Tōkaidō Main Line

Tōkaidō Main Line
JT
An E233 series EMU on the Tōkaidō Main Line, December 2020
Overview
Other name(s)	Biwako Line (JR West:Maibara - Kyoto) JR Kyoto Line (JR West:Kyoto - Osaka) JR Kobe Line (JR-West:Osaka - Kobe)
Native name	東海道本線
Locale	Kantō, Tōkai, Kansai regions
Termini	Tokyo Kōbe
Stations	166 (passenger only)
Service
Type	Heavy rail
Operator(s)	JR East JR Central JR West
History
Opened	1922
Technical
Track length	589.5 km (366.3 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph)

The Tōkaidō Main Line (Japanese: 東海道本線,Japanese pronunciation: [Tōkaidō-honsen]) is a major Japanese railway line of the Japan Railways Group (JR Group) network, connecting Tokyo and Kōbe stations. It is 589.5 km (366.3 mi) long, not counting its many freight feeder lines around the major cities. The high-speed Tōkaidō Shinkansen largely parallels the line.

The term "Tōkaidō Main Line" is largely a holdover from pre-Shinkansen days; now various portions of the line have different names which are officially used by JR East, JR Central, and JR West. Today, the only daily passenger train that operate over the entire length of the line is the combined overnight-train Sunrise Izumo - Sunrise Seto. During the day longer intercity trips require several transfers along the way.

The Tokaido Main Line is owned and operated by three JR companies:

• East Japan Railway Company (JR East) (Tokyo - Atami ) Tōkaidō Line
• Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) (Atami - Maibara ) Tōkaidō Line
• West Japan Railway Company (JR West) (Maibara - Kōbe ) Biwako Line / Hokuriku Main Line, JR Kyoto Line, JR Kobe Line

Basic data[]

• Total distance: 713.6 km (443.4 mi) (including branch lines; Tokyo – Kōbe is 589.5 km (366.3 mi))
  • East Japan Railway Company (JR East) (Services and tracks)
    • Tokyo – Atami: 104.6 km (65.0 mi)
    • Shinagawa – Shin-Kawasaki – Tsurumi: 17.8 km (11.1 mi)
    • Hamamatsuchō – Tokyo Freight Terminal – Kawasaki Freight Terminal – Hama-Kawasaki: 20.6 km (12.8 mi) (Tōkaidō Freight Line)
    • Tsurumi – Hatchō-Nawate: 2.3 km (1.4 mi) (Tōkaidō Freight Line)
    • Tsurumi – Higashi-Takashima – Sakuragichō: 8.5 km (5.3 mi) (Takashima Line)
    • Tsurumi – Yokohama-Hazawa – Higashi-Totsuka: 16.0 km (9.9 mi) (Tōkaidō Freight Line)
  • Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central) (Services and tracks)
    • Atami – Maibara: 341.3 km (212.1 mi) (3.3 km (2.1 mi) between Kanayama – Nagoya overlaps with Chuo Main Line)
    • Ōgaki – Mino-Akasaka: 5.0 km (3.1 mi) (Mino-Akasaka branch line)
    • Ōgaki – (Shin-Tarui) – Sekigahara: 13.8 km (8.6 mi) (Shin-Tarui Line)
  • West Japan Railway Company (JR West) (Services and tracks)
    • Maibara – Kōbe: 143.6 km (89.2 mi)
    • Kyōto Freight Terminal – Tambaguchi: 3.3 km (2.1 mi) (not in use by passenger trains)
    • Suita – (Miyahara Rail Yard) – Amagasaki: 10.7 km (6.6 mi) (Hoppō Freight Line)
    • Suita – Umeda – Fukushima: 8.5 km (5.3 mi) (Umeda Freight Line, used by Haruka limited expresses)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Tracks and services)
    • Sannō Signal – Nagoya-Minato: 6.2 km (3.9 mi) (Nagoya-Minato Line)
    • Suita Signal – Osaka Freight Terminal: 8.7 km (5.4 mi) (Osaka Terminal Line)
  • Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services only)
    • Shinagawa – Atami: 97.8 km (60.8 mi)
    • Shinagawa – Shin-Tsurumi Signal: 13.9 km (8.6 mi)
    • Tokyo Freight Terminal – Hama-Kawasaki: 12.9 km (8.0 mi)
    • Tsurumi – Yokohama-Hazawa – Higashi-Totsuka: 16.0 km (9.9 mi)
    • Tsurumi – Hatchō-Nawate: 2.3 km (1.4 mi)
    • Tsurumi – Shinkō – Sakuragichō: 11.2 km (7.0 mi)
    • Atami – Maibara: 341.3 km (212.1 mi)
    • Minami-Arao Signal – Sekigahara: 10.7 km (6.6 mi)
    • Minami-Arao Signal – Mino-Akasaka: 1.9 km (1.2 mi)
    • Maibara – Kōbe: 139.0 km (86.4 mi) (via Hoppō Freight Line)
    • Kyōto Freight Terminal – Tambaguchi: 3.3 km (2.1 mi)
    • Suita – Umeda – Fukushima: 8.5 km (5.3 mi)
• Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Narrow gauge railway
• Stations:
  • Passenger: 166 (does not include Shinagawa – Shin-Kawasaki – Tsurumi section or branches other than Mino-Akasaka branch line)
    • JR East: 34
    • JR Central: 82
    • JR West: 50
  • Freight only: 14
• Tracks:
  • Four or more
    • Tokyo – Odawara: 83.9 km (52.1 mi)
    • Nagoya – Inazawa: 11.1 km (6.9 mi)
    • Kusatsu – Kōbe: 98.1 km (61.0 mi)
  • Two
    • Odawara – Nagoya
    • Inazawa – Kusatsu
    • Shinagawa – Shin-Kawasaki – Tsurumi
    • Hamamatsuchō – Tokyo Freight Terminal – Kawasaki Freight Terminal – Hama-Kawasaki
    • Tsurumi – Hatchō-Nawate
    • Tsurumi – Higashi-Takashima
    • Tsurumi – Yokohama-Hazawa – Higashi-Totsuka
    • Suita – Umeda
    • Suita – (Miyahara Rail Yard) – Amagasaki
  • Single-track: All other sections
• Electrification: 1,500 V DC (except for Sannō Signal – Nagoya-Minato)
• Railway signalling: Automatic Train Control
• Maximum speed:
  • Tokyo – Ōfuna, Odawara – Toyohashi: 110 km/h (68 mph)
  • Ōfuna – Odawara, Toyohashi – Maibara: 120 km/h (75 mph)
  • Minami-Arao Signal – Tarui – Sekigahara, Minami-Arao Signal – Mino-Akasaka: 85 km/h (53 mph)
  • Maibara – Kōbe: 130 km/h (81 mph) (Special Rapid Shin-Kaisoku only, local trains max at 120km/h or 75mph)

Station list[]

JR East[]

The section between Tokyo and Atami is operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and it is located in the Greater Tokyo Area. It has local services (Japanese: 普通,Japanese pronunciation: [Futsū]) and a rapid service called Rapid Acty (Japanese: 快速アクティー, Japanese pronunciation: [Kaisoku Akutī]). It runs on dedicated tracks parallel to the Yamanote Line between Tokyo and Shinagawa, the Keihin-Tōhoku Line between Tokyo and Yokohama, and the Yokosuka Line between Yokohama and Ōfuna. Some Shōnan–Shinjuku Line trains share the segment south of Yokohama to Ōfuna and Odawara. Until 12 March 2021, there were also commuter rapid (Japanese: 通勤快速, Japanese pronunciation: [Tsūkin Kaisoku]) and Shōnan Liner (Japanese: 湘南ライナー, Japanese pronunciation: [Shōnan Rainā]) services.^[1]

The Ueno–Tokyo Line, a JR East project, extended the services of the Utsunomiya Line, the Takasaki Line, and the Joban Line to Tokyo Station, allowing for through services to and from the Tōkaidō Line from March 2015.^[2]

Almost all trains along this section of the line have bi-level "Green Cars" with forward-facing seats, with each set of trains having 2 of them. Green Cars can be used after paying an additional fee.

Legend:

• ● : a station that all trains stop
• ｜ :a station that all trains pass
• ▲ : a station that Shōnan–Shinjuku Line trains use Yokosuka Line platforms

No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Rapid Acty	Local, Rapid Rabbit & Urban	Jōban Line through service	Shōnan–Shinjuku Line		Transfers	Location
			Between Stations	Total				Rapid	Special Rapid
Through service from/to:					/	JU Ueno-Tokyo Line		JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line (for JU Takasaki Line)
						JU Utsunomiya & Takasaki Line	JJ Jōban Line (Rapid)
TYOJT01	Tokyo	東京	-	0.0	●	●	●			Tohoku Shinkansen Hokkaido Shinkansen Yamagata Shinkansen Akita Shinkansen Joetsu Shinkansen Hokuriku Shinkansen JY Yamanote Line JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line JO Yokosuka Line．Sōbu Line (Rapid) JE Keiyō Line JU Ueno-Tokyo Line (Through to JU Utsunomiya．Takasaki Line/JJ Jōban Line) JC Chūō Line (Rapid) Tokaido Shinkansen M Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line	Chiyoda	Tokyo
SMBJT02	Shimbashi	新橋	1.9	1.9	●	●	●			JY Yamanote Line JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line JO Yokosuka Line G Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(G-08) A Toei Asakusa Line(A-10) Yurikamome	Minato
SGWJT03	Shinagawa	品川	4.7	6.8	●	●	●			JY Yamanote Line JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line JO Yokosuka Line Tōkaidō Shinkansen KK Keikyu Main Line
KWSJT04	Kawasaki	川崎	11.4	18.2	●	●				JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line JN Nambu Line (Keikyu-Kawasaki) KK Keikyu Main Line and KK Keikyu Daishi Line	Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki	Kanagawa
YHMJT05	Yokohama	横浜	10.6	28.8	●	●		▲	▲	JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line, Negishi Line JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line JO Yokosuka Line TY Tōkyū Tōyoko Line KK Keikyu Main Line Sagami Railway Main Line Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line Minatomirai Line	Nishi-ku, Yokohama
TTKJT06	Totsuka	戸塚	12.1	40.9	●	●		▲	▲	JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line JO Yokosuka Line Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line	Totsuka-ku, Yokohama
OFNJT07	Ōfuna	大船	5.6	46.5	●	●		●	●	JK Negishi Line JO Yokosuka Line Shonan Monorail JS Shōnan-Shinjuku Line	Sakae-ku, Yokohama
											Kamakura
JT08	Fujisawa	藤沢	4.6	51.1	●	●		●	●	Odakyū Enoshima Line Enoshima Electric Railway	Fujisawa
JT09	Tsujidō	辻堂	3.7	54.8	｜	●		●	｜
JT10	Chigasaki	茅ヶ崎	3.8	58.6	●	●		●	●	■ Sagami Line	Chigasaki
JT11	Hiratsuka	平塚	5.2	63.8	●	●		●	●		Hiratsuka
JT12	Ōiso	大磯	4.0	67.8	｜	●		●	｜		Ōiso, Naka District
JT13	Ninomiya	二宮	5.3	73.1	｜	●		●	｜		Ninomiya, Naka District
JT14	Kōzu	国府津	4.6	77.7	●	●		●	●	Gotemba Line	Odawara
JT15	Kamonomiya	鴨宮	3.1	80.8	｜	●		●	｜
JT16	Odawara	小田原	3.1	83.9	●	●		●	●	Tōkaidō Shinkansen Odakyū Odawara Line Hakone Tozan Line Izu-Hakone Railway Daiyūzan Line
JT17	Hayakawa	早川	2.1	86.0		●
JT18	Nebukawa	根府川	4.4	90.4		●
JT19	Manazuru	真鶴	5.4	95.8		●					Manazuru, Ashigarashimo District
JT20	Yugawara	湯河原	3.3	99.1		●					Yugawara, Ashigarashimo District
JT21	Atami	熱海	5.5	104.6		●				JT Itō Line (Some through trains for Ito) Tōkaidō Shinkansen	Atami	Shizuoka
Local: Some operate through service from/to Numazu or Ito

• Some trains run through services beyond Atami, as far as Numazu.
• With the Ueno-Tokyo Line, Utsunomiya Line Rapid Rabbit and Takasaki Line Rapid Urban services now run along the Tokaido Line, and stop at all stations on this line. As such, the two services are classified as 'Local' service trains within the Tokaido Line.
• Tokaido Line Rapid Acty services operate only evening services from Tokyo to Odawara.
• Shōnan Limited Express services are special, all-reserved commuter express trains with comfortable seating. They operate from Odawara to Tokyo on weekday mornings, with a few services terminating in Shinagawa. Return services run from Tokyo to Odawara on weekday evenings. Like commuter rapid trains, Shōnan Liner services normally make no stops between Shinagawa and Fujisawa. Between Fujisawa and Odawara, varying stops are made. In addition to the standard fare, a reserved seat fee of ¥500 is required to use the Shōnan Liner.
• Keihin-Tōhoku Line stations between Tokyo and Yokohama officially are a part of the Tōkaidō Main Line. These stations are: Yūrakuchō, Hamamatsuchō, Tamachi, Ōimachi, Ōmori, Kamata, Tsurumi, Shin-Koyasu, and Higashi-Kanagawa.
• Yokosuka Line stations between Tokyo and Ōfuna officially are a part of the Tōkaidō Main Line. These stations are: Nishi-Ōi, Musashi-Kosugi, Shin-Kawasaki, Hodogaya, and Higashi-Totsuka. The route of the Yokosuka Line between Shinagawa and Tsurumi is separate from the main line and is referred to as the Hinkaku Line, on which Nishi-Ōi, Musashi-Kosugi, and Shin-Kawasaki stations are located.
• Shōnan–Shinjuku Line operates through services to the Tōkaidō Main Line. Trains operate from the Takasaki Line to Ōsaki and enter the Yokosuka Line at Nishi-Ōi to Totsuka then switches tracks to the Tōkaidō Main Line towards Odawara, and vice versa. Rapid Service stop at all stations on the Tōkaidō Main Line (Totsuka - Odawara), while Special Rapid Service operate the same pattern as a Rapid Acty Service.

JR Central[]

The point between JR East and JR Central operation is divided at Atami station, where section between Atami and Maibara is operated by JR Central, and covers the Tōkai region - Shizuoka Prefecture, Aichi Prefecture, and Gifu Prefecture. Some services from Odawara on the JR East section continues to travel on this section until Numazu station.

Shizuoka Block[]

No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Rapid Services				Home Liner	Transfers	Location
			Between Stations	Total (From Tokyo)	Semi Rapid	Rapid	New Rapid	Special Rapid
CA00	Atami	熱海		104.6						Tōkaidō Shinkansen JT Itō Line	Atami	Shizuoka
CA01	Kannami	函南	9.9	114.5							Kannami, Tagata District
CA02	Mishima	三島	6.2	120.7		●				Tōkaidō Shinkansen ■ Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line (some morning/evening through services)	Mishima
CA03 CB18	Numazu	沼津	5.5	126.2		●			●	Gotemba Line	Numazu
CA04	Katahama	片浜	4.1	130.3		●			｜
CA05	Hara	原	2.5	132.8		●			｜
CA06	Higashi-Tagonoura	東田子の浦	4.6	137.4		●			｜		Fuji
CA07	Yoshiwara	吉原	3.9	141.3		●			｜	■ Gakunan Railway Line
CA08 CC00	Fuji	富士	4.9	146.2		●			●	Minobu Line
CA09	Fujikawa	富士川	3.5	149.7		｜			｜
CA10	Shin-Kambara	新蒲原	2.8	152.5		｜			｜		Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka
CA11	Kambara	蒲原	2.4	154.9		｜			｜
CA12	Yui	由比	3.5	158.4		｜			｜
CA13	Okitsu	興津	5.9	164.3		｜			｜
CA14	Shimizu	清水	4.7	169.0		●			●
CA15	Kusanagi	草薙	5.2	174.2		｜			｜	Shizuoka Railway Shizuoka-Shimizu Line
CA16	Higashi-Shizuoka	東静岡	3.5	177.7		｜			｜		Aoi-ku, Shizuoka
CA17	Shizuoka	静岡	2.5	180.2		●			●	Tōkaidō Shinkansen Shizuoka Railway Shizuoka-Shimizu Line (Shin-Shizuoka)
CA18	Abekawa	安倍川	4.3	184.5					｜		Suruga-ku, Shizuoka
CA19	Mochimune	用宗	2.1	186.6					｜
CA20	Yaizu	焼津	7.1	193.7					｜		Yaizu
CA21	Nishi-Yaizu	西焼津	3.3	197.0					｜
CA22	Fujieda	藤枝	3.3	200.3					●		Fujieda
CA23	Rokugo	六合	4.6	204.9					｜		Shimada
CA24	Shimada	島田	2.9	207.8					●
CA25	Kanaya	金谷	5.1	212.9					｜	Oigawa Railway Oigawa Main Line
CA26	Kikugawa	菊川	9.3	222.2					●		Kikugawa
CA27	Kakegawa	掛川	7.1	229.3					●	Tōkaidō Shinkansen Tenryū Hamanako Railroad	Kakegawa
CA28	Aino	愛野	5.3	234.6					｜		Fukuroi
CA29	Fukuroi	袋井	3.5	238.1					●
CA30	Mikuriya	御厨	4.6	242.7					｜		Iwata
CA31	Iwata	磐田	7.8	245.9					●
CA32	Toyodachō	豊田町	2.9	248.8					｜
CA33	Tenryūgawa	天竜川	3.9	252.7					｜		Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu
CA34	Hamamatsu	浜松	4.4	257.1			●	●	●	Tokaido Shinkansen Enshū Railway Line (Shin-Hamamatsu)	Naka-ku, Hamamatsu
CA35	Takatsuka	高塚	5.3	262.4			●	●			Minami-ku, Hamamatsu
CA36	Maisaka	舞阪	5.1	267.5			●	●			Nishi-ku, Hamamatsu
CA37	Bentenjima	弁天島	2.3	269.8			●	●
CA38	Araimachi	新居町	3.1	272.9			●	●			Kosai
CA39	Washizu	鷲津	3.7	276.6			●	●
CA40	Shinjohara	新所原	5.8	282.4			●	●		Tenryū Hamanako Railroad
CA41	Futagawa	二川	4.3	286.7			●	●			Toyohashi	Aichi
CA42	Toyohashi	豊橋	6.9	293.6			●	●		Tōkaidō Shinkansen Iida Line  NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line Toyohashi Railroad Atsumi Line (Shin-Toyohashi), Toyohashi Railroad Azumada Main Line (Ekimae)

Nagoya Block Main Line[]

No.	Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Rapid Services				Home Liner	Transfers	Location
			Between Stations	Total (From Tokyo)	Semi Rapid	Rapid	New Rapid	Special Rapid
CA42	Toyohashi	豊橋	6.9	293.6	●	●	●	●	●	Tōkaidō Shinkansen Iida Line  NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line Toyohashi Railroad Atsumi Line (Shin-Toyohashi), Toyohashi Railroad Azumada Main Line (Ekimae)	Toyohashi	Aichi
CA43	Nishi-Kozakai	西小坂井	4.8	298.4	●	｜	｜	｜	｜		Toyokawa
CA44	Aichi-Mito	愛知御津	3.7	302.1	●	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA45	Mikawa-Ōtsuka	三河大塚	3.1	305.2	●	｜	｜	｜	｜		Gamagori
CA46	Mikawa-Miya	三河三谷	3.1	308.3	●	▲	▲	｜	｜
CA47	Gamagori	蒲郡	2.3	310.6	●	●	●	●	●	GN  Meitetsu Gamagōri Line
CA48	Mikawa-Shiotsu	三河塩津	2.3	312.9	●	｜	｜	｜	｜	GN  Meitetsu Gamagōri Line (Gamagōri-Kyōteijō-Mae)
CA49	Sangane	三ヶ根	2.6	315.5	●	｜	｜	｜	｜		Kōta, Nukata District
CA50	Kōda	幸田	3.0	318.5	●	▲	▲	｜	｜
CA51	Aimi	相見	3.1	321.6	●	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA52	Okazaki	岡崎	7.4	325.9	●	●	●	●	●	■ Aichi Loop Line	Okazaki
CA53	Nishi-Okazaki	西岡崎	4.2	330.1	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA54	Anjō	安城	3.6	333.7	●	●	●	●	●		Anjō
CA55	Mikawa-Anjō	三河安城	2.6	336.3	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜	Tōkaidō Shinkansen
CA56	Higashi-Kariya	東刈谷	1.8	338.1	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜		Kariya
CA57	Noda-Shinmachi	野田新町	1.6	339.7	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA58	Kariya	刈谷	1.9	341.6	●	●	●	●	●	MU  Meitetsu Mikawa Line
CA59	Aizuma	逢妻	1.9	343.5	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA60	Ōbu	大府	3.0	346.5	●	●	●	｜	●	Taketoyo Line	Ōbu
CA61	Kyōwa	共和	3.0	349.5	●	●	｜	｜	｜
CA62	Minami-Ōdaka	南大高	2.3	351.8	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜		Midori-ku, Nagoya
CA63	Ōdaka	大高	1.8	353.6	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA64	Kasadera	笠寺	3.2	356.8	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜		Minami-ku, Nagoya
CA65	Atsuta	熱田	4.0	360.8	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜		Atsuta-ku, Nagoya
CA66	Kanayama	金山	1.9	362.7	●	●	●	●	●	Chūō Main Line  NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line Nagoya Municipal Subway: Meijō Line (M01) Meikō Line (E01)	Naka-ku, Nagoya
CA67	Otōbashi	尾頭橋	0.9	363.6	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜		Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya
CA68	Nagoya	名古屋	2.4	366.0	●	●	●	●	●	Tōkaidō Shinkansen Kansai Main Line Chūō Main Line  E  Kintetsu Nagoya Line (Kintetsu-Nagoya)  NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line (Meitetsu-Nagoya) Nagoya Municipal Subway: Higashiyama Line (H08) Sakura-dōri Line (S02)  AN  Aonami Line (AN01)	Nakamura-ku, Nagoya
CA69	Biwajima	枇杷島	4.0	370.0	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜	■ Tōkai Transport Service Jōhoku Line	Kiyosu
CA70	Kiyosu	清洲	3.8	373.8	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜		Inazawa
CA71	Inazawa	稲沢	3.3	377.1	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA72	Owari-Ichinomiya	尾張一宮	6.0	383.1	●	●	●	●	●	NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line,  BS  Meitetsu Bisai Line (Meitetsu-Ichinomiya)	Ichinomiya
CA73	Kisogawa	木曽川	3.5	388.6	｜	｜	｜	｜	｜
CA74	Gifu	岐阜	7.7	396.3	●	●	●	●	●	Takayama Main Line  NH  Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line,  KG  Meitetsu Kagamihara Line (Meitetsu Gifu)	Gifu	Gifu
CA75	Nishi-Gifu	西岐阜	3.2	399.5	●	●	●	●	｜
CA76	Hozumi	穂積	1.0	400.5	●	●	●	●	●		Mizuho
CA77	Ōgaki	大垣	9.5	410.0	●	●	●	●	●	Tōkaidō Main Line (Mino-Akasaka, Shin-Tarui branch lines) ■ Yōrō Railway Yōrō Line ■ Tarumi Railway Tarumi Line	Ōgaki
CA78	Tarui	垂井	8.1	418.1	●	●	●	●	●		Tarui, Fuwa District
CA79	Sekigahara	関ヶ原	5.7	423.8	●	●	●	●	●	Tōkaidō Main Line (Shin-Tarui branch line)	Sekigahara, Fuwa District
CA80	Kashiwabara	柏原	7.1	430.9	●	●	●	●			Maibara	Shiga
CA81	Ōmi-Nagaoka	近江長岡	4.3	435.2	●	●	●	●
CA82	Samegai	醒ヶ井	4.6	439.8	●	●	●	●
CA83	Maibara *	米原	6.1	445.9	●	●	●	●		Tōkaidō Shinkansen Hokuriku Main Line Biwako Line (Tōkaidō Main Line) ■ Ohmi Railway Main Line

Maibara is shared by JR Central and JR West ; JR West manages the station

Before March 2016, JR West operated trains from Maibara as far as Ogaki on JR Central territory. After the two companies realized this invasion, on March 25th, 2016, all JR West departures were changed to JR Central trains to Maibara station.

Branch lines[]

Both the Mino-Akasaka and Tarui branch lines separate from the Main Line at Minami-Arao junction (南荒尾信号場), located 3.1 km west of Ōgaki Station.

Mino-Akasaka Branch Line[]

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers	Location
		Between Stations	Total (from Ōgaki)
Ōgaki	大垣	-	0.0	Tōkaidō Main Line	Ōgaki	Gifu
Arao	荒尾	3.4	3.4
Mino-Akasaka	美濃赤坂	1.6	5.0

Tarui Branch Line[]

Between Ōgaki and Sekigahara, there is a 25 per mil grade. In 1944, a single track bypass was built to avoid this steep slope of the main line and the old westbound track was removed.

Station	Japanese	Distance (km)		Transfers	Location
		Between Stations	Total (from Ōgaki)
Ōgaki	大垣	-	0.0	Tōkaidō Main Line	Ōgaki	Gifu
Tarui	垂井	8.1	8.1		Tarui, Fuwa District
Sekigahara	関ヶ原	5.7	13.8	JR Central: Tōkaidō Main Line	Sekigahara

JR West[]

The western part of the Tōkaidō Main Line from Maibara to Kōbe is operated by JR West and forms the main trunk of the company's Urban Network in the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. Although the line is divided into three segments, known as the Biwako Line, JR Kyoto Line, and JR Kobe Line, they are part of a single contiguous network, with many services traversing multiple sections. The Biwako Line includes a segment of the Hokuriku Main Line. Some services on the Kosei, JR Takarazuka and Gakkentoshi lines run through onto the Tōkaidō Main Line.

Biwako Line[]

The section between Maibara and Kyoto is known as the Biwako Line. The line also includes the section of the Hokuriku Main Line between Maibara and Nagahama, where some Kyoto-bound trains originate.

JR Kyoto Line[]

The section between Kyoto and Osaka is known as the JR Kyoto Line. Trains from the Biwako and Kosei lines travel through onto the JR Kyoto Line and continue west towards the JR Kobe Line at Osaka.

JR Kobe Line[]

The westernmost section between Osaka and Kōbe is part of the JR Kobe Line, which continues west to Himeji on the San'yō Main Line. Although Kōbe is the official terminus of the Tōkaidō Main Line, most trains continue to Nishi-Akashi, Himeji and beyond.

Limited express services[]

In addition to standard local, rapid, and special rapid service trains, the Tōkaidō Main Line also hosts a number of limited express services.

Daytime trains[]

• Biwako Express: Maibara – Osaka
• Fujikawa: Shizuoka – Fuji – (Minobu Line) – Kōfu
• Haruka: Maibara - Kyoto – Shin-Osaka – (Osaka Loop Line) – Tennōji – (Hanwa Line) – Hineno – (Kansai Airport Line) – Kansai International Airport
• Hida: Nagoya / Osaka – Gifu – (Takayama Main Line) – Takayama
• Odoriko: Tokyo – Atami – (Itō Line) – Itō – (Izu Kyūkō) – Shimoda; Tokyo – Mishima – (Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line) – Shuzenji
• Thunderbird: Osaka – Kyoto – (Kosei Line) – Tsuruga – (Hokuriku Main Line) – Kanazawa
• Saphir Odoriko: Tokyo – Atami – (Itō Line) – Itō – (Izu Kyūkō) – Izukyu-Shimoda
• Shirasagi: Nagoya – Maibara – (Hokuriku Main Line) – Kanazawa
• Shōnan: Tokyo – Odawara

Overnight trains[]

Overnight trains on the Tōkaidō Line go from Tokyo to western Honshū and Shikoku.

• Sunrise Izumo (Tokyo – Izumo via Okayama) (Operates daily)
• Sunrise Seto (Tokyo – Takamatsu) (Operates daily)

Discontinued trains[]

• Overnight limited express Sakura (Tokyo – Nagasaki (discontinued March 2005), Tokyo – Sasebo (discontinued 1999))
• Overnight limited express Izumo (Tokyo – Izumo via Tottori), discontinued March 2006
• Limited express Wide View Tōkai (Tokyo – Shizuoka), discontinued March 2007
• Overnight express Ginga (Tokyo – Osaka), discontinued March 2008
• Overnight limited express Fuji (Tokyo – Ōita), discontinued March 2009
• Overnight limited express Hayabusa (Tokyo – Kumamoto), discontinued March 2009
• Overnight limited express Sunrise Yume (Tokyo – Hiroshima), discontinued March 2009
• Moonlight Nagara (Tokyo – Ōgaki) (Operates seasonally - rapid service with reserved seats), discontinued March 2020
• Super View Odoriko, Resort Odoriko, Fleur Odoriko (Tokyo – Izukyu-Shimoda), discontinued March 2020

Rolling stock for local and rapid services[]

JR East[]

• E231-1000 series (Tokyo – Atami – Numazu, through services onto the Itō Line)
• E233-3000 series (Tokyo – Atami – Numazu, through services onto the Itō Line)
• E257-2000/2500 series (Odoriko, Shōnan: Ikebukuro/Tokyo – Atami, through service onto the Itō Line)
• E261 series (Saphir Odoriko: Shinjuku/Tokyo – Atami, through service onto the Itō Line)

JR Central[]

• 211-5000 series (Atami – Toyohashi, through services onto the Gotemba Line)
• 211-6000 series (Atami – Toyohashi, through services onto the Gotemba Line, through services onto the Minobu Line)
• 311 series (Shizuoka – Kakegawa – Hamamatsu – Toyohashi – Gifu)
• 313-0 series (Hamamatsu – Toyohashi – Gifu – Ōgaki)
• 313-300 series (Hamamatsu – Toyohashi – Gifu – Ōgaki, Ōgaki – Mino-Akasaka)
• 313-2300 series (Atami – Toyohashi, through services onto the Gotemba Line, through services onto the Minobu Line)
• 313-2500 series (Atami – Toyohashi, through services onto the Gotemba Line, through services onto the Minobu Line)
• 313-2600 series (Atami – Toyohashi, through services onto the Gotemba Line, through services onto the Minobu Line)
• 313-3000 series (through services onto the Gotemba Line, through services onto the Minobu Line)
• 313-3100 series (through services onto the Gotemba Line, through services onto the Minobu Line)
• 313-5000 series (Hamamatsu – Toyohashi – Gifu – Ōgaki – Maibara)
• 373 series (Atami – – Shizuoka, Hamamatsu – Toyohashi, Ōgaki – Maibara)
• KiHa 85 series (Nagoya / Osaka – Gifu, through service on the Takayama Main Line)
• HC85 series (Nagoya / Osaka – Gifu, through service on the Takayama Main Line)

JR West[]

• 681 series (Nagoya – Ōgaki – Sekigahara)
• 683-8000 series (Nagoya – Ōgaki – Sekigahara)
• 281 series|271 series (Yasu - Shin-Osaka)
• 207 series|321 series (Kusatsu - Kobe)
• 221 series|223 series|225 series(Maibara - Kobe)

Former rolling stock[]

• KiHa 75 (through services onto the Taketoyo Line, 1999 - March 2015)
• 113-1000 series (April 1972 - March 2006)
• 185 series (Tokyo – Atami, Misima through services onto the Itō Line, March 1981 - March 2021)
• 211 series (Tokyo – Atami – Numazu, through services onto the Itō Line, 1985 - April 2012)
• 215 series (Tokyo – Atami, 1992 - March 2021)
• E217 series (Tokyo – Atami, March 2006 - March 2015)^[3]
• 251 series (Ikebukuro/Tokyo, Atami, through service onto the Itō Line, April 1990 - March 2020)
• 651 series (Izu Craile services: Odawara – Atami, through service onto the Itō Line, July 2016 - June 2020)

• 

  E217 series in Tokaido Line Shōnan livery, April 2007

• 

  A 113 series approaching Yokohama, March 2006.

History[]

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The Tōkaidō route takes its name from the ancient road connecting the Kansai region (Kyoto, Osaka) with the Kantō region (Tokyo, then Edo) through the Tōkai region (including Nagoya). Literally, it was the Tōkai road, or Road through Tōkai. The Tōkaidō Line does not follow the old road exactly, since the latter diverges at Nagoya toward the Mie Prefecture coastline; to follow it by train, the Kansai Main Line and Kusatsu Line would have to be followed from Nagoya to Kusatsu. The largest population centers in Japan are along this route - Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe. These centers have grown to occupy an ever more dominant role in the country's government, financial, manufacturing and cultural life.^[4]

Historically, one of the first priorities of Japanese railway planners was to build a line from Tokyo to the Kansai region, either following the Tokaido route or the northern Nakasendō route. This decision remained unresolved as regional needs were addressed. The first railway in Japan was the line from Shinbashi to Sakuragicho in Yokohama, which opened in 1872; another segment of today's Tokaido Main Line, between Kyoto and Kobe, opened in 1877.

In 1883, the government decided to use the Nakasendo route, and construction of several segments commenced (including the modern-day Takasaki Line). Railways were opened between Ogaki and Nagahama (1884) and between Nagoya and Kisogawa (1886) in line with the Nakasendo plan. However, by 1886, it was clear that the Tokaido route would be more practical, and so the Nakasendo plan was abandoned.

The lines between Kisogawa and Ogaki, Yokohama and Kozu, and Hamamatsu and Obu were completed in 1887, and the first line from Tokyo to Kobe was completed in 1889, when Kozu and Hamamatsu were connected through the present-day Gotemba Line corridor, and the final segments were completed between Kasumigahara and Otsu. At the time, there was one Tokyo-Kobe train in each direction per day, taking over 20 hours each way.

The "Tokaido Line" name was formally adopted in 1895. In October 1895, following the Sino-Japanese War, through service to the Sanyo Railway (now Sanyo Main Line) began. Express service between Tokyo and Kobe began in 1896, sleeper service in 1900, and dining car service in 1901.

In 1906, all privately run main lines were nationalized under the newly created Japan Imperial Railway, which, at the time had a network of just over 7000 km. Automatic couplers were introduced on all freight wagons in 1926. In 1930, the first Tsubame ("swallow") express was introduced, reducing the Tokyo - Kobe travel-time to nine hours - a significant reduction from the twenty hours required in 1889 and fifteen in 1903.^[4]

Infrastructure improvements included the completion of double track on this route in 1913, and the opening of the 7.8 km long Tanna Tunnel, which shortened the route by omitting a detour round the mountains between Atami and Numazu. This was the last major change to the alignment of the route.

By the early 1950s the Tōkaidō Line had become the main transportation artery of Japan. Although it was only 3 percent of the railway system by length, it carried 24 percent of JNR's passenger traffic and 23 percent of its freight, and the rate of growth was higher than any other line in the country. By 1956 electrification was completed along the Tokyo-Osaka section and with the introduction of new Kodama trains, travel time was reduced to six and a half hours. The line became so popular that tickets regularly sold out within ten minutes of being put on sale, one month in advance of the travel date.^[4]

The capacity constraints on the Tokaido Main Line had been clear prior to World War II, and work started on a new 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge "bullet train" line in 1940. Intercity passenger traffic between Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka largely transferred to the Tōkaidō Shinkansen after it was completed in 1964. Since then, the Tokaido Main Line has been used as a commuter and freight line, serving a very small number of long-distance passenger trains (mainly overnight and sleeper services).

Following the Hanshin earthquake on January 17, 1995, the line was shut down between Takatsuki and Kobe, with certain segments remaining impassable until April 1.

Former connecting lines[]

Kanagawa Prefecture[]

• Ninomiya Station: The Shonan Horse-drawn Tramway opened a 10 km line to Hatano in 1906 to haul tobacco. Steam locomotion was introduced in 1913. Passenger services ceased in 1933, and the line closed in 1935.^{[citation needed]}
• Odawara Station: The operated an approximately 1 km line to its factory, electrified at 1,500 V DC, between 1950 and 1984. The line was also serviced by the adjoining Odakyu Odawara Line from its Ashigara station.^{[citation needed]}

Shizuoka Prefecture[]

• Atami Station: In 1895, a 10 km 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line opened to Yoshihama, and was extended 4 km to Odawara the following year. In 1907, the line was converted to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge and steam locomotives were introduced. The line closed in 1923 as a result of the Great Kanto earthquake.^{[citation needed]}
• Numazu Station: The Sunzu Electric Railway opened a 7 km line to Mishima-Tamachi on the Izuhakone Railway Sunzu Line in 1906. In 1915, the line was truncated 1 km to connect at Mishima-Hirokoji, and the line was electrified at 600 V DC in 1919. The line closed in 1961 following the destruction of the Kisegawa bridge during a flood.^{[citation needed]}
• Yoshiwara Station: The Fuji Horse Tramway (富士馬車鉄道, Fuji Basha Tetsudō) opened a 610 mm (2 ft) gauge line to Ōmiya (presentday Fujinomiya) in 1890. The Fuji Minobu Railway (富士身延鉄道, Fuji Minobu Tetsudō) purchased the tramway in 1912, converted it to a 1,067 mm gauge steam railway the following year and gradually extended it (eventually becoming the Minobu Line). In 1924, the company built a new alignment which connected to Fuji station on the Tokaido main line, at which time the original section from Omiya to Yoshiwara closed.^{[citation needed]}
• Shimizu Station: Shimizukō Line from 1916 to 1984.
• Shizuoka Station:
  • The Abe Railway opened a 9 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line from Inomiya (approximately 2 km from Shizuoka) to Ushizuma in 1914 to haul timber. Plans to extend the line to Shizuoka did not eventuate and the line closed in 1934.^{[citation needed]}
  • The Shizuoka Electric Railway opened a 2 km line to Anzai, connecting to its Shimizu Line, electrified at 600 V DC, between 1922 and 1926. The line closed in 1962.^{[citation needed]}
• Yaizu Station: A 5 km 610 mm (2 ft) handcar line operated to Fujieda between 1891 and 1900.^{[citation needed]}
• Fujieda Station: The Tōsō Railway opened a 4 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Ote in 1913, and by 1926 had extended the line progressively in both directions for a length of 38 km from Jitogata to Suruga-Okabe, although in 1936 the 5 km section from Suruga-Okabe to Ote was closed. In 1943, the company merged with the Shizuoka Railway (see Fujiroi Station below), and in 1948, a 7 km line between Mitsumata and Jitogata opened, linking the two sections. This section of the combined line closed between 1964 and 1970.^{[citation needed]}
• Shimada Station: The Fuji Prefectural Government opened a 3 km 610 mm (2 ft) gauge handcar line in 1898 to haul timber. In 1944, following the destruction of the nearby Tokaido Line bridge over the Oigawa, it was proposed to use the alignment of this line as a replacement, including a 930 m wooden bridge over the river. The bridge was about 25% completed when the end of the war resulted in the termination of the proposal. A diesel locomotive was introduced in 1955 to haul construction material for the construction of the adjacent national highway, and the line closed in 1959.^{[citation needed]}
• Kikukawa Station: The Joto horse-drawn tramway opened a 15 km 2 ft (610 mm) gauge line to Ikeshinden in 1899. In 1923, the line was converted to 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge, and a single-cylinder diesel locomotive introduced. The line closed in 1935.^{[citation needed]}
• Fukuroi Station:
  • The Akiba horse-drawn tramway opened a 12 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Enshumori-Cho in 1902. In 1926, the company renamed itself the Shizuoka Electric Railway, converted the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge and electrified it at 600 V DC. The line closed in 1962.^{[citation needed]}
  • The Shizuoka Railway opened a 10 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Yokosuka in 1914, extending it 7 km to Mitsumata in 1927. The company merged with the Fuji-sho Railway in 1943 (see Fujieda Station above), and in 1948, a 7 km line between Mitsumata and Jitogata opened, linking the two sections. This section of the combined line closed between 1964 and 1967.^{[citation needed]}
• Hamamatsu Station: The Dainippon Railway opened a 7 km, 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Kuniyoshi in 1909. In 1919, the line was acquired by the Enshu Railway Line, which closed the first 1 km of the line in 1925, so the new connecting station became Enshu-Magome. The line closed in 1937.^{[citation needed]}

Aichi Prefecture[]

• Okazaki Station:
  • The Nishio Railway opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Nishio in 1911, and extended it to Kira-Yoshida on the Meitetsu Gamagōri Line between 1915 and 1916. In 1926, the company merged with the Aichi Electric Railway, which between 1928 and 1929 converted the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge, electrified it at 600 V DC, and connected it to the line from Shin-Anjō on the Meitetsu Nagoya Main Line at Nishioguchi. The line to Nishio closed in 1962.^{[citation needed]}
  • A 6 km tram line connected to the Meitetsu Koromo line at Okazaki-Ida Station, which between 1929 and 1962 connected to the Meitetsu Mikawa Line at Uwagoromo, the tramway also closing in 1962.^{[citation needed]}
• Owari-Ichinomiya Station: The 6 km Meitetsu line to Okoshi, electrified at 600 V DC, opened in 1924. When the voltage on the Meitetsu main line was increased to 1,500 V DC in 1952, services were suspended on this line. The substitute bus service proved so popular the line was closed rather than upgraded.^{[citation needed]}

Gifu Prefecture[]

• Ogaki Station: The Seino Railway opened a 3 km line from Mino-Akasaka to Ichihashi in 1928, and operated a passenger service from 1930 to 1945.^{[citation needed]}
• Arao Station (on the Mino Akasaka branch): A 2 km freight-only line to the Mino Okubo limestone quarry operated between 1928 and 1990.^{[citation needed]}

Hyōgo Prefecture[]

• Nishinomiya Station: A 2 km freight-only line was opened in 1944 to connect to Mukogawa Station on the Hanshin Main Line. As the former was 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge, and the latter 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) gauge, some tracks at Mukogawa were dual gauge. Service on the line ceased in 1958, but it was not formally closed until 1970.^{[citation needed]}
• Rokkomichi Station: A 5 km line to Kobe Port opened in 1907, electrified at 1,500 V DC. Passenger services ceased in 1974, and the line closed in 2003.^{[citation needed]}

References[]

External links[]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tōkaidō Main Line.

• Stations of the Tōkaidō Main Line (JR East) (in Japanese)