is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Himeji, Hyōgo and Niimi, Okayama, Japan. The name of the line comes from the first kanji of Himeji () and Niimi () which the line connects.
Stations S: Trains stop s: Some trains stop ｜: Trains pass
NameDistance (km)RapidTransfersLocation姫路0.0 Sanyō Shinkansen Sanyō Main Line (JR Kobe Line) Bantan Line Sanyo Railway Main Line (SY 43: )HimejiHyōgo播磨高岡3.8 余部6.1 太市9.9 本竜野14.9 Tatsuno東觜崎17.8 播磨新宮22.1 千本27.6 西栗栖31.2 三日月36.6 Sayō,Sayō District播磨徳久42.5 佐用45.9S Chizu Express Chizu Line上月50.9S 美作土居57.6s MimasakaOkayama美作江見63.0S 楢原66.4s 林野70.4S 勝間田74.3S Shōō,Katsuta District西勝間田77.3s 美作大崎79.3s Tsuyama東津山83.7S Inbi Line津山86.3SS Tsuyama Line院庄90.8 s 美作千代95.6 S 坪井98.3 S 美作追分103.9 ｜ Maniwa美作落合110.9 S 古見114.6 s 久世118.9 S 中国勝山123.8 S 月田128.6 S 富原134.7 s 刑部141.2 S Niimi丹治部145.0 s 岩山149.8 s 新見158.1 S Hakubi Line Geibi Line
Rolling stock New KiHa 122 and KiHa 127 series diesel multiple units (DMUs) were introduced on the line between Himeji and Kōzuki from spring 2009. Journey times were reduced from spring 2010 after the entire fleet of new trains had been delivered.キハ122、127系気動車の新製投入について , JR West press release, 26 August 2008. Retrieved on 27 August 2008.
History
The first section of the line opened was from Tsuyama to the north in 1923, and the line was progressively extended until it reached Niimi in 1929. The section from Himeji opened in stages from 1930, and the line was completed in 1936.
CTC signalling was commissioned in 1986, and freight services ceased the following year.
Former connecting lines Shingu Station: The Tatsuno Electric Railway Co. opened a 17 km 1,435 mm gauge line electrified at 600 V DC from Shingu-Cho to Aboshiko between 1909 and 1915 which connected at this station, as well as the Sanyo Main Line at Aboshi. The line closed in 1934.
References