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Furano Line

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Furano Line
Kiha 150 Diesel Multiple Unit on the Furano Line
Overview
Native name富良野線
StatusIn operation
OwnerHokkaido Railway Company
LocaleHokkaido, Japan
Termini
Stations18
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Hokkaido Railway Company
Rolling stockKiHa 150 series DMU, KiHa 183 series DMU
History
Opened1899
Technical
Line length54.8 km (34.1 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

The Furano Line (富良野線, Furano-sen) is part of the Hokkaido Railway Company network in Hokkaidō, Japan. It connects Furano Station in the city of Furano and Asahikawa Station in the city of Asahikawa. Popular with tourists, it has recently come to serve commuters in the bedroom towns that are developing as suburbs of Asahikawa.

History

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The Furano Line opened on September 1, 1899, as the Hokkaidō Kansetsu Railway (北海道官設鉄道, Hokkaidō Kansetsu Tetsudō), operating between Asahikawa and Biei Stations. In the next month, service extended to Kami-Furano Station, and in the following year it reached Shimo-Furano Station.

In 1909 it became part of the Nemuro Main Line from Asahikawa Station to Kushiro Station, but in 1913 it took its present name and covered the route from Asahikawa Station to Shimo-Furano Station. The eruption of Mount Tokachi on May 24, 1926, caused a protracted interruption of service between Biei and Kami-Furano. In 1942, Shimo-Furano Station changed its name to Furano Station.

On April 1, 1987, with the breakup of the Japanese National Railways, the line became part of the Hokkaido Railways. In 2007, the station-numbering plan took effect.

On November 19, 2016, JR Hokkaido's President announced plans to rationalise the network by up to 1,237 km, or ~50% of the current network,[1] including the proposed conversion to Third Sector operation of the Furano Line, but if local governments protest this decision, the line will face closure.

Former connecting lines

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The private Asahikawa Electric Railway line to Higashikawa (15.5 km) branched from the Furano line south of Asahikawa station, operating from 1927-73. A 6.7 km branch to Asahiyama Park operated from 1930-73. Both lines were electrified at 600 V DC.

Operations

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All trains are local trains within the Furano Line which operate only within the Furano Line, half covering the route between Asahikawa and Biei. Nearly all rolling stock is KiHa 150 Diesel Multiple Units. On 18 March 2023, 38 H100 series trainsets were introduced to the Furano Line.

Stations

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Station numbers, names, other lines serving the stations and line distances from Asahikawa are as follows. Other than seasonal Lavender Farm, trains may also randomly skip stations marked "◌".

No. Station name Japanese Distance
(km)
Passing
loop
Transfers
A28 Asahikawa 旭川 0.0 n/a[Note 1] Hakodate Main Line
Sekihoku Main Line
Sōya Main Line
F29 Kaguraoka 神楽岡 2.4  
F30 Midorigaoka 緑が丘 4.0  
F31 Nishi-Goryō 西御料 5.2  
F32 Nishi-Mizuho 西瑞穂 7.4  
F33 Nishi-Kagura 西神楽 9.9 +
F34 Nishi-Seiwa 西聖和 12.3  
F35 Chiyogaoka 千代ヶ岡 16.6 +
F36 Kita-Biei 北美瑛 20.3  
F37 Biei 美瑛 23.8 +
F38 Bibaushi 美馬牛 30.6 +
F39 Kami-Furano 上富良野 39.7 +
F40 Nishinaka 西中 44.2  
F41 Lavender Farm
(open seasonally)
ラベンダー畑 45.8  
F42 Naka-Furano 中富良野 47.3 +
F43 Shikauchi 鹿討 49.7  
F44 Gakuden 学田 52.5  
T30 Furano 富良野 54.8 + Nemuro Main Line
  1. ^ Asahikawa station is part of the double-tracked Hakodate Main Line.

References

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  1. ^ "JR Hokkaido says it can't maintain half of its railways". May 10, 2013. Archived from the original on November 26, 2016. Retrieved November 26, 2016.
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