The is a railway line in Japan operated by third-sector railway company Iwate Galaxy Railway Company. It connects Morioka Station in Morioka, Iwate to Metoki Station in Sannohe, Aomori.
Formerly part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) Tōhoku Main Line, the line was separated on 1 December 2002 with the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen which parallels the route. JR Freight services continue to travel over the line.
Operation All trains operate as local services, stopping at every station.
Trains from terminate at various stations along the line, including , and . No trains terminate at ; trains serving the station continue as a through service to or from on the Aoimori Railway Line.
Station list
StationDistance in km (mi)TransfersLocationBetweenstationsTotalMoriokaIwateTakizawaMorioka (through service)IwateIchinoheNinohe (through service)SannoheAomori↑ Through-running to/from via the Aoimori Railway Line ↓
Rolling stock The Iwate Galaxy Railway Company operates a fleet of seven IGR 7000 series 2-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. Its fleet comprises four 7000-0 series sets, originally JR East 701-1000 series sets transferred in December 2002, and three newly built 7000-100 series sets.
History The section of the line between Morioka and Metoki first opened on 1 September 1891, and was nationalized on 1 November 1906. The line was double-tracked by 12 July 1968, and it was electrified on 22 August 1968. With the privatization of Japanese National Railways (JNR) on 1 April 1987, the line came under the control of East Japan Railway Company (JR East). From 1 December 2002, with the opening of the parallel Tohoku Shinkansen extension to Hachinohe, ownership of the line was transferred to the third-sector Iwate Galaxy Railway Company.
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