Kusatsu Line

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Kusatsu Line
An image of the JR West Kusatsu Line logo.
An image of a JR West series 113 electric multiple unit on the Kusatsu Line.
113 series on the Kusatsu Line
Overview
Native name草津線
StatusOperational
OwnerLogo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West
LocaleMie Prefecture and Shiga Prefecture
Termini
Stations11
Service
TypeHeavy rail
SystemUrban Network
Rolling stock
  • 113 series EMU
  • 117 series EMU
  • 221 series EMU
  • 223-1000 series EMU
  • 223-2000 series EMU
  • 225-0 series EMU
  • 225-100 series EMU
History
Opened1889 (1889)
Technical
Line length36.7 km (22.8 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead catenary
Operating speed95 km/h (59 mph)
Route map

0.0
Tsuge (柘植)
River Kurabe
5.3
Aburahi (油日)
River Ichino
7.4
Kōka (甲賀)
Shin-Meishin Expressway (E1A)
10.5
Terashō (寺庄)
12.5
Kōnan (甲南)
15.3
Kibukawa (貴生川)
River Soma
20.5
Mikumo (三雲)
River Osa
24.3
Kōsei (甲西)
27.6
Ishibe (石部)
Meishin Expressway (E1)
32.7
Tehara (手原)
National Route 8
Prefectural Route 31
36.7
Kusatsu (草津)

The Kusatsu Line (草津線, Kusatsu-sen) is a railway line in western Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Tsuge on the Kansai Main Line with Kusatsu on the Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line).

Overview[edit]

Kusatsu line mainly runs through area around Kōka City, on the mostly flat terrain along Somagawa and Yasu Rivers. Due to the long distance between consecutive stations, the scheduled speed is fast for a single-track train, with a top speed of 95 km/h.[1] The symbol of the route is C.[2]

History[edit]

The Kansai Railway Co. opened the entire line in 1889/90, and was nationalised in 1907. The section of railway between Kusatsu Station and Tsuge Station received the name "Kusatsu Line" on October 12, 1909.[3]

CTC signalling was commissioned in 1979, the line was electrified in 1980 and freight services ceased in 1987.

Construction of a new station, "Minami-Biwako", began in May 2006 and was planned to be completed in 2012; the station was proposed to allow passengers to transfer between the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and Kusatsu lines; however, in September 2006, the Otsu district court concluded that Ritto City issuing bonds to fund the station's construction was illegal under local finance law and the project was halted; the project was officially abandoned in October 2007.

Stations[edit]

Station km from
Tsuge
Connections Location
Tsuge 柘植 0.0 Kansai Main Line Iga, Mie Prefecture
Aburahi 油日 5.3   Kōka Shiga Prefecture
Kōka 甲賀 7.4  
Terashō 寺庄 10.5  
Kōnan 甲南 12.5  
Kibukawa 貴生川 15.3 Shigaraki Kōgen Railway Shigaraki Line
Ohmi Railway Main Line
Mikumo 三雲 20.5   Konan
Kōsei 甲西 24.3  
Ishibe 石部 27.6  
Tehara 手原 32.7   Ritto
Kusatsu 草津 36.7 Tokaido Main Line (Biwako Line) Kusatsu
Continuing service on the Biwako Line to Kyoto Station in mornings and evenings, and to Osaka Station in mornings only.

Train stops at all stations and operates as a local train within the line.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ データで見るJR西日本2021 [JR West Japan 2021 as seen in data] (PDF) (in Japanese). West Japan Railway Company. p. 44. Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  2. ^ "近畿エリア・広島エリアに「路線記号」を導入します:JR西日本". www.westjr.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2023-06-08.
  3. ^ Sone, Satoru (2009-08-30). "関西本線・草津線・奈良線・おおさか東線" [Kansai Main Line, Kusatsu Line, Nara Line, Osaka East Line]. 週刊 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線 国鉄・JR [Weekly History of all railway lines JNR/JR] (in Japanese). Asahi Shimbun Publications. p. 20.