Shinonoi Line
# Shinonoi Line

The Shinonoi Line (篠ノ井線, Shinonoi-sen) is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri.

The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.

## Stations

All stations are located in Nagano Prefecture.

    ●: All trains stop, ▲: Some trains stop, ｜: non-stop, Rapid Misuzu stops at all stations

| Line name | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Rapid | Good Morning Liner | Transfers | Location |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Shinonoi Line | Shiojiri | 塩尻 | 0.0 | ● | ● | ■ Chūō Main Line | Shiojiri |
| Shinonoi Line | Hirooka | 広丘 | 3.8 | ● | ↓ | | Shiojiri |
| Shinonoi Line | Murai | 村井 | 6.8 | ● | ● | | Matsumoto |
| Shinonoi Line | Hirata | 平田 | 8.8 | ● | ↓ | | Matsumoto |
| Shinonoi Line | Minami-Matsumoto | 南松本 | 10.9 | ● | ↓ | | Matsumoto |
| Shinonoi Line | Matsumoto | 松本 | 13.3 | ● | ● | ■ Ōito Line Alpico Kōtsū Kamikōchi Line | Matsumoto |
| Shinonoi Line | Tazawa | 田沢 | 21.6 | ● | ● | | Azumino |
| Shinonoi Line | Akashina | 明科 | 28.2 | ● | ● | | Azumino |
| Shinonoi Line | Nishijō | 西条 | 37.2 | ▲ | ↓ | | Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District |
| Shinonoi Line | Sakakita | 坂北 | 40.9 | ▲ | ↓ | | Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District |
| Shinonoi Line | Hijiri-Kōgen | 聖高原 | 45.0 | ● | ↓ | | Omi, Higashi­chikuma District |
| Shinonoi Line | Kamuriki | 冠着 | 48.3 | ▲ | ↓ | | Chikuhoku, Higashi­chikuma District |
| Shinonoi Line | Obasute | 姨捨 | 54.2 | ▲ | ↓ | | Chikuma |
| Shinonoi Line | Inariyama | 稲荷山 | 62.9 | ▲ | ↓ | | Nagano |
| Shinonoi Line | Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | ↓ | Shinano Railway Line | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | ↓ | Shinano Railway Line | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Imai | 今井 | 68.8 | ｜ | ↓ | | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Kawanakajima | 川中島 | 71.0 | ▲ | ↓ | | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Amori | 安茂里 | 73.1 | ｜ | ↓ | | Nagano |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Nagano | 長野 | 76.0 | ● | ● | Hokuriku Shinkansen Shinano Railway Kita-Shinano Line ■ Iiyama Line Nagano Electric Railway | Nagano |

* ↑ Although the official terminus of the Iiyama Line is at Toyono, trains on the line run through to Nagano.

### Passing loops and switchbacks

**Hirase loop**

A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as Hirase shingōjō (平瀬信号場). It has two tracks.

* Coordinates:36°15′47″N 137°56′54″E﻿ / ﻿36.263133°N 137.948305°E﻿ / 36.263133; 137.948305

**Haneo switchback**

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Haneo shingōjō (羽尾信号場)

* Coordinates: 36°29′08″N 138°05′55″E﻿ / ﻿36.485612°N 138.09856°E﻿ / 36.485612; 138.09856

**Kuwanohara switchback**

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Kuwanohara shingōjō (桑ノ原信号場)

* Coordinates: 36°31′20″N 138°04′40″E﻿ / ﻿36.522274°N 138.077726°E﻿ / 36.522274; 138.077726
* Hirase loop (A: to Matsumoto, B: to Tazawa)
* Haneo switchback (A: to Kamuriki (uphill), B: to Obasute)
* Kuwanohara switchback (A: to Obasute (uphill), B: to Inariyama)

## Rolling stock

### Limited express

* E353 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
* 383 series EMU (Wide View Shinano)

### Local

* E127 series EMU
* 211 series EMU
* 313 series EMU

### Former rolling stock

* 115 series EMU
* 123 series EMU
* 381 series EMU (Shinano)
* E257 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
* E351 series EMU (Super Azusa)

## History

The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended via Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902.

The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was double-tracked between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa to Akashina section double-tracked in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also double-tracked, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988.

The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.

### Former connecting lines

* Matsumoto Station: The Chikuma Electric Railway opened a 5 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Asama Onsen in 1924. In 1958 the voltage was raised to 750 V DC, but the line closed in 1964.
