Koumi Line

The name of the East Japan Railway Company's track that runs through eastern Nagano Prefecture and northwestern Yamanashi Prefecture. The 78.9 km section between Kobuchizawa and Komoro is single track and non-electrified. It connects the JR Chuo Main Line and the Shinano Railway Line (formerly the JR Shinetsu Main Line) via the eastern foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains, the Saku Basin, and the upper reaches of the Chikuma River. The highest point on the JR line (1,375 meters) is located on the Nobeyama Plateau near the Nagano-Yamanashi border, and Nobeyama Station is known as the JR station with the highest altitude (1,345.67 meters). The Komoro-Koumi section was opened by the Saku Railway from 1915 to 1919 (Taisho 4-8), and was nationalized in 1934 (Showa 9). The Koumi Kita Line was constructed between Koumi and Shinanokawakami, and the Koumi Minami Line between Kobuchisawa and Kiyosato, and opened between 1932 and 1935. In 1935, the line was extended between Kiyosato and Shinanokawakami, and the whole line was renamed the Koumi Line. In 1987, following the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, the line became part of the East Japan Railway Company. It is nicknamed the Yatsugatake Kogen Line.

[Eiichi Aoki and Ryo Aoki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

長野県東部および山梨県北西部を走る東日本旅客鉄道の線路名称。小淵沢(こぶちざわ)―小諸(こもろ)間78.9キロメートル、全線単線、非電化。八ヶ岳(やつがたけ)東麓(とうろく)や佐久盆地、千曲(ちくま)川上流域を経由して、JR中央本線としなの鉄道線（旧JR信越本線）を結ぶ。長野・山梨県境付近の野辺山(のべやま)高原にJR最高地点（1375メートル）があり、野辺山駅はJRでもっとも標高の高い駅（1345.67メートル）として知られる。小諸―小海間は佐久鉄道によって1915～1919年（大正4～8）開業、1934年（昭和9）国有化。小海―信濃川上(しなのかわかみ)間を小海北線、小淵沢―清里間を小海南線としてそれぞれ建設を進め、1932～1935年開業。1935年清里―信濃川上間を延伸したのに伴い、全線を小海線と改称した。1987年、日本国有鉄道の分割民営化に伴い、東日本旅客鉄道に所属。愛称は八ヶ岳高原線。

［青木栄一・青木　亮］

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