Biwako Line

Railway line in Japan

Biwako Line

Biwako Line

Overview
Native name| 琵琶湖線
Owner| JR West
Locale| Kyoto Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture
Termini|

* Maibara
* Kyoto (Tōkaidō Line)
Nagahama (Hokuriku Line)

Stations| 23
Service
Type| Heavy rail
System| Urban Network
Operator(s)| JR West
JR Freight
History
Opened| May 1, 1882 (as part of Tōkaidō Main Line)
March 13, 1988 (renamed as Biwako Line)
Technical
Line length| 75.4 km (46.9 mi)
Track gauge| 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification| 1,500 V DC overhead line
Operating speed| 130 km/h (81 mph)

Route map

Legend

|  |  |

|  |

Hokuriku Main Line

for Fukui, Naoetsu

|
|
|
|
|

|  |

|  |

Tōkaidō Main Line

to Sekigahara

|  |

7.7

| Nagahama
|  |

4.7

| Tamura
|  |

2.4

| Sakata
|  |

0.0

Tokyo

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

JR Central/JR West boundary

|  |

|  |
|  |

| 445.9

0.0

Maibara
|  |

|  |
|  |

| 451.9

6.0

Hikone
|  |

|  |

Ohmi Railway Main Line

for Yōkaichi, Kibukawa

|  |

| 455.2

9.3

Minami-Hikone
|  |

| 458.3

12.4

Kawase
|  |

| 462.0

16.1

Inae
|  |

| 465.7

19.8

Notogawa
|  |

|  |
|  |

| 470.8

24.9

Azuchi
|  |

|  |

Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line

for Yōkaichi

|  |

| 474.3

28.4

Ōmi-Hachiman
|  |

| 478.3

32.4

Shinohara
|  |

| 483.9

38.0

Yasu
|  |

|  |

Yasu River

|  |

| 487.0

41.1

Moriyama
|  |

| 489.1

43.2

Rittō
|  |

|  |

Kusatsu Line

to Kibukawa, Tsuge

|  |

| 491.4

45.5

Kusatsu
|  |

|  |

Kusatsu River

|  |

| 493.9

48.0

Minami-Kusatsu
|  |

| 496.6

50.7

Seta
|  |

|  |

Seta River

|  |

|  |

Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line

|  |

| 499.1

53.2

Ishiyama
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

| 501.9

56.0

Zeze
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

Hama-Ōtsu

|  |

| 503.6

57.7

Ōtsu |

Ōtsu Port

|  |

|  |

Keishin Line

|  |

|  |

Ishiyama Sakamoto Line

to Sakamoto

|  |

|  |

Ōsakayama Tunnel

|  |

|  | Ōtani
|  |

|  |

Kosei Line

to Ōmi Shiotsu

|  |

|  |
|  |

|  |

Shiga/Kyoto border

|  |

|  |
|  |

| 508.1

62.2

Yamashina
|  |

|  |

(old) Yamashina

|  |

|  |

Higashiyama Tunnel

|  |

|  |

Nara Line

to Kizu

|  |

|  | Inari
|  |

|  |

Keihan Main Line

left to Sanjō

|  |

|  |

Tōfukuji

|  |

|  |

Kamo River

|  |

|  |
|  |

| 513.6

67.7

Kyoto
|  |

|  |

Sanin Main Line

to Hatabu

|  |

|  |

JR Kyoto Line

To Osaka

|  |  |  |  |  |

The Biwako Line (琵琶湖線, Biwako-sen) is the nickname used by the operator of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) to refer to the portion of the Tōkaidō Main Line (between Maibara Station and Kyoto Station) and the Hokuriku Main Line (between Maibara Station and Nagahama Station). The section, along with JR Kyoto Line and JR Kobe Line, forms a contiguous service that is the main trunk of JR West's "Urban Network" commuter rail network in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area.[1]

## Overview

[edit]

The line is named after Lake Biwa (琵琶湖, Biwa-ko), which the route runs along. Line nicknames were introduced when the newly privatized JR West intended to use "familiar" names over official line names, such as Tōkaidō Main Line and Fukuchiyama Line. Biwako Line did not appear on the first list, and instead The JR Kyoto Line was to be called up to Maibara. A move in Shiga Prefecture opposed the name, claiming that the name of Kyoto Line in Shiga sounds like an auxiliary, requiring its own name in the prefecture. Biwako Line was thus made to refer to the section between Maibara and Kyoto.

The section of the name was extended to Nagahama, on the alteration of electric supply from 20 kV AC to 1,500 V DC, which enabled through operation to Kyoto and Osaka.

Although the "Biwako Line" nickname is used by the operator JR West for passenger announcements, the official status of Tōkaidō Main Line has not been changed or discussed. The counterpart for the line, Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) uses its official name "Tōkaidō Main Line" for the section of JR West, at the connections of Kyoto and Maibara. The "Biwako Line" nickname appears in some local newspapers and real estate advertisements. Frequent passengers understand that the Biwako, JR Kyoto, JR Kobe lines are in fact one line, however, public recognition of the name is still in question, especially among non-users along the line.

## Trains

[edit]

* Special Rapid Service (新快速):
* Trains terminate at Nagahama, Maibara and Yasu (some trains continue on Hokuriku Line to Omi-Shiotsu and Tsuruga). Stops at Nagahama, Tamura, Sakata, Maibara, Hikone, Notogawa, Omi-Hachiman, Yasu, Moriyama, Kusatsu, Minami-Kusatsu, Ishiyama, Otsu, Yamashina, and Kyoto. Continues on JR Kyoto Line to Osaka and beyond.
* Local trains (普通)
* Operated as rapid service trains when running in the west of Takatsuki (Kyoto in the morning) (3 doors par car)
* These local trains are mainly operated on the Biwako Line and make every stop on the line. They terminate at Maibara and Yasu.
* JR Kyoto Line local trains (4 doors par car)
* JR Kyoto Line local service extends to Yasu during rush hour on weekdays.

## Stations

[edit]

Stations are listed from east to west. The distance of Tokyo – Maibara is 445.9 km (277.1 mi), and that of Tokyo – Kyoto is 513.6 km (319.1 mi). Historically, the Tōkaidō Main Line continued from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond, through Maibara. In the Japanese timetable books, the distances from Tokyo are still shown in the table, although the Biwako Line's officially begins at Maibara.

* ●: Trains stop.
* ○: Limited stop, early morning and late night only
* |: Trains pass.
* Local (4-door Commuter trains): JR Kyoto Line local trains
* Local (3-door Suburban trains): Operated as Rapid service trains west of Takatsuki (west of Kyoto in the morning)

Official line name  | No.  | Station  | Japanese  | Stop  | Transfers  | Location

|
|
|
|
|
|

Local
(Commuter)  | Local
(Suburban)  | Special Rapid  | Ward, City  | Prefecture
Through service from/to Hokuriku Main Line
Hokuriku Main Line |  JR-A09 | Nagahama | 長浜  |  | ●  | ●  |  Hokuriku Main Line for Ōmi-Shiotsu and Tsuruga | Nagahama | Shiga
JR-A10 | Tamura | 田村  | ●  | ●  |
JR-A11 | Sakata | 坂田  | ●  | ●  |  | Maibara
JR-A12 | Maibara | 米原  | ●  | ●  | JR Central:

* Tōkaidō Shinkansen
* Tokaido Line for Gifu and Nagoya (CA83)

■ Ohmi Railway Main Line

Tōkaidō Main Line
JR-A13 | Hikone | 彦根  | ●  | ●  | ■ Ohmi Railway Main Line  | Hikone
JR-A14 | Minami-Hikone | 南彦根  | ●  | |  |
JR-A15 | Kawase | 河瀬  | ●  | |  |
JR-A16 | Inae | 稲枝  | ●  | |  |
JR-A17 | Notogawa | 能登川  | ●  | ●  |  | Higashiōmi
JR-A18 | Azuchi | 安土  | ●  | |  |  | Ōmihachiman
JR-A19 | Ōmi-Hachiman | 近江八幡  | ●  | ●  | ■ Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line
JR-A20 | Shinohara | 篠原  | ●  | |  |
JR-A21 | Yasu | 野洲  | ○  | ●  | ●  |  | Yasu
JR-A22 | Moriyama | 守山  | ○  | ●  | ●  |  | Moriyama
JR-A23 | Rittō | 栗東  | ○  | ●  | |  |  | Rittō
JR-A24 | Kusatsu | 草津  | ●  | ●  | ●  |  Kusatsu Line | Kusatsu
JR-A25 | Minami-Kusatsu | 南草津  | ●  | ●  | ●  |
JR-A26 | Seta | 瀬田  | ●  | ●  | |  |  | Ōtsu
JR-A27 | Ishiyama | 石山  | ●  | ●  | ●  |  Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT03: Keihan Ishiyama Station)
JR-A28 | Zeze | 膳所  | ●  | ●  | |  |  Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT09: Keihan Zeze Station)
JR-A29 | Ōtsu | 大津  | ●  | ●  | ●  |
JR-A30 | Yamashina | 山科  | ●  | ●  | ●  |  Kosei Line (JR-B30)
Kyoto Municipal Subway Tōzai Line (T07)
Keihan Keishin Line (OT31: Keihan Yamashina Station)  | Yamashina-ku, Kyoto | Kyoto
JR-A31 | Kyoto | 京都  | ●  | ●  | ●  |  Tōkaidō Shinkansen
JR Kyoto Line
Nara Line (JR-D01)
Sagano Line (Sanin Main Line) (JR-E01)
B Kintetsu Kyoto Line (B01)
Kyoto Municipal Subway Karasuma Line (K11)  | Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
Through service from/to JR Kyoto Line
Within JR Kyoto Line:  | Local

(Northbound only)

| Rapid  | Special Rapid  |

## Rolling stock

[edit]

### Local

[edit]

* 113 series (Kusatsu – Kusatsu – Kyoto, through service with Kusatsu Line and Kosei Line)
* 117 series (Kusatsu – Kusatsu – Kyoto, through service with Kusatsu Line and Kosei Line)
* 125 series (Nagahama – Maibara, through service with Hokuriku Line)
* 207 series (Yasu – Kusatsu – Kyoto, through service with Kosei Line)
* 221 series (through service with Kosei Line)
* 223-6000 series (through service with Kosei Line)
* 321 series (Yasu – Kusatsu – Kyoto, through service with Kosei Line)
* 521-0 series (Nagahama – Maibara, through service with Hokuriku Line)

### Special Rapid and Local

[edit]

* 223–1000 series (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)
* 223-2000 series (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)
* 225-0 series (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)
* 225-100 series (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)

### Limited Express

[edit]

* 271 series (Haruka service, from Spring 2020)
* 281 series (Haruka service)
* 285 series (Sunrise Izumo/Sunrise Seto service, from 1998)
* 681 series (Biwako Express service)
* 683 series (Biwako Express service)
* KiHa 189 series (Biwako Express service, from March 2014)
* KiHa 85 series (JR Central) (Hida service)

### Former

[edit]

* 485 series (Biwako Liner rapid service until June 2003)
* 583 series (Express Kitaguni until January 2013)
* 383 series (JR Central) (Limited Express Shinano until 26 March 2016)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ KyoTravellers (2023-04-01). "JR line | Kyoto Bus & Train Guide". Retrieved 2023-09-24.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Biwako Line.

* v
* t
* e

Transit in Keihanshin (Greater Keihanshin)

Shinkansen lines|

* Tōkaidō Shinkansen
* San'yō Shinkansen
* Hokuriku Shinkansen (planned)
* Chūō Shinkansen (planned)

JR West lines
("Urban network")|

* A Hokuriku/Tōkaidō/San'yō
* Biwako
* JR Kyoto
* JR Kobe
* N Akō
* Wadamisaki
* B Kosei
* C Kusatsu
* D Nara
* Sanin
* Sagano
* F Osaka Higashi
* G JR Takarazuka (Fukuchiyama)
* H Gakkentoshi (Katamachi)/JR Tozai
* I Kakogawa
* J Bantan
* K Kishin
* L Maizuru
* O Osaka Loop
* P JR Yumesaki (Sakurajima)
* Q Yamatoji
* Kansai
* R Hanwa (Hagoromo)
* S Kansai Airport
* T Wakayama
* U Man-yo Mahoroba (Sakurai)
* V Kansai
* W Kisei
* Naniwasuji (under construction)

Urban rail transit systems|

|  Osaka Metro
(list of stations)|

* Midōsuji Line
* Tanimachi Line
* Yotsubashi Line
* Chūō Line
* Sennichimae Line
* Sakaisuji Line
* Nagahori Tsurumi-ryokuchi Line
* Imazatosuji Line
* Nankō Port Town Line

|

Kobe Municipal Subway|

* Seishin-Yamate Line
* Kaigan Line
* Hokushin Line

Kyoto Municipal Subway|

* Karasuma Line
* Tōzai Line

Osaka Monorail|

* Main
* Saito

Hankai Tramway|

* Hankai
* Uemachi

Kobe New Transit|

* Port Island Line
* Rokkō Island Line

Keifuku Electric Railroad (Randen)|

* Arashiyama Line
* Kitano Line

Eizan Electric Railway (Eiden)|

* Eizan Main Line
* Kurama Line

Five major
private rail operators|

|  Hankyu|

* Hankyu Kobe Main
* Itami
* Imazu
* Koyo
* Hankyu Takarazuka Main
* Minoo
* Hankyu Kyoto Main
* Senri
* Arashiyama

|

Hanshin|

* Hanshin Main
* Namba
* Mukogawa

Keihan|

* Keihan Main
* Oto
* Nakanoshima
* Katano
* Uji
* Otsu Lines
* ■ Keishin
* ■ Ishiyama Sakamoto

Nankai|

* Nankai Main
* Takashinohama
* Airport
* Tanagawa
* Kada
* Wakayamako
* Koya
* Shiomibashi
* Naniwasuji (under construction)

Kintetsu Railway|

* A Namba/Nara
* G Ikoma
* B Kyoto/Kashihara
* H Tenri
* I Tawaramoto
* C Keihanna
* D Osaka
* J Shigi
* F Minami Osaka/Yoshino
* N Domyoji
* O Nagano
* P Gose

Four semi-major
private rail operators|

|  Semboku Rapid|

* Semboku Rapid Railway

|

Kitakyu|

* Namboku Line

Kōbe Rapid|

* Tōzai Line
* Namboku Line

Sanyo|

* Sanyo Main Line
* Aboshi Line

Other railways|

* Chizu Express
* Shintetsu
* Arima
* Sanda
* Kōen-Toshi
* Ao
* Kobe Kosoku
* Wakayama Railway Kishigawa Line
* Noseden
* Myoken Line
* Nissei Line
* Ohmi Railway
* Main
* Yōkaichi
* Taga
* Mizuma Railway Mizuma Line
* Shigaraki Kohgen Railway

Cable car and aerial tramways|

* Keihan Cable Car
* Kintetsu
* Y Ikoma Cable Car
* Z Nishi-Shigi Cable Car
* Katsuragisan Ropeway
* Kōyasan Cable Car
*     * Eizan Cable Car
* Eizan Ropeway
* Mount Rokko Cable Car & Tourism Company [ja]
* Rokko Cable Line

Terminals|

* Rail
* Osaka/Umeda/Nishi-Umeda/Higashi-Umeda/Kitashinchi
* Tennoji/Osaka Abenobashi
* Nankai Namba/Osaka Namba/JR Namba
* Kyōbashi
* Shin-Osaka
* Osaka Uehommachi
* Tsuruhashi
* Kyōto
* Kyoto-kawaramachi/Gion-Shijō
* Sanjo
* Sannomiya
* JR West
* others
* Kintetsu Nara
* Airports
* Itami
* Kansai/Wing Shuttle
* Kobe
* Tokushima Airport
* Ports
* Port of Kobe
* Port of Osaka
* Sakai
* Himeji

Miscellaneous|

* Ferry Operators
* Kanko Kisen
* Hankyu Ferry
* Nankai Ferry
* Akashi-Awaji Ferry
* Cards
* ICOCA
* PiTaPa
* Rail transport in Japan
* Osaka City Air Terminal (& Bus)

* Japan transit: Tokyo
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* Hokkaido
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* Metro systems
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* trams (list)
* aerial lifts (list)

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