Musashino Line

The Musashino Line (武蔵野線, Musashino-sen) is a railway line operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Tsurumi Station in Yokohama with Nishi-Funabashi Station in Chiba Prefecture, forming a 100.6 km (62.5 mi) unclosed loop around central Tokyo. Passenger operations are limited to the 71.8 km (44.6 mi) portion between Fuchūhommachi and Nishi-Funabashi; the Tsurumi to Fuchūhommachi portion, called the "Musashino South Line", is normally used only by freight trains. The line forms part of what JR East refers to as the "Tokyo Mega Loop" (Japanese: 東京メガループ) around Tokyo, consisting of the Keiyō Line, Musashino Line, Nambu Line, and Yokohama Line.[2]

Musashino Line
JM
Musashino Line E231 series EMUs, November 2019
Overview
Native name武蔵野線
OwnerJR East
LocaleTokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba prefectures
Termini
Stations26
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s) JR East, JR Freight
Depot(s)Keiyo
Rolling stock209-500 series, E231-0 series, E231-900 series EMUs
Daily ridership1,064,613 (daily 2015)[1]
History
Opened1973
Technical
Line length71.8 km (44.6 mi) (passenger operations)
100.6 km (62.5 mi) (Total)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Route map


Route map of passenger service, with red denoting the Musashino Line and blue denoting the Keiyo Line


Connections of the Musashino Line and the Musashino Freight Line

Services

Most services on the Musashino Line are local trains making all stops. Some trains continue through the Keiyō Line past Nishi-Funabashi to Tokyo, Minami-Funabashi or Kaihimmakuhari.

Other services include:

Station list

Tsurumi Station is considered to be the origin of the Musashino Line; trains going clockwise (toward Nishi-Funabashi) are therefore referred to as heading "down" (下り, kudari), while trains going counter-clockwise (toward Fuchūhommachi) are heading "up" (上り, nobori). This is often counterintuitive, as it results in through trains to Tokyo being labeled and numbered as "down" trains while on the Musashino Line; however, such trains switch to "up" after joining the Keiyō Line.

Musashino Line service diagram, including Shimousa and Musashino services

All eastbound (for Nishi-Funabashi) passenger trains begin service at Fuchū-Hommachi Station. For details on the Musashino South Line and other branch lines, which are freight-only sections, can be found below the passenger station list.

Musashino Line (passenger)
No. Name Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total
JM35 Fuchūhommachi 府中本町 - 0.0 JN Nambu Line, Musashino South Line (Freight) Fuchū Tokyo
JM34 Kita-Fuchū 北府中 1.7 1.7  
JM33 Nishi-Kokubunji 西国分寺 2.2 3.9 JC Chūō Line (Rapid) Kokubunji
JM32 Shin-Kodaira 新小平 3.5 7.4 Seibu Tamako Line (Ōmekaidō)
Musashino Line (Kunitachi Freight Branch)		 Kodaira
JM31 Shin-Akitsu 新秋津 5.6 13.0 Seibu Ikebukuro Line (Akitsu) Higashimurayama
JM30 Higashi-Tokorozawa 東所沢 2.7 15.7   Tokorozawa Saitama
— Niiza Freight Terminal 新座貨物ターミナル駅 3.7 19.4   Niiza
JM29 Niiza 新座 0.3 19.7  
JM28 Kita-Asaka 北朝霞 3.1 22.8 TJ Tōbu Tōjō Line (Asakadai) Asaka
JM27 Nishi-Urawa 西浦和 5.0 27.8 Musashino Line (Ōmiya Freight Branch) Sakura-ku, Saitama
JM26 Musashi-Urawa 武蔵浦和 2.0 29.8 JA Saikyō Line
Musashino Line (Nishi-Urawa Freight Branch)		 Minami-ku, Saitama
JM25 Minami-Urawa 南浦和 1.9 31.7 JK Keihin-Tōhoku Line
JM24 Higashi-Urawa 東浦和 3.7 35.4   Midori-ku, Saitama
JM23 Higashi-Kawaguchi 東川口 3.8 39.2 SR Saitama Rapid Railway Line Kawaguchi
JM22 Minami-Koshigaya 南越谷 4.3 43.5 TS Tobu Skytree Line (Shin-Koshigaya) Koshigaya
— Koshigaya Freight Terminal 越谷貨物ターミナル駅 0.4 43.9  
JM21 Koshigaya-Laketown 越谷レイクタウン 2.4 46.3  
JM20 Yoshikawa 吉川 1.9 48.2   Yoshikawa
JM19 Yoshikawaminami 吉川美南 1.7 49.9  
JM18 Shim-Misato 新三郷 1.4 51.3   Misato
JM17 Misato 三郷 2.1 53.4  
JM16 Minami-Nagareyama 南流山 2.0 55.4 Tsukuba Express
Musashino Line (Kita-Kogane, Mabashi Freight Branches)		 Nagareyama Chiba
JM15 Shim-Matsudo 新松戸 2.1 57.5
Matsudo
JM14 Shin-Yahashira 新八柱 4.1 61.6 SL Shin-Keisei Line (Yabashira)
JM13 Higashi-Matsudo 東松戸 2.4 64.0
JM12 Ichikawaōno 市川大野 1.9 65.9   Ichikawa
JM11 Funabashihōten 船橋法典 3.0 68.9   Funabashi
JM10 Nishi-Funabashi 西船橋 2.9 71.8

Ōmekaidō Station is approximately 10 minutes walk from Shin-Kodaira Station.

Musashino Freight Branch Lines
Railway lines around Funabashi
Name Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location
Between
stations		 Total
Musashino South Line
Tsurumi 鶴見 - 0.0 Tōkaidō Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Tsurumi Line, Tokaido Freight Line, Takashima Freight Line Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa
Shin-Tsurumi Yard 新鶴見信号場 3.9 3.9 Hinkaku Line, Nambu Line Freight Branch (for Shitte)
Kajigaya Freight Terminal 梶ヶ谷貨物ターミナル駅 8.8 12.7   Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki
Fuchūhommachi 府中本町 16.1 28.8 Musashino Line (towards Nishi-Kokubunji), Nambu Line Fuchū Tokyo
Kunitachi Branch Line
Shin-Kodaira 新小平 - 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Nishi-Funabashi) Kodaira Tokyo
Kunitachi 国立 5.0 5.0 Chūō Line Kunitachi
Omiya Branch Line
Nishi-Urawa 西浦和 ‐ 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Fuchūhommachi and Tsurumi) Sakura-ku, Saitama Saitama
Bessho Yard 別所信号場 1.3 1.3
Yono 与野 3.6 4.9 Tohoku Main Line (Tohoku Freight Line) Urawa-ku, Saitama
Nishi-Urawa Branch Line
Musashi-Urawa 武蔵浦和 ‐ ‐ Musashino Line (towards Nishi-Funabashi) Minami-ku, Saitama Saitama
Bessho Yard 別所信号場 ‐ ‐ Musashino Line Omiya Branch Line
Kita-Kogane Branch Line
Minami-Nagareyama 南流山 ‐ 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Fuchūhommachi and Tsurumi) Nagareyama Chiba
Kita-Kogane 北小金 2.9 2.9 Joban Line (towards Toride) Matsudo
Mabashi Branch Line
Minami-Nagareyama 南流山 ‐ 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Fuchūhommachi and Tsurumi) Nagareyama Chiba
Mabashi 馬橋 3.7 3.7 Joban Line (towards Mikawashima) Matsudo

Rolling stock

Three 209-500 series sets were transferred from the Keiyō Line in 2010-2011, where they were displaced by new E233-5000 series sets and reduced from ten to eight cars per set;[4] eight additional sets were transferred from the Chūō–Sōbu Line in 2018-2019. Between 2017 and 2020, E231-0 series sets were transferred from the Chūō–Sōbu Line and the Jōban Line and reduced from ten to eight cars per set to replace the 205 series.[5] In July 2020, the sole E231-900 series set was also transferred from the Chūō–Sōbu Line and reduced from ten to eight cars.[6]

  • A Musashino Line 209-500 series EMU in October 2019
    A Musashino Line 209-500 series EMU in October 2019
  • A Musashino Line E231-0 series EMU in January 2023
    A Musashino Line E231-0 series EMU in January 2023
  • Musashino Line E231-900 series in August 2022
    Musashino Line E231-900 series in August 2022

Former

165 and 169 series EMUs were used on Shinkansen Relay services and later Musashino rapid services until 2002. 115 series EMUs were used on Musashino services from 2002 until the services were downgraded to all-stations "Local" status in December 2010. The 205-0 series sets were built from new for the Musashino Line, entering service from 1 December 1991,[2] and have six motored cars per eight-car set.[4] These were the last 205 series sets to be built from new.[2] The 205-5000 series sets were modified between 2002 and 2008 from displaced former Yamanote Line sets by adding new VVVF-controlled AC motors, and have four motored cars per eight-car set.[4] 205 series trains, both 205-0 and 205-5000 serieses, were withdrawn from Musashino Line and currently operated in Indonesia.

  • A 101 series EMU
    A 101 series EMU
  • A Musashino Line 103 series (low-cab type) EMU, August 2001
    A Musashino Line 103 series (low-cab type) EMU, August 2001
  • A Musashino Line 103 series EMU, May 2002
    A Musashino Line 103 series EMU, May 2002
  • A 165 series EMU (right) on a Shinkansen Relay service, August 2001
    A 165 series EMU (right) on a Shinkansen Relay service, August 2001
  • A 115-300 series EMU set on a Musashino service, March 2004
    A 115-300 series EMU set on a Musashino service, March 2004
  • A Musashino Line 205-0 series EMU in June 2006 (this particular set is actually a 205-5000, or set 145 in Indonesia)
    A Musashino Line 205-0 series EMU in June 2006 (this particular set is actually a 205-5000, or set 145 in Indonesia)
  • 205 series EMU belonging to the Musashino Line on connecting services on the Keiyō Line, January 2010. This set is now operated in Indonesia.
    205 series EMU belonging to the Musashino Line on connecting services on the Keiyō Line, January 2010. This set is now operated in Indonesia.

Freight

Locomotive types seen hauling freight trains include the Class EF64, Class EF65, Class EF66, Class EF81, Class EF200, Class EF210, Class EH200, Class EH500, Class DE10, and Class HD300.

History

The Musashino Line was initially envisioned as a "Tokyo Outer Loop Line" in a 1927 railway appropriations bill, but was not built for several decades due to World War II and its aftermath. Construction finally began in November 1965.[2]

In 1967, a train carrying jet fuel to Tachikawa Air Base in western Tokyo exploded while passing through Shinjuku Station. This disaster led to the banning of freight trains on railway lines in central Tokyo and sped the development of the Musashino Line as an alternative route. Because most of the line passed through sparsely populated areas, it was initially envisioned as a freight-only line. However, opposition from local residents, at the same time as the violent landowner battles plaguing Narita International Airport, led the railway authorities to agree to passenger service as well.

The first section of the line between Fuchū-Hommachi and Shin-Matsudo opened on 1 April 1973.[4] Train services were operated using 6-car 101-1000 series EMUs, which were modified specially for the line to comply with government regulations concerning fire resistance of trains operating through long tunnels, as the line included the 4,380 m (14,370 ft) Higashi-Murayama Tunnel (東村山トンネル) between Shin-Kodaira and Shin-Akitsu stations, and the 2,563 m (8,409 ft) Kodaira Tunnel (小平トンネル) between Shin-Kodaira and Nishi-Kokubunji stations.[2] Services operated at 15-minute intervals in the morning peak, and at 40-minute intervals during the daytime off-peak.[2]

The southern freight-only line from Fuchū-Hommachi to Tsurumi opened on 1 March 1976.[4] The eastern section of the line from Shin-Matsudo to Nishi-Funabashi opened on 2 October 1978.[4]

Inter-running to and from the Keiyo Line commenced on 1 December 1988.[4]

From the start of the 1 December 1996 timetable revision, all of the Musashino Line 103 series sets were lengthened from six to eight cars.[2]

On 20 August 2016, station numbering was introduced with stations on the Musashino line being assigned station numbers between JM10 and JM35.[7][8] Numbers increase in the counter-clockwise direction towards Fuchu-Hommachi.

See also

References
  1. "平成27年 大都市交通センサス 首都圏報告書" (PDF). P.92. 国土交通省.
  2. Saka, Masayuki (August 2014). 東京メガループ 車両・路線の沿革と現況 [Tokyo Megaloop: History and current situation of trains and line]. Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 43, no. 364. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. pp. 28–39.
  3. "【元209系】E231系900番台試作車・MU1編成として武蔵野線で"再出発"" [[Former 209 series] E231-900 series prototype train restarts on Musashino Line as MU1]. 20 July 2020.
  4. 首都圏鉄道完全ガイド 主要JR路線編 [Tokyo Area Complete Railway Guide - Major JR Lines]. Japan: Futabasha. 6 December 2013. pp. 87–97. ISBN 978-4-575-45414-7.
  5. 武蔵野線にE231系が登場 [E231 series appears on the Musashino Line]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 58, no. 681. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. January 2018. p. 52.
  6. "【JR東】E231系元ミツB901編成大宮総合車両センター出場回送" [[JR East]E231 series former set B901 exited Omiya Rolling Stock Center]. 10 July 2020.
  7. "⾸都圏エリアへ 「駅ナンバリング」を導⼊します" [Introduce “station numbering” to the Tokyo metropolitan area] (PDF). jreast.co.jp (in Japanese). 6 April 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 December 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. Kusamachi, Yoshikazu (7 April 2016). "JA・JK・JT・AKB…JR東日本、首都圏で駅ナンバリングなど導入へ" [JA, JK, JT, AKB … JR East to introduce station numbering in the Tokyo metropolitan area]. Response Automotive Media (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 6 August 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
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