Akō Line
Akō Line (赤穂線, Akō-sen) is a railway line owned by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Aioi, Hyōgo to Okayama, Okayama in Japan. A loop line off the Sanyō Main Line, the Akō Line commences at Aioi, is situated south of the main line approximately paralleling the Seto Inland Sea, and rejoins the main line at Higashi-Okayama.
| Akō Line | |
|---|---|
213 series EMU on an Akō Line local service at Osafune Station | |
| Overview | |
| Native name | 赤穂線 |
| Owner | JR West |
| Locale | Hyogo Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture |
| Termini | |
| Stations | 19 |
| Service | |
| Type | Passenger/freight |
| System | Urban Network (Aioi - Banshū-Akō) |
| Operator(s) | JR West JR Freight |
| Rolling stock | 113 series EMU 115 series EMU 117 series EMU 213 series EMU 221 series EMU 223-1000 series EMU 223-2000 series EMU 223-6000 series EMU 225-0 series EMU 225-100 series EMU |
| History | |
| Opened | 1951 |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 57.4 km (35.7 mi) |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead line |
| Operating speed | 85 km/h (53 mph) |
The entire 57.4-kilometre (35.7 mi) line is single track. Only one train runs the entire length of the line, with service divided at Banshū-Akō, and no trains terminate at either of the official terminals. Trains from the east continue from Himeji on the Sanyō Main Line and terminate at Akō, while westbound services originating from Akō continue past Higashi-Okayama and continue on the Sanyō Main Line to Okayama and beyond. "Rapid" and "Special Rapid" trains from Kyoto and beyond make local stops between Aioi and Banshū-Akō, and the segment of the line is part of JR West's Kinki region Urban Network.