Nemuro Main Line


Nemuro Main Line is a railway line in Hokkaido operated by Hokkaido Railway Company, connecting Takikawa Station in Takikawa and Nemuro Station in Nemuro, including Obihiro and Kushiro. Higashi-Nemuro is the most easterly situated station on the Japanese rail system.
As a result of damage from torrential rainfall on 31 August 2016, the passenger service between Higashi-Shikagoe and Shintoku has been replaced by a bus service.
On 19 November 2016, JR Hokkaido's President announced plans to rationalise the network by up to 1,237 km, or ~50% of the current network, including closure of the Nemuro Line between Furano and Kami-Ochiai Junction. The section between Kushiro and Nemuro is proposed for conversion to Third Sector operation, but if local governments are not agreeable, such sections will also face closure.

Services

The line is roughly divided into three segments. The segment between Takikawa and Shintoku is now a quiet local line. The rapid train Karikachi runs twice a day, and there is one local train service every 1 to 2 hours.
The segment between Shintoku and Kushiro remains a part of the important trunk route between Sapporo and eastern Hokkaido. The limited express train Super Ozora runs between Sapporo and Kushiro six times a day, while the Super Tokachi runs twice a day, Tokachi four times a day, both between Sapporo and Obihiro. There is one local train service every 1 to 2 hours.
The segment between Kushiro and Nemuro is again a quiet local line. This segment has the official nickname Hanasaki Line. There are two rapid trains Nosappu and Hanasaki which run once a day each. Other than that, there is one local train service every 2 to 3 hours.

Stations

No.Station nameJapaneseDistance LERTransfersLocation
Takikawa滝川0.0+ Hakodate Main LineTakikawa
Higashi-Takikawa東滝川7.2-Takikawa
Akabira赤平13.7+Akabira
Moshiri茂尻17.2*Akabira
Hiragishi平岸20.7-Akabira
Ashibetsu芦別26.6+Ashibetsu
Kami-Ashibetsu上芦別30.5*Ashibetsu
Nokanan野花南35.2*Ashibetsu
Shimanoshita島ノ下49.1-Furano
Furano富良野54.6+ Furano-Shintoku rapid Furano LineFurano
Nunobe布部60.9*Furano
Yamabe山部66.7+Furano
Shimo-Kanayama下金山74.7*Minamifurano, Sorachi
Kanayama金山81.6*Minamifurano, Sorachi
Higashi-Shikagoe東鹿越94.8*Minamifurano, Sorachi
Ikutora幾寅98.8+ Furano-Shintoku rapidMinamifurano, Sorachi
Ochiai落合108.2*Minamifurano, Sorachi
Kami-Ochiai Junction上落合112.2-Minamifurano, Sorachi
Shintoku新得136.3++ Furano-Shintoku rapid Sekishō LineShintoku, Kamikawa
Tokachi-Shimizu十勝清水145.4*+Shimizu, Kamikawa
Mikage御影155.9-*Shimizu, Kamikawa
Memuro芽室166.5*+Memuro, Kasai
Taisei大成168.6--Memuro, Kasai
Nishi-Obihiro西帯広173.4-*Obihiro
Hakurindai柏林台176.6--Obihiro
Obihiro帯広180.1++Obihiro
Satsunai札内184.9-Makubetsu, Nakagawa
Makubetsu幕別194.3-Makubetsu, Nakagawa
Toshibetsu利別200.8-Ikeda, Nakagawa
Ikeda池田204.3+Ikeda, Nakagawa
Tōfutsu十弗212.8-Toyokoro, Nakagawa
Toyokoro豊頃218.2-Toyokoro, Nakagawa
Shin-Yoshino新吉野225.3-Urahoro, Tokachi
Urahoro浦幌231.7*Urahoro, Tokachi
Atsunai厚内250.1-Urahoro, Tokachi
Onbetsu音別265.1-Kushiro
Shiranuka白糠281.1*Shiranuka, Shiranuka
Nishi-Shoro西庶路286.5-Shiranuka, Shiranuka
Shoro庶路288.6-Shiranuka, Shiranuka
Otanoshike大楽毛299.0-Kushiro
Shin-Otanoshike新大楽毛300.8-Kushiro
Shin-Fuji新富士305.7-Kushiro
Kushiro釧路308.4++Kushiro
Higashi-Kushiro東釧路311.3* Senmō Main LineKushiro
Musa武佐312.5*Kushiro
Beppo別保317.0*Kushiro Town, Kushiro
Kami-Oboro上尾幌331.7*Akkeshi, Akkeshi
Oboro尾幌340.9-Akkeshi, Akkeshi
Monshizu門静350.1-Akkeshi, Akkeshi
Akkeshi厚岸355.0+Akkeshi, Akkeshi
Itoizawa糸魚沢365.6-Akkeshi, Akkeshi
Chanai茶内375.2+Hamanaka, Akkeshi
Hamanaka浜中382.2+Hamanaka, Akkeshi
Anebetsu姉別392.3-Hamanaka, Akkeshi
Attoko厚床398.9+Nemuro
Bettoga別当賀414.5-Nemuro
Ochiishi落石424.8*Nemuro
Konbumori昆布盛428.8-Nemuro
Nishi-Wada西和田433.6-Nemuro
Higashi-Nemuro東根室442.3-Nemuro
Nemuro根室443.8+Nemuro
-------Nemuro
-------Nemuro

History

The line was built as a link line between central and eastern Hokkaido, by Hokkaido Government Railway. The first section, originally included as part of the Nemuro Line, become classified as the Furano Line in 1913.
The first section of the current Nemuro Line was opened between Kushiro - Shiranuka in 1901. The line was extended westward, reaching Furano in 1907. In 1913 the Furano - Takikawa section opened, shortening the route by 53.5 km.
The first section of the line east of Kushiro opened in 1917, reaching Nemuro in 1921.
In 1966, two major deviations opened, the first, east of Kanayama, associated with the construction of the Kanayama Dam, and the second between Ochiai and Shintoku, including the 5,790 m Shinkarikachi tunnel allowing the line to bypass the 1907 Karikachi tunnel and associated 1 in 40 grades.
In 1981, the Sekishō Line opened between Shin-Yubari and Shintoku, becoming the main route between central and southeastern Hokkaido and shortening the distance for stations east of Shintoku to Sapporo by 43.4 km.
In 1990, a new tunnel and associated alignment opened near Atsunai, and a deviation near Shimanoshita associated with the construction of the Takisato Dam was opened in 1991.
On 31 August 2016 torrential rainfall damaged the 17.4 km section between Higashi-Shikagoe and Kami-Ochiai Junction resulting in the passenger service from Higashi-Shikagoe to Shintoku being replaced by a bus.
On 16 March 2019 Chokubetsu Station, Shakubetsu Station and Hattaushi Station were closed, two of these becoming signal points: Chokubetsu and Shakubetsu.
On 14 March 2020, Furuse Station was closed, reducing the number of stations on the Nemuro Main Line to 60.

Service augmentations

In 1911, 1st class sleeping accommodation was included on the Hakodate to Kushiro train, and a dining car was added from 1916.
In 1971, a refrigerated container train was introduced between Kushiro and Tokyo.

Former connecting lines

Ashibetsu area

The Mitsubishi Mining Co. opened an 8 km line to Penke Sanko in 1949, and a 1 km branch to the Yuya mine in 1954. Both closed with the mine in 1964.
A 762 mm gauge logging tramway was operated from Kamiashibetsu commencing 1934. By 1954 it had a 31 km 'main line' and 5 branches totalling 44 km. The lines closed 1961 when log trucks replaced the tramway.

Shintoku area

The 78 km Shihoro line to Tokachi Mitsuma opened in sections between 1925 and 1939. An 18 km deviation built in association with the Nukabira Dam opened in 1955. The line closed in 1987.
The 84 km Hiroo line opened between 1929 & 1932 and was closed in 1987. A proposal to extend the line to Samani and connect to the Hidaka Main Line did not eventuate.
A 4 km private 1067mm line connected a sugar beet factory to Obihiro. The sugar beets were transported to the factory by a 3 line 762mm gauge network totalling 59 km, which operated 1924-77.