Utsunomiya Line | |
---|---|
Overview | |
Type | Heavy rail |
Locale | Tokyo, Saitama, , Ibaraki |
Termini |
Ueno Kuroiso |
Stations | 33 |
Operation | |
Opened | 1883 |
Operator(s) | JR East |
Depot(s) | Oyama |
Technical | |
Line length | 159.9 km (99.4 mi) |
Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead catenary |
Operating speed | 120 km/h (75 mph) |
The Utsunomiya Line (宇都宮線 Utsunomiya-sen?) is the name given to a 159.9 kilometre section of the Tōhoku Main Line between Ueno Station in Tokyo and Kuroiso Station in , Japan. It is part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) network. Service on the line has been extended to Tokyo Station via the Ueno-Tokyo Line.
Services on the Utsunomiya Line are typically divided into those starting and terminating at Ueno and Shōnan-Shinjuku Line through services from Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, and points south. Between Ueno and Ōmiya, trains share the track with the Takasaki Line, both of which serve as de facto express services compared to the parallel Keihin-Tōhoku Line. The Utsunomiya Line has four trains per hour to/from Ueno, with another two trains per hour through from the Shōnan-Shinjuku Line, one of which is a rapid service.
The fastest service on the line, the rapid Rabbit, makes the run between Ueno and Utsunomiya in one hour and 26 minutes.
Service on the line is generally divided at Utsunomiya, though the number of through trains has been increasing steadily over the years. South of Utsunomiya, 10- and 15-car E231/E233 series four-door suburban commuter EMUs with Green cars attached service the line, while to the north service is provided chiefly by 4-car 205-600 series four-door EMUs.