Kawagoe Line

Kawagoe Line

Kawagoe Line 209-3000 series EMU at Komagawa Station
Overview
Native name 川越線
Type Heavy rail
Locale Saitama Prefecture
Termini Ōmiya
Komagawa
Stations 11
Operation
Opened 1940
Owner JR East
Depot(s) Kawagoe
Technical
Line length 30.6 km (19.0 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification 1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map

The Kawagoe Line (川越線 Kawagoe-sen) is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which connects the cities of Saitama, Kawagoe, and Hidaka in Saitama Prefecture. The main transfer stations on the line are Ōmiya, Kawagoe, and Komagawa.

Services

The section between Kawagoe and Ōmiya operates as an extension of the Saikyō Line from central Tokyo, with most trains traveling through to/from Ōsaki and on to/from Shin-Kiba via the Rinkai Line. On the section between Kawagoe and Komagawa, about half of all trains travel through to/from Hachiōji via the Hachikō Line.

Except for a few rush-hour trains that start and terminate at Minami-Furuya, all eastbound trains from Komagawa and westbound trains from Ōmiya terminate at Kawagoe. Passengers wishing to travel beyond Kawagoe must change trains there.

Station list

Station Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Track layout Location
Between
stations		 Total
Through services to/from Shin-Kiba on the Rinkai Line via the Saikyo Line
Ōmiya 大宮 - 0.0 from
Ōsaki
36.9		 Saikyo Line (through service), Tohoku Shinkansen, Yamagata Shinkansen, Akita Shinkansen, Joetsu Shinkansen, Hokuriku Shinkansen, Keihin-Tohoku Line, Tohoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line), Takasaki Line, Shonan-Shinjuku Line
Tobu Urban Park Line
Ina Line (New Shuttle)		 ∥ Ōmiya-ku Saitama
Nisshin 日進 3.7 3.7 40.6   ∨ Kita-ku
Nishi-Ōmiya 西大宮 2.6 6.3 43.2   ◇ Nishi-ku
Sashiōgi 指扇 1.4 7.7 44.6   ◇
Minami-Furuya 南古谷 4.7 12.4 49.3   ◇ Kawagoe
Kawagoe 川越 3.7 16.1 53.0 Tōbu Tōjō Line
Seibu Shinjuku Line (Hon-Kawagoe)		 ◇
from
Hachiōji
45.6
Nishi-Kawagoe 西川越 2.6 18.7 43.0   ｜
Matoba 的場 2.2 20.9 40.8   ◇
Kasahata 笠幡 2.9 23.8 37.9   ｜
Musashi-Takahagi 武蔵高萩 3.2 27.0 34.7   ◇ Hidaka
Komagawa 高麗川 3.6 30.6 31.1 Hachikō Line (through service) ◇
Through services to/from Hachiōji on the Hachikō Line

Rolling stock

The electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet used on Kawagoe Line services is based at Kawagoe Depot (close to Minami-Furuya Station).[2] The first of a fleet of 31 new 10-car E233-7000 series sets were introduced on Saikyo Line, Kawagoe Line, and Rinkai Line services between Kawagoe and Shin-Kiba from 30 June 2013, displacing all but one of the fleet of 205 series EMUs.[3][4] As of February 2015, 205 series set 28 remains in service while the E233-7000 series fleet undergoes modifications.[5]

Rolling stock previously used

History

Line opening

A line linking Ōmiya with Kawagoe and continuing to the Hachikō Line at Komagawa was first proposed in March 1920. Construction work started in September 1935, with the line opening on 22 July 1940.[6]

Switch to diesel

Services were initially steam hauled, but diesel multiple unit trains were introduced from 1 June 1950. The final steam-hauled passenger train ran on 30 September 1969.[6]

Electrification

The line was electrified (1,500 V DC) from 30 September 1985, and through running commenced to and from the Saikyō Line, which opened at the same time. The tracks were doubled between Ōmiya to Nisshin, and a new EMU depot was opened close to Minami-Furuya Station. A special "Kawagoe Line Diesel Sayonara" train ran on the line on 3 November 1985.[6]

Hachikō Line through services

Through services between Kawagoe and Hachiōji on the Hachikō Line began on 16 March 1996 following the electrification of the southern section of the Hachikō Line between Komagawa and Hachiōji.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "川越線に209系3100代を投入　103系を置換え" [209-3100 series introduced on Kawagoe Line - Replacing 103 series]. Railway Journal (Japan: Tetsudō Journal) 39 (465): 106. July 2005.
  2. ↑ JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations - Winter 2012]. Japan: JRR. October 2011. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.
  3. ↑ 秋田新幹線用車両と埼京線・横浜線用車両の新造について [Akita Shinkansen, Saikyo Line, and Yokohama Line new train details] (PDF) (in Japanese). JR East. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  4. ↑ 新型車両で快適に　埼京・川越線、３０日から導入 [Comfortable new trains to be introduced on Saikyo/Kawagoe Line from 30th] (in Japanese). Japan: The Saitama Shimbun. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
  5. ↑ JR通勤電車 最新事情 [Latest Situation of JR Commuter Trains]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 55 no. 648 (Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd.). April 2015. p. 16.
  6. 1 2 3 4 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線 国鉄・JR NO.45 埼京線・八高線・川越線・武蔵野線・京葉線 [Railway Line History - JNR/JR No. 45: Saikyo Line, Hachiko Line, Kawagoe Line, Musashino Line, Keiyo Line]. Japan: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. June 2010. EAN 4910222710600.

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