| Shinonoi Line | |||
|---|---|---|---|
![]() Limited express Shinano running on the Shinonoi line in April 2022 | |||
| Overview | |||
| Native name | 篠ノ井線 | ||
| Owner | JR East | ||
| Locale | Nagano Prefecture | ||
| Termini | |||
| Stations | 15 | ||
| Service | |||
| Type | Heavy rail | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 66.7 km (41.4 mi) | ||
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) | ||
| Electrification | 1,500 V DC overhead catenary | ||
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (80 mph) | ||
| |||
The Shinonoi Line (篠ノ井線, Shinonoi-sen) is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri.
The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.
Stations
All stations are located in Nagano Prefecture.
- ●: All trains stop, ▲: Some trains stop, |: non-stop, Rapid Misuzu stops at all stations
| Line name | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) |
Rapid | Good
Morning Liner |
Transfers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shinonoi Line | Shiojiri | 塩尻 | 0.0 | ● | ● | ■ Chūō Main Line | Shiojiri |
| Hirooka | 広丘 | 3.8 | ● | ↓ | |||
| Murai | 村井 | 6.8 | ● | ● | Matsumoto | ||
| Hirata | 平田 | 8.8 | ● | ↓ | |||
| Minami-Matsumoto | 南松本 | 10.9 | ● | ↓ | |||
| Matsumoto | 松本 | 13.3 | ● | ● | |||
| Tazawa | 田沢 | 21.6 | ● | ● | Azumino | ||
| Akashina | 明科 | 28.2 | ● | ● | |||
| Nishijō | 西条 | 37.2 | ▲ | ↓ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Sakakita | 坂北 | 40.9 | ▲ | ↓ | |||
| Hijiri-Kōgen | 聖高原 | 45.0 | ● | ↓ | Omi, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Kamuriki | 冠着 | 48.3 | ▲ | ↓ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Obasute | 姨捨 | 54.2 | ▲ | ↓ | Chikuma | ||
| Inariyama | 稲荷山 | 62.9 | ▲ | ↓ | Nagano | ||
| Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | ↓ | |||
| Shin'etsu Main Line | ↓ | ||||||
| Imai | 今井 | 68.8 | | | ↓ | |||
| Kawanakajima | 川中島 | 71.0 | ▲ | ↓ | |||
| Amori | 安茂里 | 73.1 | | | ↓ | |||
| Nagano | 長野 | 76.0 | ● | ● |
Passing loops and switchbacks
Hirase loop
A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as Hirase shingōjō (平瀬信号場). It has two tracks.
Haneo switchback
A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Haneo shingōjō (羽尾信号場)
- Coordinates: 36°29′08″N 138°05′55″E / 36.485612°N 138.09856°E
Kuwanohara switchback
A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Kuwanohara shingōjō (桑ノ原信号場)
- Coordinates: 36°31′20″N 138°04′40″E / 36.522274°N 138.077726°E
Hirase loop (A: to Matsumoto, B: to Tazawa)
Haneo switchback (A: to Kamuriki (uphill), B: to Obasute)
Kuwanohara switchback (A: to Obasute (uphill), B: to Inariyama)
Rolling stock
Limited express
- E353 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
- 383 series EMU (Wide View Shinano)
Local
- E127 series EMU
- 211 series EMU
- 313 series EMU
Former rolling stock
- 115 series EMU
- 123 series EMU
- 381 series EMU (Shinano)
- E257 series EMU (Azusa, Kaiji)
- E351 series EMU (Super Azusa)
History
The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended via Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902.
The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was double-tracked between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa to Akashina section double-tracked in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also double-tracked, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988.
The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.
Former connecting lines
- Matsumoto Station: The Chikuma Electric Railway opened a 5 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Asama Onsen in 1924. In 1958 the voltage was raised to 750 V DC, but the line closed in 1964.

