Services on the Utsunomiya Line are typically divided into three categories: services to or from Ueno, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services, and Ueno-Tokyo Line services. Between Ueno and Ōmiya, trains share the track with the Takasaki Line, both of which serve as de facto express services compared to the parallel Keihin-Tōhoku Line. Northbound services mostly terminate at or, with some at, and very few at. Southbound trains mostly travel through the Shōnan-Shinjuku Line to on the Yokosuka Line, or the Ueno-Tokyo Line to on the Tokaido Line, with very few terminating at Ueno. The fastest service on the line, the rapidRabbit, makes the run between Ueno and Utsunomiya in 1 hour and 26 minutes. Service on the line is generally divided at Utsunomiya, though the number of through trains has been increasing steadily over the years. South of Utsunomiya, 10- and 15-car E231/E233 series four-door suburban commuter EMUs with Green cars attached service the line, while to the north service is provided chiefly by 4-car 205-600 series four-door EMUs.
Commuter rapid services for Utsunomiya make fewer stops than the Rabbit rapid services described below. They are operated only on weekday evenings, between Ueno and Utsunomiya. Trains depart Ueno between 18:00 and 22:00, and Utsunomiya between 16:00 and 21:00, with approximately one round-trip per hour. All trains are E231/E233 series 10- or 15-car EMUs.
Rapid ''Rabbit''
Since March 2015, Rapid Rabbit services now run from on the Tokaido Line, through the Ueno-Tokyo Line, to Utsunomiya. This service stops at every station on the Tokaido Line, and skips some stations on the Utsunomiya Line. Rabbit trains were first operated by the Japanese National Railways as an hourly/half-hourly rapid service. Since October 2004, however, Rabbit services run only twice during the morning; on weekends, they replace the weekday commuter rapid service. Trains are E231/E233 series EMUs.
Rapid ''Acty''
Since March 2015, with the Ueno-Tokyo Line opening, Tokaido Line Rapid Acty services now run up along the Utsunomiya Line. Services stop at every station on the Utsunomiya Line, and skips some stations on the Tokaido Line.
Local
Local trains run four times hourly; one of those terminates at Koganei, while the rest terminate at Utsunomiya. During the morning peak, Ueno-bound trains run at intervals of 4–6 minutes. Services are provided by E231/E233 series 10- or 15-car EMUs.
Shōnan-Shinjuku Line services
Within the Utsunomiya Line, Shōnan-Shinjuku Line rapid and local trains are each operated once per hour. They do not stop at Saitama-Shintoshin Station since it has no platforms available. All trains are 10- or 15-car E231/E233 series EMUs. They operate between Zushi and Utsunomiya.
Rapid
Rapid trains operate once hourly, making limited stops. The travel time between Shinjuku and Utsunomiya is about 1 hour and 35 minutes.
Local
Local trains operate once hourly, stopping at all stations. The travel time between Shinjuku and Ōmiya is about 32 minutes.
Utsunomiya – Kuroiso services
Between Utsunomiya and Kuroiso, local and rapid trains stop at every station. Trains operate approximately three times per hour, traveling between Utsunomiya and Kuroiso in approximately 50 minutes. Most trains are 205-600 series EMUs.
Past services
Limited Express
Ohayō Tochigi・Hometown Tochigi
Hokutosei, Cassiopeia
''Home Liner Koga''
Two trains bound for Koga depart Ueno every weekday evening. Passengers can board only at Ueno; all other stations are for disembarking only. Stops include: Ueno, Urawa, Ōmiya, Higashi-Ōmiya, Hasuda, Kuki, and Koga. Service is provided by 7-car 185 series and 9-car 489 series EMUs.
From March 2013, a fleet of eight refurbished 4-car 205 series EMUs was phased in on Utsunomiya Line services between Koganei and Kuroiso, replacing 211 series sets.
