Honshi–Bisan Line

The Honshi-Bisan Line (本四備讃線, Honshi-Bisan-sen) is a Japanese railway line which connects Kurashiki in Okayama Prefecture with Utazu in Kagawa Prefecture. It is owned and operated jointly by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) and Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku). The line is the central section of the Seto-Ōhashi Line, a service connecting Okayama and Takamatsu; as a result, the Honshi-Bisan Line is rarely referred to by itself, but rather as a part of the larger Seto-Ōhashi Line service.

Honshi-Bisan Line
Marine Liner on the Honshi-Bisan Line
Overview
Owner	JR West, JR Shikoku
Locale	Okayama, Kagawa prefectures
Termini	Chayamachi Utazu
Stations	6
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR West, JR Shikoku, JR Freight
History
Opened	1988
Technical
Line length	31.0 km (19.3 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph)
Route map

The line's name comes from the two islands it links: Honshu and Shikoku, and the old provincial names of the areas through which the line passes, Bitchū Province/Bizen Province and Sanuki Province.

History

The 13 km (8.1 mi) Chayamachi - Kojima section opened on 20 March 1988,^[1] and the 18 km (11 mi) Kojima - Utazu on 10 April 1988 in conjunction with the opening of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge system.

This provided the first rail connection between Honshu and Shikoku, prior to this passengers traveled via the Uno Line and train ferry to Takamatsu.

The opening of the line also facilitated electrification of the Yosan Line between Takamatsu and Matsuyama, enabling direct services from both cities to Okayama.

Basic data

• Operators, distances:
  • West Japan Railway Company (JR West) (Services and tracks)
    • Chayamachi – Kojima: 12.9 km (8.0 mi)
  • Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) (Services and tracks)
    • Kojima – Utazu: 18.1 km (11.2 mi)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services)
    • Chayamachi – Kojima – Utazu: 31.0 km (19.3 mi)
• Gauge: 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) narrow gauge
• Stations: 6
• Double-tracked section: Entire line
• Electrification: 1500 V DC
• Railway signalling: Centralized Traffic Control (CTC)
• Maximum speed:
  • Chayamachi – Kojima: 130 km/h (80 mph)
  • Kojima – Utazu: 120 km/h (75 mph)
• CTC center:
  • Chayamachi – Kojima: Okayama Transport Control Center
  • Kojima – Utazu: Takamatsu Control Center

Station list

No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Transfers	Location
M08	Chayamachi	茶屋町	0.0	Uno Line	Kurashiki	Okayama
M09	Uematsu	植松	2.9		Okayama
M10	Kimi	木見	5.6		Kurashiki
M11	Kaminochō	上の町	9.7
M12	Kojima	児島	12.9
Border between JR West and JR Shikoku
Y09	Utazu	宇多津	31.0	■ Yosan Line	Utazu, Ayauta District	Kagawa

See also

• List of railway lines in Japan