Fukuchiyama Line

infobox rail
railroad_name=Fukuchiyama Line
logo_filename=
logo_size=
system_

map_size=250
map_caption=
marks=
locale=Osaka Prefecture, Hyōgo Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture
start_year=1891
end_year=present
successor_line=
successor_line=
gauge= RailGauge|42
(narrow gauge)
length=
hq_city=N/A|The nihongo|Fukuchiyama Line|福知山線|Fukuchiyama-sen is a railway line of West Japan Railway (JR West) between Osaka and Fukuchiyama, Japan. Within the Tōkaidō Main Line from Osaka to Amagasaki, the line from Osaka to Sasayamaguchi is also called the JR Takarazuka Line (JR宝塚線), runs through the cities of Kawanishi and Takarazuka in the northwestern corner of the Osaka metropolitan area.

Although Amagasaki is the line's official southeastern terminus, all trains continue east to Osaka and beyond on the JR Kōbe Line, or to Gakkentoshi Line via JR Tōzai Line.

Route data

*Jurisdiction (enterprise classification): West Japan Railway (first kind railroad enterprise company)
*Route distance: 106.5km
*Rail gauge: 1067mm
*The number of stations: 30 stations (23 stations as the JR Takarazuka Line)
*Electrified section: Whole-line electrification (direct current 1500V)

Rolling stock

*207 series (207系, Rapid Service and the Local Train)
*221 series (221系, The Tanbaji Rapid Service and the Rapid Service)
*223 series (223系, The Tanbaji Rapid Service and the Rapid Service)
*321 series (321系, Rapid Service and the Local Train)
*113 series (113系)
*117 series (117系)
*183 series (183系, Limited Express Nihongo|Kitakinki|北近畿|kita kinki and Nihongo|Monju|文殊|monju
*KTR 8000 series (KTR8000型, Limited Express Tango Explorer(タンゴエクスプローラー "Tango Ekusupurōrā")

History

nihongo|Kawabe Horsecar Railway|川辺馬車鉄道|Kawabe Bashatetsudō started the history of the line in 1891. The railway operated the line between Amagasaki and Itami (about 8 km) by horsecars. In 1893, the horsecar railway was reorganized as nihongo|Settsu Railway|摂津鉄道|Settsu Tetsudō, which introduced steam power to the railway and extended the line to Ikeda.

Settsu Railway was merged by nihongo|Hankaku Railway|阪鶴鉄道|Hankaku Tetsudō, which had a plan to build a railway between Osaka and Maizuru. Hankaku Railway extended the line to Takarazuka in 1897 and to Fukuchiyama in 1899. Also the company connected the line to the Kanzaki Station (present-day Amagasaki Station) of the government line in 1898 making the line to the original Amagasaki terminal a branch. Hankaku Railway was nationalized on August 1, 1907.

The branchline between Amagasakikō Station (former Amagasaki terminal of the horsecar railway) and Tsukaguchi Station ceased passenger operation in 1981 and freight operation in 1984.

Modernization of the route began in the 1980s. Railway signal system changed to CTC, and electrification to Fukuchiyama was completed in 1986.

On April 25, 2005, a seven-car Rapid Service derailed and crashed between Tsukaguchi and Amagasaki on its way for Doshisha-mae via the JR Tōzai Line and the Gakkentoshi Line (see: Amagasaki rail crash). Operations on the affected part of the line remained suspended until trial runs began on June 7, 2005. Passenger service resumed on June 19, 2005.

tations

*S : Stop
*s : Limited stop
*| : Pass
*Local (普通): The through trains to and from the JR Kyoto Line stop at the station of "s" (Tsukamoto Station).