Wikipedia

Geibi Line

The Geibi Line (芸備線, Geibi-sen) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in the mountainous area of the Chūgoku region in Japan. It begins at Bitchū Kōjiro Station on the west side of Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, connecting through Miyoshi Station in Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, and terminating at Hiroshima Station in Hiroshima. In addition to the Chūgoku Expressway, the Geibi Line is considered the main commuter and local rail line covering the route between northern Hiroshima Prefecture and the city of Hiroshima. The name of the line refers to the ancient provinces of Aki (安芸) (in Hiroshima Prefecture) and Bitchū (備中) (in Okayama Prefecture), which the line connects.

Geibi Line
A Geibi Line KiHa 120 DMU
Overview
Native name芸備線
StatusIn operation
OwnerLogo of the West Railway Company (JR West) JR West
LocaleHiroshima and Okayama Prefectures
Termini
Stations44
Service
TypeCommuter rail line
SystemHiroshima City Network (Karuga–Hiroshima)
Operator(s)JR West
Rolling stockKiHa 120 series DMU, KiHa 40 series DMU
History
Opened28 April 1915; 109 years ago (1915-04-28)
Technical
Line length159.1 km (98.9 mi)
Number of tracksEntirely Single-tracked
CharacterRural and urban
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
SignallingAutomatic closed block
Train protection systemATS-SW
Route map
km
-
 Niimi
-
 Nunohara
LeftTwo tunnels
UpHakubi Line
0.0
 Bitchū Kōjiro
LeftUpMerge to Hakubi Line
3.9
 Sakane
6.4
 Ichioka
10.0
 Yagami
13.6
 Nochi
18.8
 Tōjō
25.3
 Bingo Yawata
29.0
 Uchina
33.6
 Onuka
37.8
 Dōgoyama
LeftFour tunnels
44.6
 Bingo Ochiai
LeftKisuki Line
LeftThree tunnels
50.2
 Hibayama
53.2
 Bingo Saijō
LeftSaijō River
57.4
 Hirako
68.5
 Taka
68.5
 Bingo Shōbara
70.5
 Bingo Mikkaichi
72.2
 Nanatsuka
75.2
 Yamanouchi
LeftChūgoku ExpresswayRight
80.1
 Shimowachi
LeftFukuen Line / Basen River
83.2
 Shiomachi
84.7
 Kamisugi
LeftChūgoku ExpresswayRight
88.0
 Yatsugi
90.3
 Miyoshi
LeftSankō Line
91.9
 Nishi Miyoshi
LeftTwo tunnels
99.6
 Shiwachi
102.2
 Kamikawatachi
106.5
 Kōtachi
109.9
 Yoshidaguchi
116.1
 Mukaihara
122.0
 Ibaraichi
126.0
 Shiwaguchi
129.5
 Kamimita
134.0
 Nakamita
136.3
 Shirakiyama
138.5
 Karuga
140.7
 Kamifukawa
143.5
 Nakafukawa
144.9
 Shimofukawa
146.8
 Kumura
LeftSanyō ExpresswayRight
149.3
 Akiyaguchi
152.1
 Hesaka
156.9
 Yaga
LeftHiroshima Prefectural Route 70
159.1
 Hiroshima
Hiroden Main LineRight
LeftSan'yō Main Line
LeftSanyō Shinkansen
This diagram:

Since 2007, the ICOCA card can be used in all stations between Hiroshima Station and Karuga Station (stations in the Hiroshima City Network).

The majority of the line was out of service after a bridge was destroyed in the 2018 Japan floods. The entire line reopened in October 2019.

The line is one of the least used and least profitable in the JR West network, with average daily ridership of just 13 people (slightly more than two per train) on its least trafficked segment. The segment between Bitchu Kojiro and Bingo Yawata runs at an annual loss of JPY 700 million, while the segment between Tojo and Bingo Shobara is both circuitous and speed-restricted, making it less attractive than bus service. However, local authorities along the route have refused to discuss alternative transportation options with JR West.[1]

Station list

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Listed in order from Bitchū Kōjiro Station to Hiroshima Station, though the chart shows through Niimi Station for convenience as all Geibi Line trains originate and terminate at Niimi.

  • A ● indicates a station at which a Rapid train stops, and ｜ indicates a station at which a Rapid train does not stop. In addition, Rapid trains are only operated from Niimi to Bingo Ochiai in one direction, and thus the stations it skips are marked ↓. Local trains stop at all stations.
  • The section of the Geibi Line between Karuga and Hiroshima forms part of the Hiroshima City Network.
Line No. Station Japanese Distance
(km) 		Rapid Rapid Miyoshi Liner Transfers Location
Hakubi Line Niimi 新見   ●  
Niimi Okayama Prefecture
Nunohara 布原 ↓
Bitchū Kōjiro 備中神代 0.0 ↓   Hakubi Line (for Hōki-Daisen)
Geibi Line
Sakane 坂根 3.9 ↓  
Ichioka 市岡 6.4 ↓  
Yagami 矢神 10.0 ●  
Nochi 野馳 13.6 ↓  
Tōjō 東城 18.8 ●   Shōbara Hiroshima Prefecture
Bingo Yawata 備後八幡 25.3 ●  
Uchina 内名 29.0 ●  
Onuka 小奴可 33.6 ●  
Dōgoyama 道後山 37.8 ●  
Bingo Ochiai 備後落合 44.6 ●   Kisuki Line
Hibayama 比婆山 50.2    
Bingo Saijō 備後西城 53.2  
Hirako 平子 57.4  
Taka 高 62.3  
Bingo Shōbara 備後庄原 68.5  
Bingo Mikkaichi 備後三日市 70.5  
Nanatsuka 七塚 72.2  
Yamanouchi 山ノ内 75.2  
Shimowachi 下和知 80.1   Miyoshi
Shiomachi 塩町 83.2   Fukuen Line (for Fukuyama)
Kamisugi 神杉 84.7  
Yatsugi 八次 88.0  
Miyoshi 三次 90.3 ●   Fukuen Line
Nishi Miyoshi 西三次 91.9 ｜  
Shiwachi 志和地 99.6 ｜  
Kamikawatachi 上川立 102.2 ｜  
Kōtachi 甲立 106.5 ●   Akitakata
Yoshidaguchi 吉田口 109.9 ｜  
Mukaihara 向原 116.1 ●  
Ibaraichi 井原市 122.0 ｜   Asakita-ku, Hiroshima
Shiwaguchi 志和口 126.0 ●  
Kamimita 上三田 129.5 ｜  
Nakamita 中三田 134.0 ｜  
Shirakiyama 白木山 136.3 ｜  
 JR-P09  Karuga 狩留家 138.5 ｜  
 JR-P08  Kamifukawa 上深川 140.7 ｜  
 JR-P07  Nakafukawa 中深川 143.5 ｜  
 JR-P06  Shimofukawa 下深川 144.9 ●  
 JR-P05  Kumura 玖村 146.8 ●  
 JR-P04  Akiyaguchi 安芸矢口 149.3 ●  
 JR-P03  Hesaka 戸坂 152.1 ●   Higashi-ku, Hiroshima
 JR-P02  Yaga 矢賀 156.9 ●  
 JR-P01  Hiroshima 広島 159.1 ●
  •   Sanyo Shinkansen
  •     Sanyo Main Line
  • ■M Hiroshima Electric Railway Main Line
 Minami-ku, Hiroshima

Former connecting lines

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Rolling stock

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The following diesel multiple unit (DMU) rolling stock currently operate on the Geibi Line:

KiHa 120 KiHa 47 KiHa 47
     
Type 120 DMU
Hiroshima livery
Metropolitan area livery

History

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The Geibi Line consists of the section opened by the Geibi Railway, which connected Hiroshima Station and Bingo Shōbara, the Shōbara Line between Bingo Shōbara and Bingo Ochiai which was partly built by the Geibi Railway and then nationalised and extended by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) and the Sanshin Line built by the JGR between Onuka and Bitchū Kōjiro. In 1936, the line between Hiroshima and Bitchū Kōjiro was completed, and the Geibi Railway was nationalised the following year, bringing the entire line under the control of the JGR. Opening dates for individual sections are given below.

Geibi Railway

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Shōbara Line

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  • 1 June 1933: Tōkaichi Station is renamed Bingo Tōkaichi Station and Mikkaichi Station is renamed Bingo Mikkaichi Station. The Geibi Railway line between Bingo Tōkaichi Station (the current Miyoshi Station) and Bingo Shōbara Station is nationalized and renamed the Shōbara Line.
  • 1 January 1934: Shiomachi Station is renamed Kamisugi Station, and Takō Station is renamed Shiomachi Station.
  • 15 March 1934: The line between Bingo Shōbara Station and Bingo Saijō Station opens.
  • 20 December 1935: The line between Bingo Saijō Station and Bingo Ochiai Station opened.

Sanshin Line

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  • 10 February 1930: The Sanshin Line opens between Bitchū Kōjiro Station and Yagami Station.
  • 25 November 1930: The line opens between Yagami Station and Tōjō Station.
  • 15 June 1935: The line between Tōjō Station and Onuka Station opens.
  • 10 October 1936: The line between Onuka Station and Bingo Ochia Station opens. The Shōbara Line is absorbed into the Sanshin Line, which now includes everything between Bitchū Kōjiro Station and Bingo Tōkaichi Station.
  • 21 November 1936: Dōgoyama Station opens.

Geibi Line

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  • 1 July 1937: The Geibi Railway line between Hiroshima Station and Bingo Tōkaichi Station is nationalized, and the Sanshin Line is absorbed into the Geibi Line. Kawatachi Station is renamed Kamikawatachi Station, Mita Yoshinaga Station is renamed Kamimita Station, Shirakiyamaguchi Station is renamed Shirakiyama Station, and Yaguchi Station is renamed Akiyaguchi Station.
  • 10 August 1941: Kamifukawa Station and Yaga Station close.
  • 28 October 1942: Yaga Station closes, and a signal box is installed.
  • 2 April 1943: Yaga Station reopens.
  • 10 August 1948: Kamifukawa Station reopens.
  • 1 February 1952: Hirako Station opens.
  • 1 October 1953: Ichioka Station opens.
  • 10 November 1954: The former Miyoshi Station is renamed Nishi Miyoshi Station.
  • 10 December 1954: Bingo Tōkaichi Station is renamed Miyoshi Station.
  • 20 July 1955: Uchina Station opens.
  • 11 November 1955: The Chidori service begins.
  • 20 December 1956: Bingo Kumano Station is renamed Hibayama Station.
  • 13 April 1959: The Chidori is upgraded to a local express train.
  • 15 March 1962: The Taishaku service begins.
  • 5 March 1968: The Taishaku and Chidori services are upgraded to regular express trains.
  • 1 March 1983: The line between Miyoshi Station and Hiroshima Station uses CTC.
  • 31 October 1983: The line between Bitchū Kōjiro and Miyoshi uses CTC.
  • 15 March 1985: The Miyoshi express service begins.
  • 1 November 1986: Freight service is discontinued on the Geibi Line.
  • 1 April 1987: The Geibi Line becomes part of West Japan Railway Company following privatization of Japanese National Railways.
  • 1 April 1991: Wanman driver-only operation commences on the line between Niimi and Miyoshi.
  • 1 November 1991: The line between Miyoshi and Hiroshima is converted to wanman driver-only operation.
  • 22 March 2002: The Chidori and Taishaku express services are absorbed into the Miyoshi express service.
  • 1 October 2003: The Miyoshi Liner and Tsūkin Liner services begin.
  • 23 April 2006: The Geibi Line is moved between Kamikawatachi and Kōtachi following widening of Hiroshima Prefectural Route 37 between Hiroshima and Miyoshi.
  • 19 July 2006: Services between Bingo Ochiai and Bingo Saijō are suspended due to storm damage of the Geibi Line. An interim bus service begins the following day.
  • 1 April 2007: Train service is resumed between Bingo Ochiai and Bingo Saijō.
  • 1 July 2007: Miyoshi express services are discontinued, and Tsūkin Liner rapid services are integrated into Miyoshi Liner rapid services.[2]
  • 7 July 2018: The 2018 Japan floods result in damage to the line in several places, most significantly destroying the bridge over the Misasagawa River between Shirakiyama and Karuga stations, resulting in the closure of the entire line.[3]
  • 23 July 2018: The Hiroshima – Shimofukawa section of the line is reopened. JR West advises replacement of the Misasagawa Bridge is expected to take up to a year.
  • 25 August 2018: The Karuga – Shimofukawa section of the line is reopened.
  • 27 August 2018: The Bitchū Kōjiro – Tōjō section of the line is reopened.
  • 31 August 2018: The Tōjō – Bingo Ochiai section of the line is reopened.
  • 4 October 2018: The Bingo Shōbara – Miyoshi section of the line is reopened.
  • 20 December 2018: The Bingo Ochiai – Bingo Shōbara section of the line is reopened.
  • 4 April 2019: The Miyoshi – Nakamita section of the line is reopened. However, trains only operate in the morning and evening hours (Operations were suspended from 25 July to 31 August).
  • 23 October 2019: The Nakamita – Karuga section of the line is reopened. The entire line reopened after 1 year and 3 months from the 2018 Japan floods.
  • 9 March 2020: A KiHa 120 car derails near Bingo Yawata station, causing a temporary closure of the line between Tōjō and Bingo Ochiai.[4]
  • 8 June 2021: JR West initiated a work group with local communities along the Bingo-Shōbara – Niimi section to assess the future of the line. According to JR West data, on average only 81 passengers use the line between Bitchū-Kōjiro and Tōjō, 11 between Tōjō and Bingo-Ochiai and 215 between Bingo-Ochiai and Miyoshi. Due to the lack of patronage, JR West is considering to abolish the aforementioned section and replace it with bus services.[5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "乗客は1日13人…JR西が困り果てる「赤字ローカル線」1ミリも譲らない地元自治体の言い分とは？". ダイヤモンド・オンライン (in Japanese). 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  2. ^ 平成19年夏のダイヤ改正（広島・山口エリア） [Summer 2007 timetable revision (Hiroshima and Yamaguchi area)]. News release (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 9 May 2007. Archived from the original on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
  3. ^ "10 rail sections out of service for over a month in flood-hit region：The Asahi Shimbun". Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
  4. ^ "線路上に土砂、快速列車が横転 広島・芸備線、乗客なし：朝日新聞デジタル". 朝日新聞デジタル (in Japanese). 9 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  5. ^ "廃線危機の芸備線一部区間 JR発足時から大きく変化したダイヤ 途中で急行化し広島へ". 乗りものニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 20 June 2021.
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