Fukuen Line

Fukuen Line
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105 series EMUs at Yokoo Station, July 2011
Overview
Native name	福塩線
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Hiroshima Prefecture
Termini	Fukuyama Miyoshi
Operation
Owner	JR West
Technical
Line length	85.1 km (52.9 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC, overhead lines (Fukuyama–Fuchū)

The Fukuen Line (福塩線, Fukuen-sen^?) is a railway line in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Fukuyama Station in Fukuyama and Miyoshi Station in Miyoshi.

The Ryobi Light Railway opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Fuchu in 1914, and electrified it at 750 V DC in 1927. The company was nationalised in 1933, the same year the Japanese Government Railway opened the Shiomachi to Kisa section of the line (then as an extension of the Geibi Line). The Fukuyama to Fuchu section was regauged to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) in 1935, the year the Kisa to Joge section opened. The two sections were connected with the opening of the Fuchu to Joge section in 1938.

The Fuchu to Shimo-Kawabe section was electrified in 1954, and whilst the voltage on the Fukuyama to Fuchu section was increased to 1500 V DC in 1961, the Fuchu to Shimo-Kawabe electrification was decommissioned the following year.

Freight services ceased in 1986, and in 1989, the 6,123 m Hattabara Tunnel and associated deviation were commissioned, shortening the route by 1.4 km.

Wanman driver only operation commenced on the non-electrified section between Fuchū and Miyoshi on 1 April 1991, using KiHa 120-300 DMUs. Driver-only operation commenced on the electrified section between Fukuyama and Fuchū on 14 March 1992, using 105 series EMUs.