Shinonoi Line
The Shinonoi Line is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company. 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.| Line name | Station | Japanese | Distance | Rapid | Good Morning Liner | Transfers | Location |
| Shinonoi Line | Shiojiri | 塩尻 | 0.0 | ● | ● | Chūō Main Line | Shiojiri |
| Shinonoi Line | Hirooka | 広丘 | 3.8 | ● | ↓ | Shiojiri | |
| Shinonoi Line | Murai | 村井 | 6.8 | ● | ● | Matsumoto | |
| Shinonoi Line | Hirata | 平田 | 8.8 | ● | ↓ | Matsumoto | |
| Shinonoi Line | Minami-Matsumoto | 南松本 | 10.9 | ● | ↓ | Matsumoto | |
| Shinonoi Line | Matsumoto | 松本 | 13.3 | ● | ● | Matsumoto | |
| Shinonoi Line | Tazawa | 田沢 | 21.6 | ● | ↓ | Azumino | |
| Shinonoi Line | Akashina | 明科 | 28.2 | ● | ● | Azumino | |
| Shinonoi Line | Nishijō | 西条 | 37.2 | ▲ | ● | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | |
| Shinonoi Line | Sakakita | 坂北 | 40.9 | ● | ↓ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | |
| Shinonoi Line | Hijiri-Kōgen | 聖高原 | 45.0 | ● | ↓ | Omi, Higashichikuma District | |
| Shinonoi Line | Kamuriki | 冠着 | 48.3 | ▲ | ↓ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | |
| Shinonoi Line | Obasute | 姨捨 | 54.2 | ▲ | ↓ | Chikuma | |
| Shinonoi Line | Inariyama | 稲荷山 | 62.9 | ▲ | ↓ | Nagano | |
| Shinonoi Line | Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | ↓ | Shinano Railway Line | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | ↓ | Shinano Railway Line | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Imai | 今井 | 68.8 | ｜ | ↓ | Nagano | |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Kawanakajima | 川中島 | 71.0 | ▲ | ↓ | Nagano | |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Amori | 安茂里 | 73.1 | ｜ | ↓ | Nagano | |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Nagano | 長野 | 76.0 | ● | ● | Nagano |
Passing loops and switchbacks
Hirase loop
A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as. It has two tracks.- Coordinates:
Haneo switchback
- Coordinates:
Kuwanohara switchback
- Coordinates:
Rolling stock
Limited express
- E353 series
- 383 series
Local
- E127 series
- 211 series
- 313 series
Former rolling stock
- 115 series
- 123 series
- 381 series
- E257 series
- E351 series
History
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.