:Aoimori Railway Line
{{Short description|Railway line in Aomori prefecture, Japan}}
{{infobox rail line
| name = Aoimori Railway Line
| color = 1E90FF
| logo =
| logo_width =
| image = モーリー.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption = Aoimori Railway 701 series EMU in September 2010
| type = Regional rail
| system =
| status =
| locale = Aomori Prefecture, Japan
| start = {{STN|Metoki|x}}
| end = {{STN|Aomori|x}}
| stations = 26
| routes =
| daily_ridership =
| open = {{start date|1891|09|1|df=yes}} (As part of the Nippon Railway)
{{start date|2002|12|1|df=yes}} (As the Aoimori Railway Line between {{STN|Metoki|x}} and {{STN|Hachinohe|x}})
{{start date|2010|12|4|df=yes}} (As the Aoimori Railway Line between {{STN|Hachinohe|x}} and {{STN|Aomori|x}})
| close =
| owner = Aomori Prefecture
| operator = {{Aoimori Railway inline}}
| character =
| depot =
| stock = Aoimori 701 series EMUs
Aoimori 703 series EMUs
| linelength = {{convert|121.9|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| tracklength =
| tracks =
| gauge = {{track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| electrification = 20 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary
| speed =
| elevation =
| map = 300px
| map_state =
}}
{{Routemap|title=Aoimori Railway Line|title-bg=DodgerBlue|collapsed=yes|map=
\LSTR~~ ~~ ~~{{rmri|u}} Iwate Galaxy Railway Line
\BHF~~0.0~~{{STN|Metoki|x}}
\BHF~~5.5~~{{STN|Sannohe|x}}
\BHF~~9.5~~{{STN|Suwanotaira|x}}
\BHF~~14.8~~{{STN|Kenyoshi|x}}
\BHF~~18.2~~{{STN|Tomabechi|x}}
STR+r\STR~~ ~~ ~~{{rmri|l}} Tōhoku Shinkansen
STR\BHF~~21.0~~{{STN|Kitatakaiwa|x}}
\STRl\KRZu\STR+r
\\\BHF!~HUBaq\BHF!~HUBeq\exKBHFa~~25.9~~{{STN|Hachinohe|x}}
\\\STR\STR\exSTRl~~ ~~ ~~Nanbu Railway
\\STR\STR2~~ ~~ ~~Tōhoku Shinkansen
STRq\ABZgr~~ ~~ ~~JR-East: Hachinohe Line
\DST~~27.6~~Hachinohe Freight Terminal
STRq\ABZgr~~ ~~ ~~Hachinohe Rinkai Railway Line
\BHF~~32.8~~{{STN|Mutsu-Ichikawa|x}}
\BHF~~37.0~~{{STN|Shimoda|x}}
\BHF~~42.2~~{{STN|Mukaiyama|x}}
\\STR\exSTR+l~~ ~~ ~~Towada Kankō Electric Railway Line
\\BHF\exKBHFe~~46.9~~{{STN|Misawa|x}}
exKBSTaq\eABZgr~~ ~~ ~~Misawa Air Base
\BHF~~53.5~~{{STN|Kogawara|x}}
\eDST~~ ~~Anenuma Signal~~-1968
\BHF~~57.4~~{{STN|Kamikitachō|x}}
\BHF~~64.3~~{{STN|Ottomo|x}}
\eDST~~68.6~~Ishibumi Signal~~-1968
\STRc2\ABZ3x2\exSTRc3!~POINTERf@g~~ ~~ ~~former line -1968
\\STR+1\exSTRc1!~STRc4\exSTR+4\exSTR+l~~ ~~ ~~Nanbu Jūkan Railway
\\BHF\\exBHF\exBHF~~70.9~~{{STN|Chibiki|x}}
\\STR2\STRc3\exKRWg+l\exKRWr
\STRc1\STR+4\exSTR
\\eKRWg+l\exKRWgr
\\BHF\exKBHFe~~77.3~~{{STN|Noheji|x}}
STRq\ABZgr~~ ~~ ~~J-East: Ōminato Line
\BHF~~83.8~~{{STN|Karibasawa|x}}
\BHF~~88.5~~{{STN|Shimizugawa|x}}
\BHF~~94.5~~{{STN|Kominato|x}}
\BHF~~98.3~~{{STN|Nishi-Hiranai|x}}
\eDST~~101.0~~Tsuchiya Signal~~-1966
\BHF~~104.7~~{{STN|Asamushi-Onsen|x}}
exKRW+l\eKRWgr
exTUNNEL2\TUNNEL1
exKRWl\eKRWg+r
\BHF~~{{BSsplit|109.6|0.0*|line=1|align=right}}~~{{STN|Nonai|x}}
\exSTRc2\ABZ2x3\STRc3
\exSTR+1!~POINTERf@gq\STRc1x4\STR+4~~ ~~ ~~former line -1968
\exSTR\\BHF~~112.7~~{{STN|Yadamae|x}}
\exSTR\\BHF~~114.7~~{{STN|Koyanagi|x|Aomori}}
\exBHF\\STR~~{{BSsplit|5.1*|0.0#|line=1|align=right}}~~Namiuchi Station
\exDST\\STR~~5.6*~~Army Reserves Station~~-1905
exKDSTaq\exABZgr!~exSTR2\exSTRc3\STR~~2.2#~~堤川駅~~-1946
\exBHF!~exSTRc1\exSTR+4\STR~~7.6*~~Uramachi Station~~(1) -1926
\exSTR\exBHF!~STRc2\STR3~~ ~~Uramachi Station~~(2) 1926-1968
\exSTR\xABZg+1\STRc4
exSTR\BHF~~116.1~~{{STN|Higashi-Aomori|x}}
exSTR\DST~~120.0~~Aomori Signal
\exSTR\ABZg2\STRc3
\exSTR\STR+c1\STR+4!~POINTERg@fq~~ ~~ ~~Ōu Branch Line
exSTRq!~BOOT\KBHFxaq\eABZqr\ABZr+r\STR\~~121.9~~{{STN|Aomori|x}}
\\STR+c2\STR3~~ ~~ ~~Seikan ferry
\\ABZg+1\STRc4
\eBST~~ ~~ ~~Takiuchi Signal
STRq\ABZgr~~ ~~ ~~Tsugaru Line
\STR~~ ~~ ~~（Tsugaru-Kaikyō Line）
\STR~~ ~~ ~~Ōu Main Line
}}
The {{nihongo|Aoimori Railway Line|青い森鉄道線|Aoimori Tetsudō-sen}} is a regional rail line in Aomori Prefecture, Japan that is operated by the Aoimori Railway Company. It connects the terminal station of the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line, Metoki Station, in the town of Sannohe to Aomori Station, the terminus of several rail lines in the city of Aomori. The Aoimori and Iwate Galaxy Railway Lines are former sections of the Tōhoku Main Line that connected Tokyo to Aomori that were rendered obsolete for long-distance passenger services by the completion of the high-speed Tōhoku Shinkansen between {{STN|Tokyo|x}} and {{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}} stations. Though local passenger services are run on the line by the Aoimori Railway Company, the East Japan Railway Company continues to operate limited services, such as the sightseeing train Resort Asunaro, along the line, and the Japan Freight Railway Company (which owns a minority stake on the Aoimori Railway Company) transports freight along the line.
History
{{See also|Tōhoku Main Line}}
The predecessor to the Aoimori Railway Line was completed as the {{STN|Metoki|x}}–{{STN|Aomori|x}} portion of the Nippon Railway on 1 September 1891.{{cite news|title=駅や築港は国策に翻弄|trans-title=Stations and ports are at the mercy of national policy|url=http://www.mutusinpou.co.jp/%E6%B4%A5%E8%BB%BD%E3%81%AE%E8%A1%97%E3%81%A8%E9%A2%A8%E6%99%AF/2015/03/35440.html|newspaper=Mutsu Shimpō|language=ja|date=9 March 2015|accessdate=8 April 2021}} When the Nippon Railway was nationalized on 1 November 1906, it became part of the Japanese National Railways (JNR) system and was designated part of the Tōhoku Main Line on 12 October 1909.{{Cite act|script-title=ja:鐵道國有法|trans-title=Railway Nationalization Act |via=Wikisource |title-link=s:ja:鐵道國有法 |year=1906 |jurisdiction=Japan |legislature=Imperial Diet|language=ja }} With the privatization and dissolution of JNR on 1 April 1987, the line came under the control of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East).{{cite web|title=日本国有鉄道の改革の実施に当たり河川管理上留意すべき事項について|trans-title=Matters to be noted in management when implementing the reform of the Japanese National Railways|url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/notice/noticedata/sgml/058/78000266/78000266.html|publisher=Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism|language=ja|date=30 March 1987|accessdate=8 April 2021}}
On 1 December 2002, with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen, the portion of the Tōhoku Main Line located in Iwate Prefecture became the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line, and the portion in Aomori Prefecture from the Iwate border to Hachinohe Station became the Aoimori Railway Line.{{cite web|title=青い森鉄道線について|trans-title=About the Aoimori Railway Line|url=http://aoimorirailway.com/company/aoimori|publisher=Aoimori Railway Co., Ltd|language=ja|date=2021|accessdate=8 April 2021}} With the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen extension to {{STN|Shin-Aomori|x}} on 4 December 2010, the Tōhoku Main Line tracks between Hachinohe and Aomori were transferred from JR East to the Aoimori Railway Company, resulting in the completion of the Aoimori Railway Line.{{cite web|url=http://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/109792.html|title=JR東日本 東北本線八戸―青森間の廃止を届出|trans-title=JR East announces discontinuation of Tohoku Line between Hachinohe and Aomori|date=27 November 2009|work=Tetsudo Hobidas|publisher=Neko Publishing|location=Japan|language=ja|access-date=17 October 2013|archive-date=16 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180116135648/http://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/109792.html|url-status=dead}}
There have been a few new developments along the line since its transfer to the Aoimori Railway Company. On 12 March 2012, Nonai Station was relocated {{convert|1.5|km|mi|sp=us}} southwest of its original location. Tsutsui Station, near Aomori High School, was opened on 15 March 2014. Two-car Aoimori 703 series sets began operations on the line on the same day to handle the increased loads presented by the opening of Tsutsui Station.{{cite news|first=Yui|last=Shuzo|title=青い森鉄道:初の新駅「筒井駅」開業 新型車両もデビュー|trans-title=First new station on Aoimori Railway, Tsutsui, opens. New trains also introduced.|url= http://mainichi.jp/feature/news/20140316k0000e040142000c.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317132202/http://mainichi.jp/feature/news/20140316k0000e040142000c.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 March 2014|date=16 March 2014|newspaper=Mainichi Shimbun|location=Japan|language=ja|accessdate=17 March 2014}}
Organization
The Aoimori Railway Line is operated by the Aoimori Railway Company, a "third-sector" publicly and privately owned company. The railway facilities and tracks are owned by the prefectural government of Aomori as a "Category 3 Railway Business" under the Railway Business Act of Japan. The Aoimori Railway Company leases these facilities from the prefectural government and is responsible for operation of passenger trains on the tracks. This scheme is intended to mitigate the company's burden as an owner of fixed assets and is known as {{nihongo|"track/service separation"|上下分離方式|jōge bunri hōshiki}}.{{cite web|title=地方鉄道の活性化に向けて|trans-title=Toward the activation of local railways|url=https://www.mlit.go.jp/common/000048885.pdf|publisher=Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism|language=ja|date=29 March 2013|accessdate=8 April 2021}}
The Aoimori Railway Line is designated as the rail line between Aomori and Metoki stations that was formerly the northernmost section of the Tōhoku Main Line. Trains operated by the Aoimori Railway Company primarily operate between Aomori and Hachinohe stations; however, some of the railway's trains continue south beyond Hachinohe to Sannohe Station, with fewer continuing south to Morioka Station. Some of the trains that run along the railway between Hachinohe and Metoki Station are carried by the rolling stock of the Iwate Galaxy Railway Company, the operator of the former Tōhoku Main Line between Metoki and Morioka stations.{{cite web|title=Aoimori Railway Line Timetable|url=http://aoimorirailway.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/bd63f57de830eff0aa87aaa3ce38bb66.pdf|publisher=Aoimori Railway|date=14 March 2020|accessdate=15 February 2021}}{{cite magazine| title = 「わ」の鉄道 青い森鉄道|trans-title=Aoimori Railway - A "Wa" Railway|magazine=Japan Railfan Magazine | volume = 50| issue = 595|pages=24–29| publisher = Koyusha Co., Ltd.| location = Japan | date = November 2010}}
Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight), the nationwide freight train operator, continues to use the line for freight services. For maintenance work, the line relies on the services of the Hachinohe Rinkai Railway Company.{{cite web|title=事業内容|trans-title=Business Content|url=http://www.hachirin.com/business.html|publisher=Hachinohe Rinkai Railway Company|language=ja|date=2015|accessdate=9 April 2021}} As of January 2021, the only JR East limited express operate along the line is the Resort Asunaro sightseeing train that runs between {{STN|Hachinohe|x}} and {{STN|Ōminato|x}} stations, using the line between Hachinohe and {{STN|Noheji|x}}.{{cite web|title=Resort Asunaro|url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/e/joyful/asunaro.html|publisher=JR East|date=January 2021|accessdate=11 April 2021}}
Station list
| class="wikitable" rules="all" |
| rowspan="2"|Station
!rowspan="2"|Japanese !colspan="2"|Distance (km)JTB Timetable (April 2014) p. 592 ! rowspan="2" |Shimokita !rowspan="2"|Transfers !rowspan="2" colspan="2"|Location |
|---|
| Between stations !Total |
| {{STN|Metoki|x}}
| 目時 |style="text-align:center;"| - |style="text-align:right;"|0.0 | |rowspan="27"|Aomori |
| {{STN|Sannohe|x}}
| 三戸 |style="text-align:right;"|5.5 |style="text-align:right;"|5.5 | | |rowspan=4|Nanbu |
| {{STN|Suwanotaira|x}}
| 諏訪ノ平 |style="text-align:right;"|4.0 |style="text-align:right;"|9.5 | | |
| {{STN|Kenyoshi|x}}
| 剣吉 |style="text-align:right;"|5.3 |style="text-align:right;"|14.8 | | |
| {{STN|Tomabechi|x}}
| 苫米地 |style="text-align:right;"|3.4 |style="text-align:right;"|18.2 | | |
| {{STN|Kitatakaiwa|x}}
| 北高岩 |style="text-align:right;"|2.8 |style="text-align:right;"|21.0 | | |rowspan="3"|Hachinohe |
| {{STN|Hachinohe|x}}
|八戸 |style="text-align:right;"|4.9 |style="text-align:right;"|25.9 |● |
| {{STN|Mutsu-Ichikawa|x}}
|陸奥市川 |style="text-align:right;"|6.9 |style="text-align:right;"|32.8 | | |
| {{STN|Shimoda|x}}
|下田 |style="text-align:right;"|4.2 |style="text-align:right;"|37.0 |● | |rowspan="2"|Oirase |
| {{STN|Mukaiyama|x}}
|向山 |style="text-align:right;"|5.2 |style="text-align:right;"|42.2 | | |
| {{STN|Misawa|x}}
|三沢 |style="text-align:right;"|4.7 |style="text-align:right;"|46.9 |● | |
| {{STN|Kogawara|x}}
|小川原 |style="text-align:right;"|6.6 |style="text-align:right;"|53.5 | | |rowspan="4"|Tōhoku |
| {{STN|Kamikitachō|x}}
|上北町 |style="text-align:right;"|3.9 |style="text-align:right;"|57.4 |● | |
| {{STN|Ottomo|x}}
|乙供 |style="text-align:right;"|6.9 |style="text-align:right;"|64.3 | | |
| {{STN|Chibiki|x}}
|千曳 |style="text-align:right;"|6.6 |style="text-align:right;"|70.9 | | |
| {{STN|Noheji|x}}
|野辺地 |style="text-align:right;"|6.4 |style="text-align:right;"|77.3 |● |Ōminato Line (Rapid through services) |
| {{STN|Karibasawa|x}}
|狩場沢 |style="text-align:right;"|6.5 |style="text-align:right;"|83.8 | | |rowspan="4"|Hiranai |
| {{STN|Shimizugawa|x}}
|清水川 |style="text-align:right;"|4.7 |style="text-align:right;"|88.5 | | |
| {{STN|Kominato|x}}
|小湊 |style="text-align:right;"|6.0 |style="text-align:right;"|94.5 | | |
| {{STN|Nishi-Hiranai|x}}
|西平内 |style="text-align:right;"|3.8 |style="text-align:right;"|98.3 | | |
| {{STN|Asamushi-Onsen|x}}
|浅虫温泉 |style="text-align:right;"|6.4 |style="text-align:right;"|104.7 | | |rowspan="7"|Aomori |
| {{STN|Nonai|x}}
|野内 |style="text-align:right;"|6.5 |style="text-align:right;"|111.2 | | |
| {{STN|Yadamae|x}}
|矢田前 |style="text-align:right;"|1.5 |style="text-align:right;"|112.7 | | |
| {{STN|Koyanagi|x}}
|小柳 |style="text-align:right;"|2.0 |style="text-align:right;"|114.7 | | |
| {{STN|Higashi-Aomori|x}}
|東青森 |style="text-align:right;"|1.4 |style="text-align:right;"|116.1 | | |
| {{STN|Tsutsui|x|Aomori}}
|筒井 |style="text-align:right;"|1.4 |style="text-align:right;"|117.5 | | |
| {{STN|Aomori|x}}
|青森 |style="text-align:right;"|4.4 |style="text-align:right;"|121.9 | |
Rolling stock and equipment
- Aoimori 701 series 2-car EMUs x9
- Aoimori 703 series 2-car EMUs x2
The Aoimori Railway operates a fleet of 701 series two-car electric multiple units (EMUs). One set was built from new in September 2002, while eight more were transferred from JR East.{{cite magazine|last = Terada|first =Hirokazu |script-title=ja:新幹線並行在来線|trans-title=Conventional railways running parallel with shinkansen lines |magazine=Japan Railfan Magazine |volume = 54|issue = 642 |pages=71 |publisher = Koyusha Co., Ltd. |location = Japan |language= ja |date = October 2014}}
Two new two-car Aoimori 703 series EMUs were delivered in November 2013 and introduced from the start of the 15 March 2014 timetable revision.
{{Gallery
|title=Rolling stock on the Aoimori Railway Line
|width=160 |height=170
|align=center
|footer=
|File:AoimoriRailway 701-1 New 100918.jpg
|alt1=Aoimori 701 series two-car electric multiple unit (EMU)
|Aoimori 701 series EMU
|File:Aoimori701-3.jpg
|alt2=Aoimori 701 series two-car electric multiple unit (EMU) in its former livery
|Aoimori 701 series EMU in its initial transitional livery
|File:Aoimori 701 series interior.jpg
|alt3=The interior of a train carriage with blue fabric seats and large windows
|The interior of an Aoimori 701 series carriage
|File:10th Anniversary Aoimori 703 series at Kominato Station (cropped).jpg
|alt4=Aoimori 703 series two-car electric multiple unit (EMU) arriving at a train station
|Aoimori 703 series EMU
|File:Aoimori 703 series interior.jpg
|alt5=The interior of a train carriage with blue fabric and vinyl seats and large windows
|The interior of an Aoimori 703 series carriage
|File:JR Freight Class EH500 at Nishi-Hiranai Station.jpg
|alt6=A freight train passing through a train station
|A JR Freight Class EH500 locomotive hauling freight through Nishi-Hiranai Station
|File:JR-East-HB-E300-Resort-Asunaro.jpg
|alt7=HB-E300 series two-car hybrid diesel multiple unit (DMU)
|A Resort Asunaro HB-E300 series DMU
}}
Future plans
File:Aoimori Railway proposed station site.jpg
The railway has been negotiating with the city of Aomori since December 2015 on a proposal to open a new station between Tsutsui Station and Aomori Station near the point at which the railway passes under Japan National Route 103.{{cite web|title=⻘森 操車場跡地利用計画|trans-title=Plan for the utilization of the Aomori Rail Yard|url=https://www.city.aomori.aomori.jp/toshi-seisaku/shiseijouhou/matidukuri/sousyajou-atoti/documents/asakeikaku.pdf|language=ja|publisher=City of Aomori|date=March 2019|accessdate=31 March 2021}} The station would be part of a sports arena development for the 2025 National Sports Festival of Japan to be held in Aomori.{{cite news|title=旧操車場跡地利用 有識者が会議|url=https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/aomori/20190117/6080003606.html|language=ja|trans-title=Experts meet to discuss the need for a station at site|work=NHK|date=17 January 2019|access-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117113754/https://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/aomori/20190117/6080003606.html|archive-date=17 January 2019|url-status=dead}} The neighborhood the station would serve is a primarily residential area, but it would also provide access to some busy shopping centers within walking distance to the station.{{cite web|title=青い森セントラルパーク付近への新駅設置について|url=https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kenminno-koe/27K39.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174306/https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kenminno-koe/27K39.html|language=ja|trans-title=Concerning the establishment of a new station near the Aoimori Central Park|date=10 March 2016|archive-date=19 January 2019|access-date=18 November 2020}} As of January 2021, no final decision has been made regarding the construction of the new station.{{cite web|title=青森操車場跡地に開業予定の新駅への青い森鉄道本社の移転について|trans-title=About the relocation of the Aoimori Railway Headquarters to the new station scheduled to open on the site of the Aomori Rail Yard|url=https://www.pref.aomori.lg.jp/kenminno-koe/02K18.html|publisher=Aomori Prefecture|date=13 January 2021|accessdate=31 March 2021}}
See also
References
{{refbegin}}
- Harris, Ken and Clarke, Jackie. Jane's World Railways 2008-2009. Jane's Information Group (2008). {{ISBN|0-7106-2861-7}}
{{refend}}
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Aoimori Railway}}
- {{Officialwebsite|https://aoimorirailway.com/lang_en/}} {{Inlang|en}}
- {{Official website}} {{Inlang|ja}}
{{Parallel_Conventional_Lines_(Japan)}}
{{Aomori transit}}
{{Portal bar|Trains|Japan}}
Category:Rail transport in Aomori Prefecture
Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan