Aoimori Railway Line

Aoimori Railway Line
Aoimori Railway 701 series EMU in September 2010
Overview
OwnerAomori Prefecture
LocaleAomori Prefecture, Japan
Termini
Stations26
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s) Aoimori Railway
Rolling stockAoimori 701 series EMUs
Aoimori 703 series EMUs
History
Opened1 September 1891 (1891-09-01) (As part of the Nippon Railway)
1 December 2002 (2002-12-01) (As the Aoimori Railway Line between Metoki and Hachinohe)
4 December 2010 (2010-12-04) (As the Aoimori Railway Line between Hachinohe and Aomori)
Technical
Line length121.9 km (75.7 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification20 kV AC, 50 Hz overhead catenary
Route map

The Aoimori Railway Line (青い森鉄道線, Aoimori Tetsudō-sen) is a regional rail line in Aomori Prefecture, Japan that is operated by third-sector railway company Aoimori Railway Company. It connects Metoki Station in Sannohe, the terminal station of the Iwate Galaxy Railway Line, to Aomori Station in Aomori.

The Aoimori and Iwate Galaxy Railway Lines are former sections of the JR East Tōhoku Main Line (in Aomori Prefecture and Iwate Prefecture respectively) that connected Tokyo to Aomori. When the Tōhoku Shinkansen was opened (to Hachinohe on 1 December 2002 and to Shin-Aomori on 4 December 2010), the corresponding sections of the Tōhoku Main Line were transferred from East Japan Railway Company (JR East) to Aoimori Railway Company as the Aoimori Railway Line.

While local passenger services on the line are operated by Aoimori Railway Company, JR East operates the Shimokita Rapid train along part of the line, and Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (which owns a minority stake in Aoimori Railway Company) transports freight along the line. For maintenance work, the line relies on the services of the Hachinohe Rinkai Railway Company.