Ryōmō Line

The Ryōmō Line (両毛線) is a Japanese railway line connecting Oyama in Tochigi Prefecture with Maebashi in Gunma Prefecture. 84.4 km long, the line is owned and operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The name refers to the fact that Gunma and Tochigi prefectures were once part of an ancient province called Keno (毛野), which was later split into Kōzuke (Gunma) and Shimotsuke (Tochigi). This line connects both halves of the old province.

Services
Most Ryōmō Line services continue beyond Shin-Maebashi and terminate at Takasaki on the Joetsu Line. Local trains run once an hour during the day between Oyama and Maebashi (more frequently between Maebashi and Takasaki). Some rapid services from Ueno and the Shōnan-Shinjuku Line have through-service to the Ryōmō Line, after which they stop at every station.

Prior to its discontinuation in 2021, Akagi limited express services, branded Swallow Akagi on weekdays, ran between Maebashi and Ueno or Shinjuku.

Present
Takasaki to Oyama
 * 211-3000 series 4- and 6-car EMUs (since August 2016)

Takasaki to Maebashi (Takasaki Line through services)
 * E231-1000 series
 * E233-3000 series (since 1 September 2012)

Ashikaga Ō-Fuji-Matsuri special services
 * 185 series (since 2005)
 * E257 series (since 2005)
 * 485 series (since 2006)

Former

 * 107 series (until October 2017)
 * 115-1000 series 4-car EMUs (until March 2018)
 * 185 series (Akagi limited express services until March 2016)
 * 651 series (Akagi limited express services until 12 March 2021 and Ashikaga Ō-Fuji-Matsuri special services)
 * E653 series (Ashikaga Ō-Fuji-Matsuri special services in 2013 and 2014)

History
The Oyama to Kiryu section was opened in 1888 by the Ryomo Railway, and extended to Shin-Maebashi the following year. The company merged with the Nippon Railway in 1897, and that company was nationalised in 1906.