Tazawako Line

The Tazawako Line (田沢湖線, Tazawako-sen) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) connecting Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate and Ōmagari Station in Daisen, Akita, Japan.

Tazawako Line
Series E6 Shinkansen EMU runs on Tazawako Line
Overview
Native name	田沢湖線
Locale	Iwate, Akita prefectures
Termini	Morioka Ōmagari
Stations	18
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR East
Rolling stock	701 series
History
Opened	25 June 1921 (1921-06-25)
Technical
Line length	75.6 km (47.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	20,000 V AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map Legend km Tōhoku Shinkansen │ Tōhoku Main Line 0.0 Morioka Yamada Line Tōhoku Shinkansen │ Iwate Galaxy Railway Line 3.4 Maegata 6.0 Ōkama 10.5 Koiwai 16.0 Shizukuishi 18.7 Harukiba 22.0 Akabuchi Hashiba closed 1944 28.6 Ochizawa signal box Sengan Tunnel 3.915 mi 6.301 km Iwate Prefecture Akita Prefecture 34.4 Shiodonai signal box 40.1 Tazawako 44.4 Sashimaki 52.8 Jindai 55.3 Shōden Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line 58.8 Kakunodate 61.6 Uguisuno 64.6 Ugo-Nagano 67.9 Yariminai 70.2 Ugo-Yotsuya 72.0 Kita-Ōmagari Ōu Main Line 75.6 Ōmagari Ōu Main Line This diagram: view talk edit

Akita Shinkansen Komachi trains travel over the line, which was regauged in 1997 from 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in).

History

The section from Morioka to Shizukuishi opened on 25 June 1921, as the Hashiba Light Railway (橋場軽便), and was extended to Hashiba on 2 September 1922.^[1] Services to Hashiba Station ended in the 1940s.

The Omagari - Jindai section was opened in 1921 and extended to Tazawako in 1923.

In 1964, the Shizukuishi to Akabuchi section opened, and upon completion of the 3,915 m (2.433 mi) Sengan Tunnel, the Akabuchi to Tazawako section opened on 20 October 1966, completing the line.^[1]

Freight services ceased in 1982, the year the entire line was electrified.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, the line was converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge, and became part of the Akita Shinkansen, with standard-gauge electric multiple unit (EMU) trains providing local services on the line.

In January 2022 it was announced that Maegata Station would be added between Morioka Station and Ōkama Station.^[2] Maegata station opened for service on 18 March 2023.

Station list

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) from Morioka	Transfers		Location
Morioka	盛岡	0.0	Akita Shinkansen, Tohoku Shinkansen, Tohoku Main Line, Yamada Line Iwate Galaxy Railway Line	v	Morioka	Iwate
Maegata	前潟	3.4		｜
Ōkama	大釜	6.0		◇	Takizawa
Koiwai	小岩井	10.5		◇
Shizukuishi	雫石	16.0	Akita Shinkansen	◇	Shizukuishi
Harukiba	春木場	18.7		｜
Akabuchi	赤渕	22.0		◇
Tazawako	田沢湖	40.1	Akita Shinkansen	◇	Senboku	Akita
Sashimaki	刺巻	44.4		◇
Jindai	神代	52.8		◇
Shōden	生田	55.3		｜
Kakunodate	角館	58.8	Akita Shinkansen, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Akita Nairiku Line	◇
Uguisuno	鶯野	61.6		｜	Daisen
Ugo-Nagano	羽後長野	64.6		◇
Yariminai	鑓見内	67.9		｜
Ugo-Yotsuya	羽後四ツ屋	70.2		◇
Kita-Ōmagari	北大曲	72.0		｜
Ōmagari	大曲	75.6	Ōu Main Line, Akita Shinkansen (for Akita)	^

Passing loops

• Ōchizawa passing loop (大地沢信号場, Ōchizawa-shingōjō) is a passing loop located in Shizukuishi, Iwate. (39°40′29″N 140°50′31″E)
• Shidonai passing loop (志度内信号場, Shidonai-shingōjō) is a passing loop located in Senboku, Akita.(39°41′25″N 140°46′48″E)

Rolling stock

As of 2022, 701-5000 series trains belonging to Akita General Rolling Stock Center are used on this line.