticket gates. Apart from a few stations, the J-Through Card (a prepaid, single-charge fare card) can be used in lieu of cash to buy passenger tickets.
While Kizu is properly the end of the line, the Kansai Main Line's historically greater importance with respect to the Nara Line means that it is treated as . Thus, trains bound for Nara are "down" trains, and those bound for Kyoto are "up", according to the direction they travel on the Yamatoji Line between Kizu and Nara. Except where noted, this article will adhere to the same convention.
Line name
The Nara Line proper runs from Kyōto Station to Kizu Station, and lies entirely within Kyoto PrefectureKyoto Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro....
; it has no trackage whatsoever in Nara Prefecture
Nara Prefecture
is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture....
. However, the line was originally built by Nara Railway between Kyoto Station and Nara Station; it was only later, after merging with Kansai Railway, that the section between Kizu and Nara became a part of the Osaka – Nagoya
Nagoya Station
is a train station in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Japan. It is one of the world's largest train stations by floor area , and houses the headquarters of the Central Japan Railway Company . Much of this space is located in the "JR Central Towers" atop the station, as well as in underground concourses. The...
route and was officially made a separate line.
Of course, the Nara Line service runs between Nara and Kyōto stations, and is treated as such by passenger announcements and route maps. Thus, even while operating on the Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line), trains to and from Kyoto are considered as being on the "Nara Line".
Basic data
- Operator: West Japan Railway Company (tracks and services)
- Length: 34.7 km
- GaugeRail gaugeTrack gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
: - Number of stations: 19
- Double-track segments: Kyōto – JR FujinomoriJR Fujinomori Stationis a train station located in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
,&: UjiUji Station (JR West)is a train station located on the West Japan Railway Company Nara Line in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. This station administrates all intermediate stations on the Nara Line.-Layout:...
– ShindenShinden Station (Kyoto)is a train station located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:... - Electrification: 1,500 VVoltThe volt is the SI derived unit for electric potential, electric potential difference, and electromotive force. The volt is named in honor of the Italian physicist Alessandro Volta , who invented the voltaic pile, possibly the first chemical battery.- Definition :A single volt is defined as the...
DCDirect currentDirect current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
overhead catenary (entire line) - Operations Center: Osaka General Operations Center
- Maximum speed:
} (double-track)
} (single-track)
History
The Nara Line was originally constructed from Kyōto to Nara by Nara Railway, but at the time of its completion, the Kyōto – Momoyama section ran via the route now used by the Kintetsu Kyoto Line. In 1921, on the day that the Tōkaidō Main Line was re-routed from its original path to the new Baba (ZezeZeze Station
is a train station in Ōtsu, Shiga, Japan. The station is on the Biwako Line of West Japan Railway Company . In front of Zeze Station is on the Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line of Keihan Electric Railway...
) – Kyoto alignment via the Higashiyama Tunnel, the Kyōto – Inari portion of the old route became part of the Nara Line, and new track was laid between Inari and Momoyama. At the same time, the original Kyōto – Fushimi alignment was abandoned, and the Fushimi – Momoyama section became freight-only. Later on, the old right-of-way from Kyoto to Fushimi was sold off to the Kintetsu Kyoto Line's predecessor, Nara Electric Railway.
After the Nara Electric Railway line opened in 1928, its frequency of service and drastically reduced transit time took away much of the demand for through-service between the Tōkaidō Main Line and the Nara Line. In the 1950s, the Nara Line was among the earliest of the JNR lines to be converted from steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s to diesel trainsets
Diesel multiple unit
A diesel multiple unit or DMU is a multiple unit train consisting of multiple carriages powered by one or more on-board diesel engines. They may also be referred to as a railcar or railmotor, depending on country.-Design:...
, and new stations were opened; after that, however, not much capital was spent on the line, and was not until 1984 that it was finally electrified. In short, it was treated entirely as a local line, rather than as an intercity commuter corridor. The turning point for the Nara Line was only after Japanese National Railways was privatized, and it became part of the JR West network. An article in the Asahi Shimbun
Asahi Shimbun
The is the second most circulated out of the five national newspapers in Japan. Its circulation, which was 7.96 million for its morning edition and 3.1 million for its evening edition as of June 2010, was second behind that of Yomiuri Shimbun...
from 1991, the same year as JR announced it would be pumping capital into the Nara Line, described the perceived cause for this sudden interest as follows: "During [the previous year's] string of visits by the new Emperor and Empress, their Majesties arrived in Kyoto via JR Central's Tōkaidō Shinkansen, then immediately boarded the Kintetsu line for Nara, ignoring the local JR West's trains entirely." However, despite the improvements since the 1990s, the Imperial Family has continued to use Kintetsu for their visits to Nara, not riding on the Nara Line since.
Timeline
- August 18, 1879: Kyōto – Inari – ŌtaniOtani Station (Shiga)is a train station in Ōtsu, Shiga Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
opened as part of the Government-Operated Railway (later the Tōkaidō Main Line). Inari Station opens. - September 5, 1895: Nara Railway opens Kyōto – Fushimi section (3 mi. 23 ch. ≒ 5.29 km). Fushimi Station opens. Kyoto Station is operated in conjunction with the Government Railway.
- November 3, 1895: Fushimi – Momoyama extension (1 mi. 9 ch. ≒ 2.19 km) opens. Momoyama Station opens.
- January 25, 1896: Momoyama – Tamamizu extension (12 mi. 46 ch. ≒ 20.24 km) opens. Kohata, Uji, Shinden, Nagaike, Tamamizu Stations open.
- March 13, 1896: Tamamizu – Kizu extension (4 mi. 50 ch. ≒ 7.44 km) opens. Tanakura, Kizu Stations open.
- April 18, 1896: Kizu - Nara section opens; entire Kyoto – Nara line complete.
- April 21, 1896: Tōji Temporary Station opens.
- April 1, 1897: Nara Railway Kyōto Station renamed Shichijō Station.
- May 3, 1902: Kamikoma Station opens.
- November 12, 1902: Operating distance units changed from a combination of miles and chains to miles only (21 mi. 48 ch. → 21.6 mi.).
- February 7, 1905: Nara Railway cedes its track to Kansai Railway.
- October 1, 1907: Kansai Railway is nationalized in accordance with the Railway Nationalization ActRailway Nationalization ActThe brought many of Japan's private railway lines under national control. The Diet of Japan promulgated the Act on March 31, 1906. The Act was repealed by Article 110 of the Japan National Railway Reform Act of 1988, which formed the modern Japan Railways Group....
. - August 1, 1908: Shichijō Station merged with Kyoto Station.
- October 12, 1909: Kizu – Kyōto officially designated as the "Nara Line".
- December 19, 1910: Ujigawa Signal Station installed between Kohata and Uji Stations.
- June 20, 1913: Hachijō Signal Station is added between Tōji Temporary Station and Kyoto Station.
- November 5, 1913: Ujigawa Signal Station is abandoned.
- July 23, 1914: Tōji Temporary Station between Fushimi and Kyoto is abandoned.
- August 15, 1914: Hachijō Signal Station abandoned.
- March 20, 1921: Ujigawa Signal Station is added once more between Kohata and Uji Stations.
- August 1, 1921: The Nara Line's Kyōto – Fushimi alignment (3.3 mi. ≒ 5.31 km) is abandoned. The remaining Fushimi - Momoyama section (1.1 mi. ≒ 1.77 km) is closed to passenger traffic. The Tōkaidō Main Line's old Kyoto – Inari alignment (1.8 mi. ≒ 2.90 km), made obsolete after the opening of the Higashiyama Tunnel, is appropriated for the Nara Line. New track (2.6 mi. ≒ 4.18 km) is laid between Inari and Momoyama Stations.
- April 1, 1922: renamed .
- February 13, 1926: Aodani Bairin Temporary Station opens.
- April 1, 1926: Ujigawa Signal Box abandoned.
- September 3, 1928: Momoyama – Fushimi freight branch closed. Fushimi Station abandoned.
- April 1, 1930: Operating distance units changed to the metric system (21.6 mi. → 34.7 km).
- December 2, 1933: Aodani Bairin Temporary Station made permanent, renamed Yamashiro-Aodani.
- July 15, 1955: Yamashiro-Taga Station opens.
- December 27, 1957: Tōfukuji Station opens.
- July 11, 1958: Jōyō Station opens.
- April 21, 1961: Ōbaku Station opens.
- March 2, 1982: Centralized traffic controlCentralized traffic controlCentralized traffic control is a form of railway signalling that originated in North America and centralizes train routing decisions that were previously carried out by local signal operators or the train crews themselves. The system consists of a centralized train dispatcher's office that...
(CTC) introduced to the line. - October 1, 1984: Electrification of the line (Kyōto – Kizu). Operations switched to 105-series and 113-series trainsets. Kinokawa Express service (Kyoto–WakayamaWakayama Stationis a JR West railway station located in Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.Trains of the Wakayama Electric Railway Kishigawa Line also use the station as well as JR trains.-Lines:* West Japan Railway ** Kisei Main Line...
) is ended. - April 1, 1987: Japanese National Railways (JNR) is privatized and divided; the Nara Line is dealt to the newly-formed West Japan Railway Company (JR West). JR Freight becomes a Category-2 operator.
- March 16, 1991: Rapid Service introduced, using 117-series trainsets. The only stop at the time of introduction is Uji, with Inari as a temporary addition during the New Year holiday.
- October 22, 1992: Rokujizō Station opens. Jōyō becomes a Rapid-Service stop.
- March 1994: 113-series trainsets retired from the line.
- September, 4 1994： 105-series trainsets retired from the line (moved mainly to Sakurai LineSakurai LineThe is a railway line in Nara Prefecture, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It runs from Nara on the Yamatoji Line to Takada on the Wakayama Line, with some service continuing on the Wakayama Line to Ōji Station, and then to JR Namba on the Yamatoji Line...
and Wakayama LineWakayama LineThe is a railway line that links Nara Prefecture to Wakayama Prefecture in Japan, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It runs from Ōji Station on the Yamatoji Line to Wakayama Station on the Hanwa Line and Kisei Main Line, with through train service to JR Namba via the Yamatoji Line and to...
service). - March 8, 1997: JR Fujinomori Station opens.
- May 10, 1999: Rokujizō becomes a Rapid-Service stop.
- March 3, 2001: Kyōto - JR Fujinomori, Uji - Shinden sections double-tracked. JR Ogura Station opens. Regional Rapid Service begins. Miyakoji Rapid Service introduced, using 221 series221 seriesThe is a suburban electric multiple unit operated by West Japan Railway Company in the Kansai Region of Japan.-8-car sets:-6-car sets:-4-car sets:-8-car sets:-6-car sets:-4-car sets:-2-car sets:-4-car sets:...
trainsets; 117 series trainsets retired from the line. - October 1, 2001: Tōfukuji becomes a Regional Rapid and Rapid-Service stop.
- March 15, 2003: Tōfukuji and Tamamizu become Miyakoji Rapid stops; Tamamizu becomes a Rapid-Service stop.
- April 1, 2003: JR Freight ceases Category-2 operation on the line.
- 2008: ATSAutomatic Train StopAn automatic train stop is a system on a train that will automatically stop a train if certain situations happened to prevent accidents from happening....
-P installed on the line. - June 1, 2008: All limited expresses and linersHome Lineris the generic name given to limited-stop commuter train services operated by railway companies in Japan, which require the purchase of a supplementary or in addition to the base fare ticket. The supplementary ticket guarantees passengers a seat on board...
made non-smoking. - July 1, 2008: All stations made non-smoking.
Track duplication
Report No. 8 from the 2004 Kinki Transportation Commission, , included track duplication on the JR Fujinomori – Uji and Shinden – Kizu sections of the Nara Line. As double-tracking work on the San'in Main Line (Sagano Line) between Kyōto and SonobeSonobe Station
is a train station on the Sanin Main Line in Nantan, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. It is also a stop of limited express trains - "Kinosaki", "Hashidate" and "Maizuru".-Line:* West Japan Railway Company...
will be completed in March 2010, JR West and Kyoto Prefecture have agreed to start conferring with regards to track duplication of the Nara Line; they are due to begin discussing matters such as costs, funding burdens, and right-of-way acquisition with municipalities along the line starting in April 2010.
However, due to the financial conditions of these local governments, as well as JR West's own situation, it is likely that the line will be double-tracked only in certain sections, not the entire line. Moreover, it is anticipated that construction will face a timeframe similar to that of the Sagano Line: even if construction begins in 2011, the duplication project will not be finished until 2018 at the earliest.
Other
At the Kinki Transportation Commission, a suggestion for through-service to and from the Tokaido Main Line (JR Kyoto Line) was considered. (Such services had been operated in the past during late night on 31 December–1 January.)Station list
- This chart is arranged in the "down" direction (Kyoto → Nara), according to the directionRailroad directionsRailroad directions are used to describe train directions on railroad systems. The terms used may be derived from such sources as compass directions, altitude directions, or other directions...
of the Kansai Main Line. - The number in parentheses next to a subwayKyoto Municipal Subwayis the metro network in the city of Kyoto, Japan. It is operated by Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau. It has two lines.-Lines:- External links :**...
station name is the station number. - ]： a "station within Kyoto" designated for passenger tickets used with limited-express or ShinkansenShinkansenThe , also known as THE BULLET TRAIN, is a network of high-speed railway lines in Japan operated by four Japan Railways Group companies. Starting with the Tōkaidō Shinkansen in 1964, the network has expanded to currently consist of of lines with maximum speeds of , of Mini-shinkansen with a...
tickets. A ticketholder whose destination is marked may continue on to any of these stations for no additional charge. - Stopping patterns:
- Local trains stop at all stations (not shown on chart)
- Other designations: ● Stop; ｜Pass
- Miyakoji Rapid: ○ Stop only during the New Year holiday (1–4 January)
- Track:
- ∥: Double-track section; ◇: Single-track section; ∨: Double-track section ends; ∧: Double-track section begins
（trains can pass each other at all stations in single-track sections）
- ∥: Double-track section; ◇: Single-track section; ∨: Double-track section ends; ∧: Double-track section begins
| Line Name | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Regional Rapid 区間快速 |
Rapid 快速 |
Miyakoji Rapid みやこ路快速 |
Transfers | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations |
Total | ||||||||||
| Nara Line | ] | 京都 | - | 0.0 | ● | ● | ● | West Japan Railway Company West Japan Railway Company , also referred to as , is one of the Japan Railways Group companies and operates in western Honshū. It has its headquarters in Kita-ku, Osaka.-History:... (JR West): Tōkaidō Main Line Tokaido Main Line The is the busiest trunk line of the Japan Railways Group , connecting Tōkyō and Kōbe stations. It is long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities... (Biwako Line, JR Kyoto Line JR Kyoto Line The is the common name of a portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line, between Kyoto Station and Osaka Station. The line is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company .... ), Kosei Line Kosei Line The is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, operated by West Japan Railway Company. The line was completed in 1974 by the former Japanese National Railways to provide faster access from the Kansai region to the Hokuriku region... ,The Kosei line's official terminus is Yamashina Station Yamashina Station is a train station in Yamashina-ku ward, city of Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.The station has two separated sections: underground subway section and above-ground JR section. In addition, on the Keishin Line of Keihan Electric Railway is located just in front of the JR station... on the Tōkaidō Main Line (Biwako Line), but all trains continue through to Kyōto. San'in Main Line San'in Main Line The is a railway line in western Japan that runs from Kyoto to Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It is the major railway line of the San'in region, running along the Japan Sea, crossing Kyoto, Hyōgo, Tottori, Shimane and Yamaguchi prefectures... (Sagano Line Sagano Line The is the popular name for a portion of the Sanin Main Line in the suburbs of Kyoto, Japan. The electrified and double-tracked railway is a commuter rail line in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company . The line starts at Kyoto Station and ends at... ) Central Japan Railway Company Central Japan Railway Company The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station... (JR Central): Tōkaidō Shinkansen Kintetsu Corporation: Kyoto Line Kyoto Municipal Subway Kyoto Municipal Subway is the metro network in the city of Kyoto, Japan. It is operated by Kyoto Municipal Transportation Bureau. It has two lines.-Lines:- External links :**... : Karasuma Line (K11) |
∥ | Shimogyō-ku Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. First established in 1879, it has been merged and split, and took on its present boundaries in 1955, with the establishment of a separate Minami-ku.... , Kyoto Kyoto is a city in the central part of the island of Honshū, Japan. It has a population close to 1.5 million. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan, it is now the capital of Kyoto Prefecture, as well as a major part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area.-History:... |
Kyoto Kyoto Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of the island of Honshu. The capital is the city of Kyoto.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Kyoto prefecture was known as Yamashiro.... |
| ] | 東福寺 | 1.1 | 1.1 | ● | ● | ● | Keihan Electric Railway Keihan Electric Railway is a Japanese railway operator in Osaka, Kyoto, and Shiga Prefectures. It is known as , or .-History:Keihan started its operation between Osaka and Kyoto in 1910. It was the first electric railway to connect these two cities, and the first line on the left bank of Yodo River... : Main Line |
∥ | Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto | ||
| ] | 稲荷 | 1.6 | 2.7 | ｜ | ｜ | ○ | ∥ | Fushimi-ku Fushimi-ku, Kyoto is one of the eleven wards in the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Famous places in Fushimi include the Fushimi Inari Shrine, with thousands of torii lining the paths up and down a mountain; Fushimi Castle, originally built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, with its rebuilt towers and gold-lined... , Kyoto |
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| ] | JR藤森 | 2.3 | 5.0 | ｜ | ｜ | ｜ | ∨ | ||||
| ] | 桃山 | 2.2 | 7.2 | ｜ | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | ||||
| 六地蔵 | 2.4 | 9.6 | ● | ● | ● | Kyoto Municipal Subway: Tōzai Line (T01) Keihan: Uji Line Keihan Uji Line is a 7.6-km long commuter rail line of Keihan Electric Railway, with formal name Uji Line. It runs between Chushojima Station on Keihan Main Line in Fushimi, Kyoto and Uji Station in Uji, Kyoto, with an adjacent route to the JR Nara Line. Only local trains are operated.The line opened on June 1,... |
◇ | Uji Uji, Kyoto is a city on the southern outskirts of the city of Kyoto, in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. Founded on March 1, 1951, Uji is located between the two ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The city sits on the Uji River, which has its source in Lake Biwa. As of April 1, 2008, Uji has an estimated population... |
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| 木幡 | 1.0 | 10.6 | ｜ | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | |||||
| 黄檗 | 1.4 | 12.0 | ｜ | ｜ | ｜ | Keihan: Uji Line | ◇ | ||||
| 宇治 | 2.9 | 14.9 | ● | ● | ● | ∧ | |||||
| JR小倉 | 1.4 | 16.3 | ● | ● | ｜ | ∥ | |||||
| 新田 | 1.8 | 18.1 | ● | ● | ｜ | Kintetsu: Kyoto Line | ∨ | ||||
| 城陽 | 2.1 | 20.2 | ● | ● | ● | ◇ | Jōyō Joyo, Kyoto is a city located in Kyoto, Japan. It is halfway between Kyoto and Nara. It contains historical sites including the Shibagahara Tomb and Mito shrine.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 80,669 and the density of 2,540.09 persons per km²... |
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| 長池 | 1.8 | 22.0 | ● | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | |||||
| 山城青谷 | 2.0 | 24.0 | ● | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | |||||
| 山城多賀 | 1.3 | 25.3 | ● | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | Ide Ide, Kyoto is a town located in Tsuzuki District, Kyoto, Japan.As of 2008, the town has an estimated population of 8,753. The total area is 18.01 km².-External links:*... , Tsuzuki District Tsuzuki District, Kyoto Tsuzuki is a district located in Kyoto, Japan.As of 2003, the district has an estimated population of 19,200 and a density of 251.74 persons per km². The total area is 76.27 km².-Towns and villages:*Ide*Ujitawara... |
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| 玉水 | 2.0 | 27.3 | ● | ● | ● | ◇ | |||||
| 棚倉 | 3.0 | 30.3 | ● | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | Kizugawa Kizugawa, Kyoto is a city in southern Kyoto Prefecture, Japan. The city was founded on March 12, 2007 by the merger of the towns of Kamo, Kizu and Yamashiro, all from Sōraku District. It is the southernmost city in the prefecture... |
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| 上狛 | 2.8 | 33.1 | ● | ｜ | ｜ | ◇ | |||||
| rowspan="2"| | 木津 | 1.6 | 34.7 | ● | ● | ● | JR West: Kansai Main Line Kansai Main Line The is a Japanese railway line which connects Nagoya Station with JR Namba Station in Osaka. It is jointly run by the Central Japan Railway Company and the West Japan Railway Company with the boundary between both companies being located at Kameyama Station in Kameyama, Mie Prefecture.The section... (Yamatoji Line Yamatoji Line The is the common name of the western portion of the Kansai Main Line, and the name has been used since March 13, 1988. The electrified portion is one of commuter rail lines and services in Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area, owned and operated by West Japan Railway Company... ), Katamachi Line (Gakkentoshi Line) |
∧ | |||
| Kansai Main Line | |||||||||||
| 平城山 | 3.2 | 37.9 | ● | ｜ | ｜ | Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line) Rapid Service and Yamatoji Rapid stop; Gakkentoshi Line Rapid Service stop | ∥ | Nara Nara, Nara is the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture... |
Nara Nara Prefecture is a prefecture in the Kansai region on Honshū Island, Japan. The capital is the city of Nara.-History:The present-day Nara Prefecture was created in 1887, making it independent of Osaka Prefecture.... |
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| Saho Signal Box | 佐保新号場 | - | 40.8 | ｜ | ｜ | ｜ | ∥ | ||||
| 奈良 | 3.8 | 41.7 | ● | ● | ● | JR West: Kansai Main Line (Yamatoji Line), Sakurai Line (Man-yō Mahoroba Line) Sakurai Line The is a railway line in Nara Prefecture, operated by West Japan Railway Company . It runs from Nara on the Yamatoji Line to Takada on the Wakayama Line, with some service continuing on the Wakayama Line to Ōji Station, and then to JR Namba on the Yamatoji Line... |
∥ | ||||
- Uji City is considering the possibility of a new station between Ōbaku and Uji (cf. Mimurodo StationMimurodo Stationis a train station located in Uji, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan.-Adjacent stations:...
on the Keihan Uji LineKeihan Uji Lineis a 7.6-km long commuter rail line of Keihan Electric Railway, with formal name Uji Line. It runs between Chushojima Station on Keihan Main Line in Fushimi, Kyoto and Uji Station in Uji, Kyoto, with an adjacent route to the JR Nara Line. Only local trains are operated.The line opened on June 1,...
.) - Of these stations, Kizu, Uji, Rokujizō, and Kyoto are directly operated by JR West; Yamashiro-Taga is unmanned; Kamikoma and Tanakura are staffed part-time; and the remainder are staffed by JR West Transportation Services.
Abandoned sections
Numbers in parentheses are the distance from Kyoto Station. The portion between Kyoto and Fushimi is now part of the KintetsuKintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
Kyoto Line.
Kyoto (0.00 km) – Hachijō Temporary Station (0.80 km) – Tōji Temporary Station
Toji Station
is a railway station on the Kintetsu Kyoto Line located in Minami-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The station provides access to Tō-ji, a nearby Buddhist temple famous for its large pagoda.-Layout:The station has 2 side platforms serving a track each.-History:...
(1.13 km) – Fushimi (5.31 km) – Momoyama (7.08 km)
Abandoned signal boxes
- Ujigawa Temporary Signal Box： abandoned in 1926; between Ōbaku and Uji （13.8 km from Kyoto）
Rolling stock
All trains used belong to the Nara Depot.JR West 221-series EMU
221 series
The is a suburban electric multiple unit operated by West Japan Railway Company in the Kansai Region of Japan.-8-car sets:-6-car sets:-4-car sets:-8-car sets:-6-car sets:-4-car sets:-2-car sets:-4-car sets:...
- Also operated on the Yamatoji Line and Osaka Loop Line, there are 2-, 4-, and 6-car trainsets. 4- and 6-car trainsets are mainly used for Miyakoji Rapid, Rapid Service, and Regional Rapid, though on the Nara Line, the majority of trains are 4 cars. Two 2-car trains coupled together can be seen during weekend and holiday timetables.
JNR 103-series EMU
103 series
The is a commuter electric multiple unit type introduced in 1964 by Japanese National Railways , and currently operated by West Japan Railway Company and Kyushu Railway Company . They were also operated by East Japan Railway Company and Central Japan Railway Company .-Prototype:Built in 1963...
- 4-car 103-series trains are used not only as local trains on the Nara Line and the Yamatoji Line, but can be seen coupled together as 8-car trains during rush hour on the Osaka Loop Line, and as Regional Rapid trains on the Yamatoji Line. Some of the carriages have been replaced by those transferred from the Morinomiya Depot.