Shinonoi Line

Shinonoi Line
Limited express Shinano running on the Shinonoi line in April 2022
Overview
Native name	篠ノ井線
Owner	JR East
Locale	Nagano Prefecture
Termini	Shinonoi Shiojiri
Stations	15
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Technical
Line length	66.7 km (41.4 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h (80 mph)
Route map

The Shinonoi Line (篠ノ井線, Shinonoi-sen) is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri.

The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.

Stations

All stations are located in Nagano Prefecture.

●: All trains stop, ▲: Some trains stop, ｜: non-stop, Rapid Misuzu stops at all stations

Line name	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)	Rapid	Good Morning Liner	Transfers	Location
Shinonoi Line	Shiojiri	塩尻	0.0	●	●	■ Chūō Main Line	Shiojiri
	Hirooka	広丘	3.8	●	↓
	Murai	村井	6.8	●	●		Matsumoto
	Hirata	平田	8.8	●	↓
	Minami-Matsumoto	南松本	10.9	●	↓
	Matsumoto	松本	13.3	●	●	■ Ōito Line Alpico Kōtsū Kamikōchi Line
	Tazawa	田沢	21.6	●	●		Azumino
	Akashina	明科	28.2	●	●
	Nishijō	西条	37.2	▲	↓		Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District
	Sakakita	坂北	40.9	▲	↓
	Hijiri-Kōgen	聖高原	45.0	●	↓		Omi, Higashi­chikuma District
	Kamuriki	冠着	48.3	▲	↓		Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District
	Obasute	姨捨	54.2	▲	↓		Chikuma
	Inariyama	稲荷山	62.9	▲	↓		Nagano
	Shinonoi	篠ノ井	66.7	●	●	Shinano Railway Line
Shin'etsu Main Line					●
	Imai	今井	68.8	｜	↓
	Kawanakajima	川中島	71.0	▲	↓
	Amori	安茂里	73.1	｜	↓
	Nagano	長野	76.0	●	●	Hokuriku Shinkansen Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line ■ Iiyama Line Nagano Electric Railway

Passing loops and switchbacks

Hirase loop

A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as Hirase shingōjō (平瀬信号場). It has two tracks.

• Coordinates:36°15′47″N 137°56′54″E

Haneo switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Haneo shingōjō (羽尾信号場)

• Coordinates: 36°29′08″N 138°05′55″E

Kuwanohara switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Kuwanohara shingōjō (桑ノ原信号場)

• Coordinates: 36°31′20″N 138°04′40″E

• 
  Hirase loop (A: to Matsumoto, B: to Tazawa)
• 
  Haneo switchback (A: to Kamuriki (uphill), B: to Obasute)
• 
  Kuwanohara switchback (A: to Obasute (uphill), B: to Inariyama)

Rolling stock

Limited express

• E353 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
• 383 series EMU (Wide View Shinano)

Local

• E127 series EMU
• 211 series EMU
• 313 series EMU

Former rolling stock

• 115 series EMU
• 123 series EMU
• 381 series EMU (Shinano)
• E257 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
• E351 series EMU (Super Azusa)

History

The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended via Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902.

The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was double-tracked between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa to Akashina section double-tracked in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also double-tracked, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988.

The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.

Former connecting lines

• Matsumoto Station: The Chikuma Electric Railway opened a 5 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Asama Onsen in 1924. In 1958 the voltage was raised to 750 V DC, but the line closed in 1964.