Editing Agatsuma Line

{{short description|Railway line in Gunma prefecture, Japan}}
{{Infobox rail line
| name        = Agatsuma Line
| native_name = 吾妻線
| native_name_lang = ja
| color       = 0F5474
| logo        =
| logo_width  =
| image       = File:Agatsuma-Line-Series211-A57.jpg
| image_width = 300px
| caption     = A [[211 series]] EMU, 2020
| type        = [[Regional rail]]
| system      =
| status      =
| locale      = [[Gunma Prefecture]]
| start       = {{STN|Shibukawa|x}}
| end         = {{STN|Ōmae|x}}
| stations    = 18
| routes      =
| daily_ridership =
| open        = 1945
| close       =
| owner       = [[JR East]]
| operator    = 
| character   =
| depot       =
| stock       =
| linelength  = {{convert|55.6|km|mi|1|abbr=on}}
| tracklength = 
| tracks      =
| gauge       = {{track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
| electrification = 1,500 V DC [[overhead catenary]]
| speed       = 
| elevation   =
| map         = [[File:JR Agatsuma Line linemap.svg|thumb|300px|center]]
| map_state   = collapsed
}}

The {{nihongo|'''Agatsuma Line'''|吾妻線|Agatsuma-sen}} is a local rail line in Gunma, Japan, and is part of the [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East) network. Approximately following the [[Agatsuma River]], it is 55.6&nbsp;km between {{STN|Shibukawa|x}} and {{STN|Ōmae|x}} stations.

==Operations==
Although the official start of the line is at Shibukawa, all trains run through on the [[Jōetsu Line]] to/from either {{STN|Shin-Maebashi|x}} or {{STN|Takasaki|x}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=>Shibukawa Station Timetable (JR East) |url=https://www.jreast-timetable.jp/en/timetable/list0806.html |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Official Web site of East Japan Railway Company (JR East) |language=en}}</ref>

Local trains run approximately once every hour, terminating at either {{STN|Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi|x}} or {{STN|Ōmae|x}}.<ref name=":0" />

Limited Express [[Kusatsu (train)|Kusatsu/Shima]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=草津・四万 {{!}} Train & Routes {{!}} JR-EAST |url=https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/traininformation/kusatsu_shima/ |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20240710143648/https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/traininformation/kusatsu_shima/ |archive-date=2024-07-10 |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=www.jreast.co.jp |language=en}}</ref> trains operate between {{STN|Ueno|x}} in [[Tokyo]] and {{STN|Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi|x}} on the Agatsuma Line, stopping only at {{STN|Shibukawa|x}} and {{STN|Nakanojō|x}}. Depending on the day of the week, between 2 and 4 round trips operate each day, operating towards Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi in the morning, and towards Ueno in the afternoon.<ref name=":0" /> 

== Stations ==
[[File:Agatsumasen-55.6kp.jpg|thumb|55.6 km post marking the end of the line at [[Ōmae Station]]]]All stations are in the Gunma Prefecture. Local trains stop at all stations.

'''Legend:'''

* ● : Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima stops
* '''｜''': Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima does not stop
* ∥ : Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima does not travel within this section

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! rowspan="2" |Station
! rowspan="2" |Japanese
! colspan="2" |Distance (km)
! rowspan="2" |Limited Express Kusatsu/Shima
! rowspan="2" |Transfers
! rowspan="2" |Location
|-
!Between<br />stations
!Total
|-
|{{STN|Shibukawa|x}}
|渋川
| style="text-align:right;" |&nbsp;
| style="text-align:right;" |0.0
|style="text-align: center;" | ●
|[[Jōetsu Line]] (all trains through service to {{STN|Shin-Maebashi|x}} or {{STN|Takasaki|x}})
| rowspan="5" |[[Shibukawa, Gunma|Shibukawa]]
|-
|{{STN|Kanashima|x}}
|金島
| style="text-align:right;" |5.5
| style="text-align:right;" |5.5
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Ubashima|x}}
|祖母島
| style="text-align:right;" |2.2
| style="text-align:right;" |7.7
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Onogami|x}}
|小野上
| style="text-align:right;" |4.2
| style="text-align:right;" |11.9
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Onogami-Onsen|x}}
|小野上温泉
| style="text-align:right;" |1.8
| style="text-align:right;" |13.7
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Ichishiro|x}}
|市城
| style="text-align:right;" |2.3
| style="text-align:right;" |16.4
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
| rowspan="2" |[[Nakanojō, Gunma|Nakanojō]], [[Agatsuma District, Gunma|Agatsuma District]]
|-
|{{STN|Nakanojō|x}}
|中之条
| style="text-align:right;" |3.4
| style="text-align:right;" |19.8
|style="text-align: center;" | ●
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Gunma-Haramachi|x}}
|群馬原町
| style="text-align:right;" |3.1
| style="text-align:right;" |22.9
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
| rowspan="4" |[[Higashiagatsuma, Gunma|Higashiagatsuma]], Agatsuma District
|-
|{{STN|Gōbara|x}}
|郷原
| style="text-align:right;" |3.4
| style="text-align:right;" |26.3
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Yagura|x}}
|矢倉
| style="text-align:right;" |1.7
| style="text-align:right;" |28.0
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Iwashima|x}}
|岩島
| style="text-align:right;" |2.5
| style="text-align:right;" |30.5
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Kawarayu-Onsen|x}}
|川原湯温泉
| style="text-align:right;" |5.9
| style="text-align:right;" |36.4
|style="text-align: center;" | '''｜'''
|&nbsp;
| rowspan="4" |[[Naganohara, Gunma|Naganohara]], Agatsuma District
|-
|{{STN|Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi|x}}
|長野原草津口
| style="text-align:right;" |5.9
| style="text-align:right;" |42.3
|style="text-align: center;" | ●
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Gunma-Ōtsu|x}}
|群馬大津
| style="text-align:right;" |2.2
| style="text-align:right;" |44.5
|style="text-align: center;" | ∥
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Haneo|x}}
|羽根尾
| style="text-align:right;" |2.2
| style="text-align:right;" |46.7
|style="text-align: center;" | ∥
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Fukurogura|x}}
|袋倉
| style="text-align:right;" |2.9
| style="text-align:right;" |49.6
|style="text-align: center;" | ∥
|&nbsp;
| rowspan="3" |[[Tsumagoi, Gunma|Tsumagoi]], Agatsuma District
|-
|{{STN|Manza-Kazawaguchi|x}}
|万座・鹿沢口
| style="text-align:right;" |2.9
| style="text-align:right;" |52.5
|style="text-align: center;" | ∥
|&nbsp;
|-
|{{STN|Ōmae|x}}
|大前
| style="text-align:right;" |3.1
| style="text-align:right;" |55.6
|style="text-align: center;" | ∥
|&nbsp;
|}

==Rolling stock==
===Present===
* [[211 series|211-3000 series]] 4-car EMUs (since August 2016)
* [[E257 series|E257-5000 series]]
* [[E257 series|E257-5500 series]]

===Former===
* [[115 series|115-1000 series]] 4-car EMUs (until March 2018)
* [[185 series]] 7-car EMUs (''Kusatsu'' limited express services until March 2014)
* [[651 series|651-1000 series]]

Four-car [[211 series]] EMUs entered service on the line from 22 August 2016.<ref name="railfan20160824">{{cite web |url= http://railf.jp/news/2016/08/24/201000.html|script-title=ja: 上越線・吾妻線で211系の営業運転開始|trans-title=211 series enter service on Joetsu Line and Agatsuma Line|date= 24 August 2016|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 27 August 2016}}</ref>

<gallery>
File:JNR 211-3000 02.JPG|A 211-3000 series EMU
</gallery>

==History==
The line opened on 2 January 1945 as the freight-only {{Nihongo|Naganohara Line|長野原線}} operating between {{STN|Shibukawa|x}} and {{Nihongo|Naganohara Station|長野原駅}} (present-day [[Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi Station]]).<ref name="teishajo1998">{{cite book |title = 停車場変遷大辞典 国鉄・JR編 |trans-title=Station Transition Directory - JNR/JR|publisher = JTB| editor1-last = Ishino| editor1-first = Tetsu| year = 1998 |location = Japan| volume =I |page = 105|isbn = 4-533-02980-9}}</ref> Passenger services were introduced as far as {{STN|Nakanojō|x}} from 5 August 1945, to {{STN|Iwashima|x}} from 20 November 1945, and to Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi from 20 April 1946.<ref name="teishajo1998"/>

[[File:Ooshi station.jpg|thumb|The remains of the former Ōshi Station in June 2013]]
On 1 October 1952, the line was extended to {{Nihongo|Ōshi Station|太子駅}}, initially for freight only, but passengers services were also introduced from 21 June 1954.<ref name="teishajo1998"/> Freight services between Shibukawa and Ōshi ceased as of 1 October 1966.<ref name="teishajo1998"/>

Services on the section between Naganohara and Ōshi were suspended as of 1 November 1970, and on 7 March 1971, a new line was opened beyond Naganohara to {{STN|Ōmae|x}}, with the entire line renamed Agatsuma Line at the same time.<ref name="teishajo1998"/> The Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi to Ōshi line was formally closed as of 1 May 1971.<ref name="teishajo1998"/> CTC signalling on the entire line was also commissioned at the same time.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

With the privatization of [[JNR]] on 1 April 1987, the Agatsuma Line came under the ownership of [[JR East]].<ref name="teishajo1998"/>

It had been proposed{{when|date=October 2014}} to extend the line to Nagano, but geological exploratory drilling revealed extensive faulting beyond Ōmae, and as any extension would have required extensive tunnelling, this was considered impractical.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}}

==Yamba Dam construction==
The construction of the [[Yamba Dam]] required the realignment of the Agatsuma line between {{STN|Iwashima|x}} and {{STN|Naganohara-Kusatsuguchi|x}}. Work on the diversion was well advanced when a change of government in 2009 resulted in the project being halted. Another change of government in 2012 revived the project. Services on the old section of the line were suspended following the last scheduled service on 24 September 2014 to allow commissioning of the new alignment.<ref name="railfan20140929">{{cite web |url=http://railf.jp/news/2014/09/29/170000.html |script-title=ja:吾妻線新線で試運転 |trans-title=Test-running starts on new Agatsuma Line section |date= 29 September 2014|work= Japan Railfan Magazine Online|publisher= Koyusha Co., Ltd.|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 1 October 2014}}</ref> The new alignment opened for passenger services on 1 October 2014.<ref name="railfan20140929"/> The new route is {{Convert|0.3|km|mi|abbr=on}} shorter, resulting in the shortest tunnel in Japan, the {{Convert|7|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[Tarusawa Tunnel]], being abandoned, although it is not inundated by the new dam.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170927052353/http://www.asiaone.com/asia/japan%E2%80%99s-shortest-railway-tunnel-sees-its-last-days "Japan’s shortest railway tunnel sees its last days"], ''[[AsiaOne]]'', September 19, 2014.</ref><ref>[http://www.ntv.co.jp/englishnews/society/farewell-to-japans-shortest-rail-tunnel/ "Farewell to Japan’s shortest rail tunnel"], [[Nippon TV]], September 25, 2014 (video).</ref>

==Points of interest==
The Agatsuma Line is noted for numerous ''[[onsen]]'' hot springs along the route. The famous hot springs at Kusatsu are some distance north of the line, but several rural ''onsen'' such as those at Shima, Sawatari, Kawarayu, and Shiriyaki are more accessible.

[[Mount Asama]], [[Mount Kusatsu-Shirane]], and the Agatsuma Canyon can all be seen from the Agatsuma Line, though the canyon will be inundated when the Yamba Dam is commissioned.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{East Japan Railway Company Lines}}

[[Category:Agatsuma Line| ]]
[[Category:Lines of East Japan Railway Company]]
[[Category:Rail transport in Gunma Prefecture]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1945]]
[[Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan]]