Furano Line
| Furano Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Kiha 150 Diesel Multiple Unit on the Furano Line.
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| Overview | |||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||
| Status | Operational | ||
| Locale | Hokkaido, Japan | ||
| Termini |
Asahikawa Furano |
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| Stations | 18 | ||
| Operation | |||
| Opened | 1899 | ||
| Operator(s) | Hokkaido Railway Company | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 54,8 km | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Operating speed | 85 km/h (55 mph) | ||
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The Furano Line (富良野線 Furano-sen?) is part of the Hokkaido Railway Company network in Hokkaidō, Japan. It connects Furano Station in the city of Furano and Asahikawa Station in the city of Asahikawa. Popular with tourists, it has recently come to serve commuters in the bedroom towns that are developing as suburbs of Asahikawa.
On 19 November 2016, JR Hokkaido's President announced plans to rationalise the network by up to 1,237 km, or ~50% of the current network, including the proposed conversion to Third Sector operation of the Furano Line, but if local governments are not agreeable, the line will face closure.
The Furano Line opened on September 1, 1899, as the Hokkaidō Kansetsu Railway (北海道官設鉄道 Hokkaidō Kansetsu Tetsudō?), operating between Asahikawa and Biei Stations. In the next month, service extended to Kami-Furano Station, and in the following year it reached Shimo-Furano Station.
In 1909 it became part of the Nemuro Main Line from Asahikawa Station to Kushiro Station, but in 1913 it took its present name and covered the route from Asahikawa Station to Shimo-Furano Station. The eruption of Mount Tokachi on May 24, 1926, caused a protracted interruption of service between Biei and Kami-Furano. In 1942, Shimo-Furano Station changed its name to Furano Station.
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