Chuo Main Line

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Image:ChuoTrainTokyo.jpgImage:Map railroad japan chuo rough.png The Template:Nihongo, commonly called the Chuo Line, is one of the trunk lines of JR, the intercity rail group in Japan. It runs between Tokyo and Nagoya, although it is the slowest railway connection between the two cities (the Tokaido Shinkansen is much faster).

The eastern portion is run by the East Japan Railway Company, while the western portion is run by the Central Japan Railway Company. The dividing point between the two jurisdictions is Shiojiri Station. Despite the huge urban areas at either end of the Chuo Line, its central portion is very lightly travelled: the Shiojiri-Nakatsugawa corridor is only served by bi-hourly trains.

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History

The oldest portion of the Chuo Line is the segment from Nakano Station to Tachikawa Station, which dates back to 1889. The extension westward continued through the turn of the century, with Hachioji Station and eastern Yamanashi prefecture in 1901, and Kofu in 1903. The Nagoya-Shiojiri segment was completed by 1902, and connected to Kofu by 1905.

The section between Iidabashi Station and Nakano Station was the first electric railway in Japan.

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Stations

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Tokyo-Mitaka

The section between Tokyo and Mitaka is grade-separated, with no level crossings. Between Ochanomizu and Mitaka, the Chuo Main Line runs alongside the Chuo-Sobu Line: the main line carries rapid service and express trains, while the Chuo-Sobu Line carries local trains. The Tokyo-Shinjuku portion is a vital cross-town rail link, and also the city's best-known suicide location due to the high speed and cramped schedule of the trains.

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Mitaka-Takao

Currently, construction is ongoing between Mitaka and Tachikawa to elevate the tracks and eliminate level crossings; this section of the line is notorious for its level crossings which can be shut for upwards of an hour during rush hour. Further plans have been proposed to add another two tracks as far as Tachikawa; however, this will not be included in the track elevation, due to be completed between 2008-2011.

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Takao-Kofu

The Takao-Kofu segment is served by local trains twice per hour during the day.

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Kofu - Shiojiri

The Kofu-Shiojiri segment is served by hourly local trains, most of which run past Shiojiri to Matsumoto Station.

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Shiojiri - Nakatsugawa

The Shiojiri-Nakatsugawa segment is the least trafficked on the Chuo Main Line, with local trains running every 2 hours during the day.

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Nakatsugawa - Nagoya

Local and rapid service trains run on the Nakatsugawa-Nagoya segment.

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Trains

On 4 October 2005, JR East unveiled details of the new E233 series trains due to operate commuter services from December 2006 onward. These trains are a development of the E231 series design used on other commuter lines in the Tokyo area, and will replace the aging 201 series rolling stock introduced on the line in 1981.

Long distance trains using the Chuo Line include:

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External links

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