Shinonoi Line
The Shinonoi Line is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company. It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri.
The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.
Stations
All stations are located in Nagano Prefecture.| Line name | No. | Station | Japanese | Distance | Rapid | Transfers | Location |
| Shinonoi Line | Shiojiri | 塩尻 | 0.0 | ● | Chūō Main Line | Shiojiri | |
| Shinonoi Line | Hirooka | 広丘 | 3.8 | ● | Shiojiri | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Murai | 村井 | 6.8 | ● | Matsumoto | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Hirata | 平田 | 8.8 | ● | Matsumoto | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Minami-Matsumoto | 南松本 | 10.9 | ● | Matsumoto | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Matsumoto | 松本 | 13.3 | ● | Matsumoto | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Tazawa | 田沢 | 21.6 | ● | Azumino | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Akashina | 明科 | 28.2 | ● | Azumino | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Nishijō | 西条 | 37.2 | ▲ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Sakakita | 坂北 | 40.9 | ▲ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Hijiri-Kōgen | 聖高原 | 45.0 | ● | Omi, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Kamuriki | 冠着 | 48.3 | ▲ | Chikuhoku, Higashichikuma District | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Obasute | 姨捨 | 54.2 | ▲ | Chikuma | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Inariyama | 稲荷山 | 62.9 | ▲ | Nagano | ||
| Shinonoi Line | Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | Shinano Railway Line | Nagano | |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Shinonoi | 篠ノ井 | 66.7 | ● | Shinano Railway Line | Nagano | |
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Imai | 今井 | 68.8 | ｜ | Nagano | ||
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Kawanakajima | 川中島 | 71.0 | ▲ | Nagano | ||
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Amori | 安茂里 | 73.1 | ｜ | Nagano | ||
| Shin'etsu Main Line | Nagano | 長野 | 76.0 | ● | Nagano |
Passing loops and switchbacks
Hirase loop
A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as. It has two tracks.- Coordinates:
Haneo switchback
A switchback is located in Azumino, known as- Coordinates:
Kuwanohara switchback
A switchback is located in Azumino, known as- Coordinates:
Rolling stock
Limited express
- E353 series EMU
- 383 series EMU
Local
- E127 series EMU
- 211 series EMU
- 313 series EMU
Former rolling stock
- 115 series EMU
- 123 series EMU
- 381 series EMU
- E257 series EMU
- E351 series EMU
History
The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended via Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902.The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was double-tracked between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa to Akashina section double-tracked in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also double-tracked, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988.
The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.
Station numbering was introduced on the Nagano area from February 2025, with Shinonoi Line stations numbered using the prefix "SN". Numbers increase towards Shinonoi.
Former connecting lines
- Matsumoto Station: The Chikuma Electric Railway opened a 5 km line, electrified at 600 V DC, to Asama Onsen in 1924. In 1958 the voltage was raised to 750 V DC, but the line closed in 1964.