The is a railway line in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The line connects Ube-Shinkawa Station in Ube and Onoda Station in San'yō-Onoda. The , which runs from Suzemeda to Motoyama, is part of this line.
Stations All stations are in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Main Line LineNameDistance (km)TransfersLocationUbe宇部新川1.8■ Ube Line (to )Ube居能0.0■ Ube Line (to )Onoda妻崎2.5 長門長沢3.2 雀田4.5■ Motoyama Branch LineSan'yō-Onoda小野田港6.5 南小野田7.1 南中川8.3 目出9.7 小野田11.6■ Sanyō Main Line
Motoyama Branch Line NameDistance (km)TransfersLocationSuzumeda雀田0.0■ Onoda LineSan'yō-Onoda浜河内1.3 長門本山2.3
Rolling stock 105 series 2-car EMUs 123 series single-car EMUs
History The Onoda Light Railway Co. opened the Onoda – Minami-Onoda section in 1915 to service a cement plant.
The Ube Electric Railway Co. opened the Ino – Shin-Okiyama station (since closed) section in 1929, electrified at 600 VDC. The branch to Motoyama opened in 1937, also electrified at 600 VDC.
Both companies were nationalised in 1943, and in 1947 the lines were connected, resulting in the closure of Shin-Okiyama station, the replacement for which was nearby Minami-Onoda station.
In 1950 the Onoda – Minami-Onoda section was electrified and the voltage increased to 1500 VDC on the balance of the line.
CTC signalling was commissioned in 1983, and freight services ceased in 1986.
"One-man" driver only operation commenced on the branch line between and on 11 March 1989, using KuMoHa 42 EMUs. Driver only (conductorless) operation commenced on the main line between and on 1 June 1990, using 105 series EMUs.
References