The Hōhi Main Line (豊肥本線, Hōhi-honsen) is a railway line in Kyushu, southern Japan, operated by the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It connects the west and east coasts of the island. The line originates at Kumamoto Station in Kumamoto and ends at terminal of Ōita Station in Ōita.

Hōhi Main Line
Overview
OwnerLogo of the Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). JR Kyushu
LocaleKyushu
Termini
Stations37
Service
TypeHeavy rail
History
Opened1 April 1914; 110 years ago (1 April 1914)
Technical
Line length148.0 km (92.0 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification20 kV AC (60 Hz)
Route map
Hōhi Main Line

Data

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  • Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
  • Length: 148.0 km
  • Stations: 37 (including terminals)
  • Track: Single track
  • Electrification:
    • Kumamoto - Higo Ōzu: 20 kV AC (60 Hz)
    • Higo Ōzu - Ōita: None
  • Maximum service speed: 95 km/h (59 mph)

Stations

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•: Stops, |: Passes through

Stations Distance
(km)
Rapid
Hōhi Liner
Transfers Location
Kumamoto 熊本 0.0 Kagoshima Main Line, Kyushu Shinkansen
Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau: Trunk Line・Tasaki Line (Kumamoto-Ekimae Station)
Nishi-ku, Kumamoto Kumamoto
Heisei 平成 2.7 |   Chūō-ku, Kumamoto
Minami Kumamoto 南熊本 3.6 |  
Shin Suizenji 新水前寺 5.2 Kumamoto City Transportation Bureau: Trunk Line (Suizenji-Ekidori Station)
Suizenji 水前寺 5.8  
Tōkai Gakuen-mae 東海学園前 7.8 |   Higashi-ku, Kumamoto
Tatsutaguchi 竜田口 8.9 |   Kita-ku, Kumamoto
Musashizuka 武蔵塚 12.9  
Hikari no Mori 光の森 14.8  
Sanrigi 三里木 15.8 |   Kikuyō
Haramizu 原水 18.9 |  
Higo Ōzu 肥後大津 22.6   Ōzu
Seta 瀬田 27.2    
Tateno 立野 32.3   Minami Aso Railway Takamori Line Minamiaso
Akamizu 赤水 40.2     Aso
Ichinokawa 市ノ川 42.6    
Uchinomaki 内牧 46.4    
Aso 阿蘇 49.9    
Ikoi no Mura いこいの村 51.2    
Miyaji 宮地 53.4    
Namino 波野 64.1    
Takimizu 滝水 69.0    
Bungo-Ogi 豊後荻 75.2     Taketa Ōita
Tamarai 玉来 84.9    
Bungo-Taketa 豊後竹田 88.0    
Asaji 朝地 93.9     Bungo Ōno
Ogata 緒方 100.3    
Bungo-Kiyokawa 豊後清川 105.4    
Miemachi 三重町 111.9    
Sugao 菅尾 117.3    
Inukai 犬飼 125.2    
Takenaka 竹中 130.8     Ōita
Nakahanda 中判田 136.3    
Ōita-Daigaku-mae 大分大学前 138.8    
Shikido 敷戸 140.2    
Takio 滝尾 142.9    
Ōita 大分 148.0   Nippō Main Line, Kyudai Main Line

History

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Construction of the line commenced from both Oita and Kumamoto in 1914, with connection being achieved with the opening of the Miyaji - Tamarai section in 1928.

Steam locomotives were withdrawn from the line in 1973, and CTC signalling was commissioned on the entire line in 1983. The 22.5 km Kumamoto - Higoozu section was electrified in 1999.

Damages by natural disasters

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A derailed KiHa 147 series train after the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes

In 1990-91, the line was severed for a year by landslides caused by torrential rain, with a further eight-month period of disruption occurring in 1993-94.

A three-month period of disruption occurred in 2004, and the line was severed from July 2012 until August 2013 due to further landslides induced by torrential rainfall.

In 2016, the Kumamoto Earthquakes damage resulted in the closure of the section between Higo Ozu and Aso. The line has been restored since 8 August 2020.

Former connecting lines

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  • Minami Kumamoto Station: the 29 km Yūen Railway to Tomochi opened in sections between 1915 and 1932, and closed in 1964.
  • Kamikumamoto Station: the 22 km 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge Kumamoto Light Railway to Otsu opened 1907 and 1914, with a 2.4 km branch to Suizenji. Despite proposals to regauge the line to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge and electrify it, the anticipated development of the area did not occur at an acceptable rate and the line was closed in 1921.

References

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