Fukuen Line

The Fukuen Line (福塩線) is a railway line in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It connects Fukuyama Station in Fukuyama to Miyoshi Station in Miyoshi.

Former connecting lines

 * JRW san-F.svg Sankō Line (closed 1 April 2018) – Miyoshi Station

Rolling stock

 * 105 series 2-car EMUs (Fukuyama–Fuchū)
 * KiHa 120-300 single-car DMUs (Fuchū–Miyoshi)

History
The Ryobi Light Railway opened a gauge line to Fuchu in 1914, and electrified it at 750 V DC in 1927. The company was nationalised in 1933, the same year the Japanese Government Railway opened the Shiomachi to Kisa section of the line (then as an extension of the Geibi Line). The Fukuyama to Fuchu section was regauged to in 1935, the year the Kisa to Joge section opened. The two sections were connected with the opening of the Fuchu to Joge section in 1938.

The Fuchu to Shimo-Kawabe section was electrified in 1954, and whilst the voltage on the Fukuyama to Fuchu section was increased to 1500 V DC in 1961, the Fuchu to Shimo-Kawabe electrification was decommissioned the following year.

Freight services ceased in 1986, and in 1989, the 6,123 m Hattabara Tunnel and associated deviation were commissioned, shortening the route by 1.4 km. Wanman driver only operation commenced on the non-electrified section between Fuchū and Miyoshi on 1 April 1991, using KiHa 120-300 DMUs. Driver-only operation commenced on the electrified section between Fukuyama and Fuchū on 14 March 1992, using 105 series EMUs.