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Koumi Line

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Introducing

The Koumi Line is a 78.9 km long line connecting Kobuchizawa Station in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture and Komoro Station in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture. The line was opened in 1919 by its predecessor, Saku Railway, between Koumi and Komoro Stations. In 1935, the line was extended to Kobuchizawa Station and opened to traffic. Since its opening, the Koumi Line has been a popular commuter rail line and a gateway to sightseeing in Kiyosato and Nobeyama.

The greatest feature of the Koumi Line is that it runs at high elevation. Between Kiyosato and Nobeyama stations, the line passes through the highest point on the JR line at 1,375 meters above sea level, and the nine stations between Kai-Koizumi and Matsubarako stations are among the nine highest elevation stations on the JR line, giving the line its nickname, "Yatsugatake Kogen Line (Yatsugatake Plateau Line)".

Along the line, highland vegetables are cultivated at high altitude and in the cool summer climate, and near Nobeyama Station, the train runs through an expanse of highland vegetable fields. Ekiben that incorporate fresh highland vegetables from Yatsugatake picked along the line are also popular.

In July 2017, "HIGH RAIL 1375," a sightseeing train with a planetarium inside, began operation, running between Kobuchizawa and Komoro stations mainly on Saturdays and holidays.

In this DLC, the train from Kobuchizawa Station to Kai-Koizumi Station makes a major 180-degree change of direction on a curve built on embankment with the Yatsugatake mountains at its side; from Kiyosato Station to Nobeyama Station, the train runs up a steep slope with a maximum grade of 33‰ to the highest point on the JR line; and from Shinanokawakami Station to Koumi Station, the train offers a powerful view across multiple layers of the Chikuma River, known as the longest river in Japan.

Key data

  • Line Length: 78.9 km
  • Number of stations: 31
  • Safety system: ATS-P(R)
  • Train model: KiHa E200 serie (2 cars)
  • Max speed: 85 km/h
  • Max speed after signals:
    • Reduced speed (green/yellow): 65 km/h
    • Caution (yellow): 45 km/h
    • Speed restriction (yellow/yellow): 25 km/h
  • Routes:
    • Nakagomi ~ Komoro (131D) : Type "Local" - 11 stations - 13.4 km
    • Kobuchizawa ~ Nobeyama (227D) : Type "Local" - 5 stations - 23.4 km
    • Kobuchizawa ~ Komoro (229D) : Type "Local" - 31 stations - 78.9 km
  • Automatic announcements: No
  • Conductor announcements: Yes
  • Driver announcement (pointing-and-calling): No

Stations list

Station name
Japanese name
Distance from Kobuchizawa (km) JRETS connections
Kobuchizawa 小淵沢 0  
Kai-Koizumi 甲斐小泉 7,1  
Kai-Ōizumi 甲斐大泉 12,2  
Kiyosato 清里 17,5  
Nobeyama 野辺山 23,4  
Shinano-Kawakami 信濃川上 31,5  
Saku-Hirose 佐久広瀬 34,9  
Saku-Uminokuchi 佐久海ノ口 39,7  
Umijiri 海尻 42,1  
Matsubarako 松原湖 44,8  
Koumi 小海 48,3  
Managashi 馬流 49,9  
Takaiwa 高岩 51,7  
Yachiho 八千穂 53,9  
Kaize 海瀬 56,5  
Haguroshita 羽黒下 57,8  
Aonuma 青沼 59,5  
Usuda 臼田 60,9  
Tatsuokajō 龍岡城 62,1  
Ōtabe 太田部 64,1  
Nakagomi 中込 65,5  
Namezu 滑津 66,5  
Kita-Nakagomi 北中込 68,4  
Iwamurada 岩村田 70,6  
Sakudaira 佐久平 71,5  
Nakasato 中佐都 72,4  
Misato 美里 73,8  
Mitsuoka 三岡 75,3  
Otome 乙女 76,4  
Higashi-Komoro 東小諸 77,4  
Komoro 小諸 78,9

Movie

Useful links

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koumi_Line 

Driver's guide and timetables: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13W8ED-yEI50aB4v5rghOVSVIH8BQW3wN35ft3O3LlTQ/edit#gid=490039574