Hidaka Main Line

Hidaka Main Line
A local train on the Hidaka Main Line between Okaribe and Seppu in October 2011
Overview
Native name日高本線
StatusOperational
(As a railway between Tomakomai and Mukawa)
(As a bus route between Mukawa and Samani)
OwnerJR Hokkaido
LocaleHokkaido
Termini
Stations29 (until January 2015)
5 (after January 2015)
4 (after March 2023)
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)JR Hokkaido
Rolling stockKiHa 40 series DMU, Bus
History
OpenedOctober 1913
Closed1 April 2021 (section between Mukawa and Samani was replaced by a bus service in January 2015 but only formally closed as a railway on 1 April 2021)
Technical
Line length146.5 km (91.0 mi) (until January 2015)
30.5 km (19.0 mi) (after January 2015)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Old gauge762 mm (2 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed95 km/h (59 mph)
Route map

The Hidaka Main Line (日高本線, Hidaka-honsen) is a railway line in Hokkaido, Japan, operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido), between Tomakomai Station in Tomakomai and Samani Station in Samani, running along the coast of Hidaka Subprefecture. Services on the 116.0 km (72.1 mi) section of the line beyond Mukawa Station were suspended indefinitely since January 2015 due to storm damage. This section was closed on 1 April 2021 and replaced by a bus service. The closure of this section made the line the second shortest in Japan to be classified as a 'main line', at just 30.5 km (19.0 mi), after the Rumoi Main Line's length of 14.4 km (8.9 mi).