View source for Biwako Line

{{short description|Railway line in Japan}}
{{more citations needed|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox rail line
 | box_width     =
 | name          = Biwako Line
 | native_name   = 琵琶湖線
 | native_name_lang = ja
 | color         = 0072bc
 | logo          = JRW kinki-A.svg
 | logo_width    = 50
 | image         = JRW series223 Biwako.jpg
 | image_width   = 300px
 | image_alt     =
 | caption       = Biwako Line
 | type          = Heavy rail
 | system        = Urban Network
 | locale        = [[Kyoto Prefecture]] and [[Shiga Prefecture]]
 | start         = Maibara
 | end           = Kyoto (Tōkaidō Line)<br /> Nagahama (Hokuriku Line)
 | stations      = 23
 | open          = {{Start date and age|1882|05|01}}<br />(as part of Tōkaidō Main Line)<br />{{Start date and age|1988|03|13}}<br />(renamed as Biwako Line) 
 | close         =
 | owner         = [[JR West]]
 | operator      = JR West<br />[[JR Freight]]
 | character     =
 | depot         =
 | stock         =
 | linelength_km = 75.4 
 | tracklength   = 
 | tracks        =
 | gauge         = {{track gauge|1067mm|lk=on}}
 | minradius     =
 | electrification = 1,500 V DC overhead line
 | speed_km/h    = 130
 | map           = {{Routemap|title=Biwako Line|title-bg=#0072bc|inline=1|map=
\LSTR\~~ ~~ ~~[[Hokuriku Main Line]]~~for [[Fukui Station (Fukui)|Fukui]], [[Naoetsu Station|Naoetsu]]
\\eABZg+l\exSTRq\~~ ~~ ~~Tōkaidō Main Line~~to [[Sekigahara Station|Sekigahara]]
\BHF\~~7.7~~[[Nagahama Station|Nagahama]]
\BHF\~~4.7~~[[Tamura Station|Tamura]]
\BHF\~~2.4~~[[Sakata Station (Shiga)|Sakata]]
\STR\KBHFa~~0.0~~ ~~[[Tokyo Station|Tokyo]]
\STR\LSTR
\STR\STR+GRZq~~ ~~ ~~[[Central Japan Railway Company|JR Central]]/[[West Japan Railway Company|JR West]] boundary
\ABZg+l\STRr
LDER\BHF\KHSTa~~{{BSsplit|445.9|0.0|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Maibara Station|Maibara]]
\STR\LSTR
\BHF\HST~~{{BSsplit|451.9|6.0|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Hikone Station|Hikone]]
\STR\STRl~~ ~~ ~~[[Ohmi Railway Main Line]]~~for [[Yōkaichi Station|Yōkaichi]], [[Kibukawa Station|Kibukawa]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|455.2|9.3|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Minami-Hikone Station|Minami-Hikone]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|458.3|12.4|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Kawase Station|Kawase]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|462.0|16.1|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Inae Station|Inae]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|465.7|19.8|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Notogawa Station|Notogawa]]
TUNNEL1
BHF~~{{BSsplit|470.8|24.9|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Azuchi Station|Azuchi]]
\eABZg+l\xABZq+l~~ ~~ ~~[[Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line]]~~for [[Yōkaichi Station|Yōkaichi]]
\BHF\KHSTe~~{{BSsplit|474.3|28.4|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Ōmi-Hachiman Station|Ōmi-Hachiman]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|478.3|32.4|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Shinohara Station (Shiga)|Shinohara]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|483.9|38.0|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Yasu Station (Shiga)|Yasu]]
hKRZWae~~ ~~ ~~[[Yasu River]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|487.0|41.1|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Moriyama Station (Shiga)|Moriyama]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|489.1|43.2|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Rittō Station|Rittō]]
\ABZg+l\STRq~~ ~~ ~~[[Kusatsu Line]]~~to [[Kibukawa Station|Kibukawa]], [[Tsuge Station|Tsuge]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|491.4|45.5|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Kusatsu Station (Shiga)|Kusatsu]]
KRZWu~~ ~~ ~~[[Kusatsu River]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|493.9|48.0|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Minami-Kusatsu Station|Minami-Kusatsu]]
BHF~~{{BSsplit|496.6|50.7|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Seta Station (Shiga)|Seta]]
hKRZWae~~ ~~ ~~[[Seta River]]
\STR\STR+l~~ ~~ ~~[[Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line]]
\BHF\HST~~{{BSsplit|499.1|53.2|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Ishiyama Station|Ishiyama]]
STR+l\KRZu\STRr
LSTR\STR\
HST\BHF\~~{{BSsplit|501.9|56.0|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Zeze Station|Zeze]]
eABZg+l\eABZgr\
LSTR\eABZgl\exSTR+r
exSTR+l\eABZgr\STR\exSTR\
exKBHFe\HST\STR\exSTR\~~ ~~ ~~[[Hama-Ōtsu Station|Hama-Ōtsu]]
BOOT\STR\BHF\exSTR\~~{{BSsplit|503.6|57.7|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Ōtsu Station|Ōtsu]]~~ ~~Ōtsu Port
\ABZgl\KRZu\xKRZo\STR+r~~ ~~ ~~[[Keihan Keishin Line|Keishin Line]]
\STRr\tSTRa\exSTR\STR~~ ~~ ~~Ishiyama Sakamoto Line~~to [[Sakamoto Station (Shiga)|Sakamoto]]
\\tSTR\exTUNNEL1\TUNNEL1~~ ~~ ~~Ōsakayama Tunnel
\tSTR+l\tSTRr\exBHF\HST~~Ōtani
tSTR+r\tSTR\\exSTR\STR~~ ~~ ~~[[Kosei Line]]~~to [[Ōmi-Shiotsu Station|Ōmi Shiotsu]]
tSTRe\tSTRe\STR+l\xKRZu\STRr
STR+GRZq\STR+GRZq\LSTR\exSTR+GRZq\~~ ~~ ~~[[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]]/[[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]] border
STRl\ABZg+r\LSTR\exSTRl\exSTR+r
\BHF\HST\\exSTR~~{{BSsplit|508.1|62.2|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Yamashina Station|Yamashina]]
tABZg+l\KRZo\STRr\\exBHF~~ ~~ ~~(old) Yamashina
\tSTRa\\\exSTR~~ ~~ ~~Higashiyama Tunnel
\tSTR\\\xABZg+l~~ ~~ ~~[[Nara Line]]~~to [[Kizu Station (Kyoto)|Kizu]]
\tSTRe\\\BHF~~[[Inari Station|Inari]]
\KRZo\STRq\HSTq\KRZu~~ ~~ ~~[[Keihan Main Line]]~~left to [[Sanjō Station (Kyoto)|Sanjō]]
\STR\STR+l\BHFq\STRr~~ ~~ ~~[[Tōfukuji Station|Tōfukuji]]
\hKRZWae\hKRZWae\\~~ ~~ ~~[[Kamo River]]
\ABZg+l\STRr\\
\BHF\LDER\\~~{{BSsplit|513.6|67.7|line=1|align=right}}~~[[Kyoto Station|Kyoto]]
\ABZgr\\\~~ ~~ ~~[[Sanin Main Line]]~~to [[Hatabu Station|Hatabu]]
\LSTR\\\~~ ~~ ~~[[JR Kyoto Line]]~~To [[Osaka Station|Osaka]]
}}
 | map_state     = collapsed
}}
The {{Nihongo|'''Biwako Line'''|琵琶湖線|Biwako-sen}} is the nickname used by the operator of the [[West Japan Railway Company]] (JR West) to refer to the portion of the [[Tōkaidō Main Line]] (between [[Maibara Station]] and [[Kyoto Station]]) and the [[Hokuriku Main Line]] (between Maibara Station and [[Nagahama Station]]). The section, along with [[JR Kyoto Line]] and [[JR Kobe Line]], forms a contiguous service that is the main trunk of JR West's "Urban Network" commuter rail network in the [[Keihanshin|Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto Metropolitan Area]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=KyoTravellers |date=2023-04-01 |title=JR line {{!}} Kyoto Bus & Train Guide |url=https://guidetokyoto.com/trains/local-trains/jr-line/ |access-date=2023-09-24 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Overview==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
The line is named after {{Nihongo|[[Lake Biwa]]|琵琶湖|Biwa-ko}}, which the route runs along. Line nicknames were introduced when the newly privatized JR West intended to use "familiar" names over official line names, such as Tōkaidō Main Line and [[Fukuchiyama Line]]. Biwako Line did not appear on the first list, and instead The JR Kyoto Line was to be called up to Maibara. A move in Shiga Prefecture opposed the name, claiming that the name of Kyoto Line in Shiga sounds like an auxiliary, requiring its own name in the prefecture. Biwako Line was thus made to refer to the section between Maibara and Kyoto.

The section of the name was extended to Nagahama, on the alteration of electric supply from 20 kV AC to 1,500 V DC, which enabled through operation to Kyoto and Osaka.

Although the "Biwako Line" nickname is used by the operator JR West for passenger announcements, the official status of Tōkaidō Main Line has not been changed or discussed. The counterpart for the line, [[Central Japan Railway Company]] (JR Central) uses its official name "Tōkaidō Main Line" for the section of JR West, at the connections of Kyoto and Maibara. The "Biwako Line" nickname appears in some local newspapers and real estate advertisements. Frequent passengers understand that the Biwako, JR Kyoto, JR Kobe lines are in fact one line, however, public recognition of the name is still in question, especially among non-users along the line.

==Trains==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
*Special Rapid Service (新快速):
** Trains terminate at Nagahama, Maibara and Yasu (some trains continue on [[Hokuriku Line]] to [[Ōmi-Shiotsu Station|Omi-Shiotsu]] and [[Tsuruga Station|Tsuruga]]). Stops at Nagahama, Tamura, Sakata, Maibara, Hikone, Notogawa, Omi-Hachiman, Yasu, Moriyama, Kusatsu, Minami-Kusatsu, Ishiyama, Otsu, Yamashina, and Kyoto. Continues on [[JR Kyoto Line]] to Osaka and beyond.
* Local trains (普通)
**Operated as rapid service trains when running in the west of Takatsuki (Kyoto in the morning) (3 doors par car)
***These local trains are mainly operated on the Biwako Line and make every stop on the line.  They terminate at Maibara and Yasu.
**JR Kyoto Line local trains (4 doors par car)
***JR Kyoto Line local service extends to Yasu during rush hour on weekdays.

==Stations==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2024}}
Stations are listed from east to west. The distance of Tokyo – Maibara is {{Cvt|445.9|km}}, and that of Tokyo – Kyoto is {{Cvt|513.6|km}}. Historically, the [[Tōkaidō Main Line]] continued from Tokyo to Kyoto and beyond, through Maibara. In the Japanese timetable books, the distances from Tokyo are still shown in the table, although the Biwako Line's officially begins at Maibara. <!-- please see also in Note page.-->

*●: Trains stop.
*○: Limited stop, early morning and late night only
*<nowiki>|</nowiki>: Trains pass.
*Local (4-door Commuter trains): JR Kyoto Line local trains
*Local (3-door Suburban trains): Operated as Rapid service trains west of Takatsuki (west of Kyoto in the morning)

{| class=wikitable
! rowspan="2" |Official line name
!rowspan=2 |No.
!rowspan=2 |Station
!rowspan=2 |Japanese
!colspan=3|Stop
!rowspan=2 |Transfers
!colspan=2|Location
|- 
!Local<br />(Commuter)
!Local<br />(Suburban)
!Special Rapid
!Ward, City
!Prefecture
|-
! colspan="10" style="border-bottom:solid 3px #0072bc;"|''Through service from/to [[Hokuriku Main Line]]''
|- style=""
| rowspan="4" |[[Hokuriku Main Line]]
|{{RouteBox|JR-A09||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Nagahama|x}}
|長浜
| rowspan="13" |
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|[[File:JRW kinki-A.svg|20px]] [[Hokuriku Main Line]] for [[Ōmi-Shiotsu Station|Ōmi-Shiotsu]] and [[Tsuruga Station|Tsuruga]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Nagahama, Shiga|Nagahama]]
| rowspan="22" |[[Shiga Prefecture|Shiga]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A10||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Tamura|x}}
|田村
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A11||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Sakata|x|Shiga}}
|坂田
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
| rowspan="3" |[[Maibara, Shiga|Maibara]]
|- 
| rowspan="2" |{{RouteBox|JR-A12||#0072bc}}
| rowspan="2" |{{STN|Maibara|x}}
| rowspan="2" |米原
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center" |●
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
| rowspan="2" |[[JR Central]]:

*[[File:Shinkansen jrc.svg|20px]] [[Tōkaidō Shinkansen]]
*[[File:JR_Central_Tokaido_Line.svg|20px]] [[Tokaido Line]] for [[Gifu Station|Gifu]] and [[Nagoya Station|Nagoya]] (CA83)

{{Color|#ff0000|■}} [[Ohmi Railway Main Line]]
|-
| rowspan="20" |[[Tōkaidō Main Line]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A13||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Hikone|x}}
|彦根
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|{{Color|#ff0000|■}} Ohmi Railway Main Line
| rowspan="4" |[[Hikone, Shiga|Hikone]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A14||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Minami-Hikone|x}}
|南彦根
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A15||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Kawase|x}}
|河瀬
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A16||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Inae|x}}
|稲枝
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A17||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Notogawa|x}}
|能登川
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
|[[Higashiōmi]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A18||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Azuchi|x}}
|安土
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
| rowspan="3" |[[Ōmihachiman]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A19||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Ōmi-Hachiman|x}}
|近江八幡
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|{{Color|#00b050|■}} [[Ohmi Railway Yōkaichi Line]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A20||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Shinohara|x|Shiga}}
|篠原
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A21||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Yasu|x|Shiga}}
|野洲
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|○
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
|[[Yasu, Shiga|Yasu]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A22||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Moriyama|x|Shiga}}
|守山
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|○
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
|[[Moriyama, Shiga|Moriyama]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A23||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Rittō|x}}
|栗東
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|○
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
|[[Rittō, Shiga|Rittō]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A24||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Kusatsu|x|Shiga}}
|草津
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|[[File:JRW kinki-C.svg|20px]] [[Kusatsu Line]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Kusatsu, Shiga|Kusatsu]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A25||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Minami-Kusatsu|x}}
|南草津
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A26||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Seta|x|Shiga}}
|瀬田
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|
| rowspan="4" |[[Ōtsu]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A27||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Ishiyama|x}}
|石山
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|[[File:Number prefix Otsu lines.svg|20px|OT]] [[Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line]] (OT03: Keihan Ishiyama Station)
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A28||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Zeze|x}}
|膳所
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|<nowiki>|</nowiki>
|[[File:Number prefix Otsu lines.svg|20px|OT]] Keihan Ishiyama Sakamoto Line (OT09: Keihan Zeze Station)
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A29||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Ōtsu|x}}
|大津
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|
|-
|{{RouteBox|JR-A30||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Yamashina|x}}
|山科
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|[[File:JRW kinki-B.svg|20px]] [[Kosei Line]] (JR-B30)<br>[[File:Subway KyotoTozai.svg|20px]] [[Kyoto Municipal Subway]] [[Tōzai Line (Kyoto)|Tōzai Line]] (T07)<br />[[File:Number prefix Otsu lines.svg|20px|OT]] [[Keihan Keishin Line]] (OT31: Keihan Yamashina Station)
|[[Yamashina-ku, Kyoto]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Kyoto Prefecture|Kyoto]]
|- 
|{{RouteBox|JR-A31||#0072bc}}
|{{STN|Kyoto|x}}
|京都
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|●
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|●
|[[File:Shinkansen jrc.svg|20px]] [[Tōkaidō Shinkansen]]<br />[[File:JRW kinki-A.svg|20px]] [[JR Kyoto Line]]<br />[[File:JRW kinki-D.svg|20px]] [[Nara Line]] (JR-D01)<br />[[File:JRW kinki-E.svg|20px]] [[Sagano Line]] ([[Sanin Main Line]]) (JR-E01)<br />{{Rint|jp|kintetsu|B}} [[Kintetsu Railway|Kintetsu]] [[Kyoto Line (Kintetsu)|Kyoto Line]] (B01)<br />[[File:Subway KyotoKarasuma.svg|20px]] Kyoto Municipal Subway [[Karasuma Line]] (K11)
|[[Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto]]
|-
! colspan="10" |''Through service from/to [[JR Kyoto Line]]''
|-
| colspan="4" |Within JR Kyoto Line:
|style="background-color:#d3d3d3;" align="center"|Local
(Northbound only)
|style="background-color:#ffc966;" align="center"|Rapid
|style="background-color:#cdf;" align="center"|Special Rapid
| colspan="3" |
|}

==Rolling stock==

===Local===
* [[207 series (JR West)|207 series]] (Yasu – Kusatsu – Kyoto) 
* [[221 series]] (through service with Kosei Line and Kusatsu Line)
* [[223 series]] (through service with Kosei Line and Kusatsu Line)
* [[321 series]] (Yasu – Kusatsu – Kyoto, through service with Kosei Line) 
* [[521 series|521-0 series]] (Nagahama – Maibara, through service with Hokuriku Line)

===Special Rapid and Local===
* [[223 series|223–1000 series]] (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line) 
* [[223 series|223-2000 series]] (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)
* [[225 series|225-0 series]] (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)
* [[225 series|225-100 series]] (through service with Kusatsu Line, Kosei Line, Hokuriku Line)

===Limited Express===
* [[271 series]] (''[[Haruka (train)|Haruka]]'' service, from Spring 2020)
* [[281 series]] (''Haruka'' service)
* [[285 series]] (''[[Sunrise Izumo]]''/''[[Sunrise Seto]]'' service, from 1998)
* [[681 series]] (''[[Biwako Express]]'' service)
* [[683 series]] (''Biwako Express'' service)
* [[KiHa 189 series]] (''Biwako Express'' service, from March 2014)
* [[KiHa 85 series]] (JR Central) (''[[Hida (train)|Hida]]'' service)

===Former===
* [[485 series]] (''Biwako Liner'' rapid service until June 2003)
* [[583 series]] (Express ''[[Kitaguni]]'' until January 2013)
* [[383 series]] ([[JR Central]]) (Limited Express ''[[Shinano (train)|Shinano]]'' until 26 March 2016)
* [[113 series]]
* [[117 series]]
* [[125 series]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}

{{Osaka transit}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lines of West Japan Railway Company]]
[[Category:Tōkaidō Main Line]]
[[Category:Railway lines opened in 1988]]
[[Category:1067 mm gauge railways in Japan]]