The Sakurai Line (桜井線, Sakurai-sen) is a railway line[1] operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Nara Prefecture. It connects Nara on the Yamatoji Line to Takada on the Wakayama Line, with some services continuing on the Wakayama Line to Ōji Station, and then to JR Namba on the Yamatoji Line. Starting on March 13, 2010, it is referred to by the nickname "Manyō-Mahoroba Line" (万葉まほろば線, Man-yō Mahoroba sen, "Man-yō" refers to the Man'yōshū and mahoroba refers to Nara)" in reference to the large number of ancient landmarks along the line's route.

Sakurai Line
227-1000 series at Nara Station
Overview
Other name(s)Manyō-Mahoroba Line
OwnerJR West
LocaleNara Prefecture
Termini
Stations14
Service
TypeRegional rail
SystemUrban Network
Rolling stock103 series EMU, 201 series EMU, 221 series EMU, 227-1000 series EMU
History
Opened1893
Technical
Line length29.4 km (18.3 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification1,500 V DC, overhead lines
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)

History

edit

The Osaka Railway Co. opened the Takada - Sakurai section in 1893, and the Nara Railway Co. opened the Sakurai - Kyobate section in 1898, extending the line to Nara the following year.

In 1900 the Osaka Railway Co. merged with the Kansai Railway Co., and the Nara Railway Co. did likewise in 1905. In 1907 the Kansai Railway Co. was nationalised.

CTC signalling was commissioned in 1979, and the line was electrified in 1980. Freight services ceased in 1983.

Former connecting lines

edit
  • Sakurai station -

The Osaka Electric Railway Co. operated a 6km line to Hatsuse between 1909 and 1938.

The Yamoto Railway Co. line from Oji connected between 1923 and 1944, when that line closed beyond Tawaramoto station.

  • Unebi station - The Kintetsu Railway Osa line connected here between 1924 and 1945.

Stations

edit
Station Japanese distance (km) Transfers Location
Nara 奈良 0.0 Q Yamatoji Line (Q36)
D Nara Line (D21)
Nara Nara Prefecture
Kyōbate 京終 1.9  
Obitoke 帯解 4.8  
Ichinomoto 櫟本 7.3   Tenri
Tenri 天理 9.6  H  Kintetsu Tenri Line (H35)
Nagara 長柄 12.6  
Yanagimoto 柳本 14.3  
Makimuku 巻向 15.9   Sakurai
Miwa 三輪 18.0  
Sakurai 桜井 19.7  D  Kintetsu Osaka Line (D42)
Kaguyama 香久山 21.7   Kashihara
Unebi 畝傍 24.7 Kintetsu Kashihara Line (Yagi-nishiguchi Station)
Kanahashi 金橋 27.3  
Takada 高田 29.4 T Wakayama Line
 D  Kintetsu Osaka Line (D25:Yamato-Takada Station)
Yamatotakada
Through service on the Wakayama Line to Ōji and Gojō

Rolling stock

edit

Former

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Asuka and Sakurai: Getting there and around". japan-guide.com. May 6, 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2023.