Hakodate Main Line
The Hakodate Main Line (函館本線, Hakodate-honsen) is a railway line connecting the cities of Hakodate and Asahikawa via Sapporo in Hokkaido, Japan. It is one of the trunk lines that is operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido). The Sawara Line, a 35 km (22 mi) loop line from Ōnuma to Mori opened in 1945, is included as part of the Hakodate Main Line.
| Hakodate Main Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
A Rapid Airport train running along the coast of the Sea of Japan, near Asari Station in Otaru | |||
| Overview | |||
| Owner | JR Hokkaido | ||
| Locale | Hokkaido | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 79 (main line) 6 (branch line) | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Regional rail | ||
| Operator(s) | JR Hokkaido and JR Freight | ||
| Depot(s) | Sapporo depot (near Inaho), Naebo Workshop & depot | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 423.1 km (262.9 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Single (Nanae-Mori (include branch), Washinosu signal base-Yamasaki, Kuroiwa-Kita‐Toyotsu signal base and Oshamambe-Otaru) Double (elsewhere) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Electrification | 20 kV 50 Hz AC overhead catenary (Hakodate to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, Otaru to Asahikawa) | ||
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) (Hakodate to Oshamanbe, Otaru to Asahikawa) 95 km/h (59 mph) (Onuma to Oshima-Sawara to Mori, Oshamanbe to Otaru) | ||
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The Sapporo—Minami-Otaru section was the first railway line that opened in Hokkaido (including the Minami-Otaru - Temiya Line to the Otaru Port). The line was extended as the first to connect to Hakodate, though today all Sapporo—Hakodate direct passenger and freight services travel via the Chitose and Muroran lines until rejoining the Hakodate line at Oshamambe Station.
The Hokkaido Shinkansen route north of Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto approximately parallels the route of the Hakodate Main Line, with stations proposed to be built at Shin-Yakumo, Oshamambe, Kutchan, Shin-Otaru and Sapporo.
On March 27, 2022, the municipals along the line agreed to abolish the section between Oshamanbe—Otaru after the opening of the Hokkaido Shinkansen's extension to Sapporo in 2030. The entire section will be converted into a bus route.