Jōban Line - WikiHQ

thumb|[[E531 series EMU between and stations]]

thumb|(video) Riding in a Jōban Line train as another Jōban Line train passes in the other direction

The is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The line officially began at Nippori Station in Arakawa, Tokyo and ended at Iwanuma Station in Iwanuma, Miyagi. However, following the inauguration of the Ueno–Tokyo Line, Jōban Line services are operationally extended to originate from or . Likewise, through‑running operations continue beyond Iwanuma, where Jōban Line trains proceed onto the Tōhoku Main Line tracks to . The route generally parallels the Pacific coastline of Chiba, Ibaraki, and Fukushima Prefectures.

The name "Jōban" is derived from the names of the former provinces of Jōshū (), and Banshū (), which are connected by the line to reach Tokyo.

The section of the Jōban Line between and , which extends through the exclusion zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, closed in the wake of the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami and Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster. After some major repairs, the section reopened on 14 March 2020 after 9 years without service.

Basic data

Operators, distances:
East Japan Railway Company (JR East) (Services and tracks)
Nippori – Haranomachi – Iwanuma:
Mikawashima – Sumidagawa – Minami-Senju (Sumidagawa freight branch):
Mikawashima – Tabata (Tabata freight branch):
Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services)
Mikawashima – Haranomachi – Iwanuma:
Mikawashima – Sumidagawa – Minami-Senju (Sumidagawa freight branch):
Mikawashima – Tabata (Tabata freight branch):
Double/quadruple tracking:
Quadruple: Ayase – Toride
Double: Nippori – Ayase, Toride – Yotsukura, Hirono – Kido, Ōno – Futaba
Electrification:
1,500 V DC: Nippori – Toride, Mikawashima – Sumidagawa – Minami-Senju, Mikawashima – Tabata
20 kV AC, 50 Hz: Fujishiro – Iwanuma. This section of the line, along with a nearby section of the Tsukuba Express in Ibaraki Prefecture (Moriya – Tsukuba), uses alternating current in order to minimize interference with the nearby Kakioka Magnetic Observatory in Ishioka.
The dead section is located between Toride and Fujishiro
Railway signalling:
Automatic Train Control (ATC): Ayase – Toride
Automatic Signaling Block for all other sections
operation control
ATOS: Ueno – Hatori, local train track Ayase – Toride
CTC: All other sections

Services

The Jōban Line connects Tokyo and the Tōhoku region. After the opening of the Tōhoku Shinkansen in 1982, the Jōban Line was split into two parts at Iwaki. South of Iwaki is mainly double track (Ayase - Toride is quad track), and north of Iwaki is predominantly single track. After the Fukushima disaster in 2011, the Jōban Line is further segmented in the Iwaki – Sendai section.

Shinagawa – Ueno – Iwaki

This entire section is served by several types of train services, which are described in the following subsections according to where they operate.

Limited express trains operate across the entire section.

Shinagawa – Ueno – Toride

This section is mainly served by local, rapid, medium-distance train services serving the Greater Tokyo area.

Local (各駅停車): These local trains are commonly referred to as the Jōban Line (Local) 常磐線各駅停車. These local trains operate through services to the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line to/from via , where the Jōban Line and Chiyoda Line meet; some trains continue through on the Odakyu Odawara Line to/from . Trains usually originate/terminate at Abiko. At rush hours, trains originate/terminate at . Occasionally trains won't go too far, originating/terminating at or .
Rapid (快速): Rapid trains are commonly referred to as the Jōban Line (Rapid) 常磐線快速. These services run between the southern termini of or (via Ueno–Tokyo Line) to the northern termini of Toride. Some trains go on to the Narita Line to via Abiko and are referred to as Jōban・Narita Line (常磐・成田線) trains. Rapid trains will skip some stations between and Abiko, that local services mentioned above would stop.
Local (Medium distance) (普通): The "local" here refers to medium distance trains that operate north beyond Toride and stop at all stations north of Toride. South of Toride, they operate as rapid services and are referred to as such.
Special rapid (特別快速): Special Rapid trains operate twice daily between Shinagawa and during non-rush hours. This service is created to compete with the neighbouring railway line, the Tsukuba Express.

Shinagawa – Ueno – Mito – Katsuta

Trains that run beyond Toride are distinctly referred to as the Jōban Line (常磐線), without the term "Rapid". Trains that are called Jōban Line (Rapid) cannot go beyond Toride, as their rolling stock cannot be powered by alternating current, which is the type of electrification that the section uses.

This section is mainly served by local trains.

Local (普通): These trains stop at every station north of Toride. Hence the name "local". There are two types of local trains:
Medium distance: These medium distance trains, as mentioned above, operate from central Tokyo to the north of Toride and stop at all stations there. They terminate at various stations, namely Tsuchiura, and .
Special rapid (特別快速): Special Rapid trains stop at every station between Toride and Tsuchiura, so they're essentially the same as the medium distance trains, but become a different service once past south of Toride.
Mito Line through service: These trains run through services to the Mito Line via Tomobe Station, operating from to .

Mito – Iwaki

This section is mainly served by local trains.

Local (普通): These trains stop at every station, operating between Mito and Takahagi / Iwaki
Medium distance / through service: In the early morning and late-night, few medium distance trains and Mito Line through trains operate to as far as , which is located about mid-way in this section.

Iwaki – Sendai

Before the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, local trains and limited express trains used to run across the entire section. However, due to the damages caused after the disaster, the section between Tomioka to Harunomachi had to be closed down, and services were suspended. After certain sections of the line were reconstructed, regular services were gradually allowed to resume.

Iwaki – Tomioka

This section is served by local service trains. This section was closed due to damage caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami, but it has since reopened. (explained below).

Tomioka – Namie

This section, which extends through the exclusion zone surrounding the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear meltdown, was suspended after the 2011 disaster. This section re-opened on 14 March 2020. JR East inspected the segment between and Odaka in preparation for the surrounding areas being cleared for re-settlement, resulting in train services between Namie and Odaka being resumed on 1 April 2017. Train services between Tatsuta and resumed on 21 October 2017.

Station list

1200px

The above is a diagram indicating Jōban Line service patterns within Greater Tokyo.
For more information on limited express services (i.e.Hitachi and Tokiwa), see their respective pages.

Shinagawa – Ueno – Mito – Iwaki

; Legend

Trains stop at stations marked "●" and pass those marked ""
Few trains stop at stations marked "△"
Note: Trains going beyond Tsuchiura and listed as '15 cars' on timetables will be reduced to a max to 10 cars past Tsuchiura station due to shorter platform lengths

{| class="wikitable" rules="all"

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Official line name

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Station

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Japanese

! colspan="2" |Distance (km)

! colspan="2" |Local

! rowspan="2" style="background:#beb; border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Rapid

快速

! rowspan="2" style="background:#fbb; border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Special Rapid

特別快速

! rowspan="2" style="background:#bfb; border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Tokiwa

ときわ号

! rowspan="2" style="background:#ebe; border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Hitachi

ひたち号

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Transfers

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Tracks

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Location

! rowspan="2" style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Prefecture

! style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Between stations

! style="border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Total (from Nippori)

! style="background-color:#d3d3d3; border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Kankō

各駅停車

! style="background-color:#cdf; border-bottom:3px solid #0000FF" |Futsuu

普通(medium distance)

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Tōkaidō Main Line

|

|品川

| style="text-align:right;" | –

| style="text-align:right;" |12.6

| rowspan="9" style="width:1em; text-align:center; vertical-align: bottom" |to/from Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line, Odakyu Odawara Line and Odakyu Tama Line

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="10" style="width:1em; text-align:center; line-height:300%;" |Two

| rowspan="2" |Minato

| rowspan="13" style="text-align:center; width:1em; line-height:200%;" |Tokyo

|

|新橋

| style="text-align:right;" |4.9

| style="text-align:right;" |7.7

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |東京

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" |1.9

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" |5.8

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" |Chiyoda

| rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Tōhoku Main Line

|

|上野

| style="text-align:right;" |3.6

| style="text-align:right;" |2.2

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

|Taitō

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |日暮里

| style="text-align:right;" |2.2

| style="text-align:right;" |0.0

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |△

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="4" |Arakawa

| rowspan="53" style="text-align:center;" |Jōban Line

|

|三河島

| style="text-align:right;" |1.2

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|

|南千住

| style="text-align:right;" |2.2

| style="text-align:right;" |3.4

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (H-21) 20px Tsukuba Express (TX-04)

|

|北千住

| style="text-align:right;" |1.8

| style="text-align:right;" |5.2

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line (C-18) Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line (H-22) Tobu Skytree Line (TS-09) 20px Tsukuba Express (TX-05)

| rowspan="2" |Adachi

|

|綾瀬

| style="text-align:right;" |2.5

| style="text-align:right;" |7.7

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line (C-19)

| rowspan="14" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |Four

|

|亀有

| style="text-align:right;" |2.2

| style="text-align:right;" |9.9

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="2" |Katsushika

|

|金町

| style="text-align:right;" |1.9

| style="text-align:right;" |11.8

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Keisei Kanamachi Line (KS-51)

|

|松戸

| style="text-align:right;" |3.9

| style="text-align:right;" |15.7

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Keisei Matsudo Line (KS-88)

| rowspan="5" |Matsudo

| rowspan="10" style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |Chiba

|

|北松戸

| style="text-align:right;" |2.1

| style="text-align:right;" |17.8

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|

|馬橋

| style="text-align:right;" |1.3

| style="text-align:right;" |19.1

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Nagareyama Line

|

|新松戸

| style="text-align:right;" |1.6

| style="text-align:right;" |20.7

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Musashino Line (JM-15) Nagareyama Line ()

|

|北小金

| style="text-align:right;" |1.3

| style="text-align:right;" |22.0

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|

|南柏

| style="text-align:right;" |2.5

| style="text-align:right;" |24.5

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="3" |Kashiwa

|

|柏

| style="text-align:right;" |2.4

| style="text-align:right;" |26.9

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

| Tobu Urban Park Line (TD-24)

|

|北柏

| style="text-align:right;" |2.3

| style="text-align:right;" |29.2

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|

|我孫子

| style="text-align:right;" |2.2

| style="text-align:right;" |31.3

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| Narita Line (Abiko Branch Line), some through services for

| rowspan="2" |Abiko

|

|天王台

| style="text-align:right;" |2.7

| style="text-align:right;" |34.0

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |○

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#beb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#fbb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|

|取手

| style="text-align:right;" |3.4

| style="text-align:right;" |37.4

| style="width:1em; background:#d3d3d3; text-align:center;" |○

|水戸

| style="text-align:right;" |1.9

| style="text-align:right;" |115.3

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

| Suigun Line Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line

|勝田

| style="text-align:right;" |5.8

| style="text-align:right;" |121.1

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

| Minato Line

| rowspan="2" |Hitachinaka

|佐和

| style="text-align:right;" |4.2

| style="text-align:right;" |125.3

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|東海

| style="text-align:right;" |4.7

| style="text-align:right;" |130.0

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |△

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

|Tōkai, Naka District

|大甕

| style="text-align:right;" |7.4

| style="text-align:right;" |137.4

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

| rowspan="5" |Hitachi

|常陸多賀

| style="text-align:right;" |4.6

| style="text-align:right;" |142.0

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

|日立

| style="text-align:right;" |4.9

| style="text-align:right;" |146.9

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

|小木津

| style="text-align:right;" |5.5

| style="text-align:right;" |152.4

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|十王

| style="text-align:right;" |4.2

| style="text-align:right;" |156.6

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|高萩

| style="text-align:right;" |5.9

| style="text-align:right;" |162.5

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#bfb; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

|Takahagi

|南中郷

| style="text-align:right;" |4.5

| style="text-align:right;" |167.0

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="34" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" | 

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="3" |Kitaibaraki

|磯原

| style="text-align:right;" |4.6

| style="text-align:right;" |171.6

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

|大津港

| style="text-align:right;" |7.1

| style="text-align:right;" |178.7

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|勿来

| style="text-align:right;" |4.5

| style="text-align:right;" |183.2

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |△

| rowspan="6" |Iwaki

| rowspan="6" |Fukushima

|植田

| style="text-align:right;" |4.6

| style="text-align:right;" |187.8

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|泉

| style="text-align:right;" |7.2

| style="text-align:right;" |195.0

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

|湯本

| style="text-align:right;" |6.5

| style="text-align:right;" |201.5

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

|内郷

| style="text-align:right;" |3.5

| style="text-align:right;" |205.0

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |

|いわき

| style="text-align:right;" |4.4

| style="text-align:right;" |209.4

| style="width:1em; background:#cdf; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; background:#ebe; text-align:center;" |●

| Banetsu East Line

Iwaki – Iwanuma – Sendai

Legend

Trains stop at stations marked "●" and pass those marked ""
Few trains stop at stations marked "△"
Stations marked "◇" are located on passing loops and allow trains in opposite directions to pass each other
From Iwanuma to Sendai, the train goes on Tōhoku Main Line tracks.

{| class="wikitable" rules="all"

! rowspan="2" |Official line name

! rowspan="2" |Station

! rowspan="2" |Japanese

! colspan="2" |Distance (km)

! rowspan="2" |Local

普通

! rowspan="2" style="background:#ebe; border-bottom:0px solid #0000FF" |Hitachi

ひたち号

! rowspan="2" |Transfers

! rowspan="2" |Tracks

! rowspan="2" |Location

! rowspan="2" |Prefecture

!Between stations

!Total (from Nippori)

| rowspan="29" |Jōban Line

|いわき

| style="text-align:right;" |–

| style="text-align:right;" |209.4

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| Banetsu East Line

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |Two

| rowspan="5" |Iwaki

| rowspan="23" |Fukushima

|草野

| style="text-align:right;" |5.4

| style="text-align:right;" |214.8

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

|四ツ倉

| style="text-align:right;" |4.4

| style="text-align:right;" |219.2

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|久ノ浜

| style="text-align:right;" |4.8

| style="text-align:right;" |224.0

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|末続

| style="text-align:right;" |3.6

| style="text-align:right;" |227.6

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|広野

| style="text-align:right;" |4.8

| style="text-align:right;" |232.4

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="3" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |Two

|Hirono, Futaba District

|Jヴィレッジ駅

| style="text-align:right;" |3.5

| style="text-align:right;" |235.9

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="3" |Naraha, Futaba District

|木戸

| style="text-align:right;" |1.9

| style="text-align:right;" |237.8

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

|竜田

| style="text-align:right;" |3.1

| style="text-align:right;" |240.9

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|富岡

| style="text-align:right;" |6.9

| style="text-align:right;" |247.8

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

| rowspan="2" |Tomioka, Futaba District

|夜ノ森

| style="text-align:right;" |5.2

| style="text-align:right;" |253.0

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|大野

| style="text-align:right;" |4.9

| style="text-align:right;" |257.9

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |One

|Ōkuma, Futaba District

|双葉

| style="text-align:right;" |5.8

| style="text-align:right;" |263.7

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

|Futaba, Futaba District

|浪江

| style="text-align:right;" |4.9

| style="text-align:right;" |268.6

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|Namie, Futaba District

|桃内

| style="text-align:right;" |4.9

| style="text-align:right;" |273.5

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

| rowspan="5" |Minamisōma

|小高

| style="text-align:right;" |4.0

| style="text-align:right;" |277.5

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|磐城太田

| style="text-align:right;" |4.9

| style="text-align:right;" |282.4

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|原ノ町

| style="text-align:right;" |4.5

| style="text-align:right;" |286.9

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|鹿島

| style="text-align:right;" |7.5

| style="text-align:right;" |294.4

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|日立木

| style="text-align:right;" |6.7

| style="text-align:right;" |301.1

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

| rowspan="2" |Sōma

|相馬

| style="text-align:right;" |5.9

| style="text-align:right;" |307.0

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|駒ヶ嶺

| style="text-align:right;" |4.4

| style="text-align:right;" |311.4

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

| rowspan="2" |Shinchi, Sōma District

|新地

| style="text-align:right;" |4.4

| style="text-align:right;" |315.8

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|坂元

| style="text-align:right;" |5.4

| style="text-align:right;" |321.2

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |One

| rowspan="2" |Yamamoto, Watari District

| rowspan="14" style="text-align:center; width:1em; line-height:200%;" |Miyagi

|山下

| style="text-align:right;" |4.5

| style="text-align:right;" |325.7

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|浜吉田

| style="text-align:right;" |3.9

| style="text-align:right;" |329.6

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

| rowspan="3" |Watari, Watari District

|亘理

| style="text-align:right;" |5.0

| style="text-align:right;" |334.6

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |△

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

|逢隈

| style="text-align:right;" |3.2

| style="text-align:right;" |337.8

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |◇

| rowspan="2" |

| rowspan="2" |岩沼

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" |5.3

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:right;" |343.1

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| rowspan="2" style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |△

| rowspan="2" | Tōhoku Main Line (for )

| rowspan="2" style="text-align:center; width:1em;" |^

| rowspan="2" |Iwanuma

| rowspan="8" |Tōhoku Main Line

|館腰

| style="text-align:right;" |3.7

| style="text-align:right;" |346.8

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="6" style="text-align:center; width:1em; line-height:300%;" |Two

| rowspan="2" |Natori

|名取

| style="text-align:right;" |3.5

| style="text-align:right;" |350.3

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

|23x23px Sendai Airport Line (through service to Sendai via Tōhoku Main Line)

|南仙台

| style="text-align:right;" |2.7

| style="text-align:right;" |353.0

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| rowspan="3" |Taihaku-ku, Sendai

|太子堂

| style="text-align:right;" |2.2

| style="text-align:right;" |355.2

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

|長町

| style="text-align:right;" |1.0

| style="text-align:right;" |356.2

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |

| Sendai Subway Namboku Line

|仙台

| style="text-align:right;" |4.5

| style="text-align:right;" |360.7

| style="width:1em; text-align:center;" |●

|17x17px Tohoku Shinkansen

17x17px Akita Shinkansen

Tohoku Main Line (for and )

23x23px Sendai Airport Line

Senzan Line

Senseki Line

Sendai Subway Namboku Line

Sendai Subway Tōzai Line

|Aoba-ku, Sendai

Rolling stock

Local / Rapid service stock

Shinagawa – Ueno – Iwaki

Jōban Line (Local)
JR East stock
E233-2000 series (x19) 10-car EMUs
Tokyo Metro stock
Tokyo Metro 16000 series (x37) 10-car EMUs
Odakyu stock
Odakyu 4000 series

thumb|right|125px|A Joban Line E231 series EMU, July 2019

Jōban Line (Rapid)
E231-0 series 10+5-car EMUs

Jōban Line
E501 series 10 and 5 car EMUs (Operates only between Tsuchiura and Kusano)
E531 series 10 and 5-car EMUs (can run as 15 car configuration as far as Tsuchiura station)

Iwaki – Sendai

701 series
719 series
E531 series
E721 series

Limited express stock

E657 series 10-car EMUs (Hitachi/Tokiwa services) (from 17 March 2012)

Past

Kiha 58 DMUs (Tokiwa and Okukuji rapid services) (through services to Suigun Line) (until March 1985)
80 series EMUs (Hitachi services) (from October 1969 until October 1972)
401 series EMUs (cream with blue stripe) (from June 1961 until 1987)
485 series EMUs (Hitachi services) (from October 1972 until December 1998)
103 series 10+5-car EMUs (emerald green livery) (from December 1967 until March 2006)
103-1000 series 10-car EMUs (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line through-running services, sea green stripe) (from 1971 until April 1986)
403 series/415 series 7+4+4-car EMUs (cream with blue stripe) (from 1965 until March 2007)
207–900 series 10-car EMU (x1) (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line through-running services, emerald green stripe) (from 1986 until December 2009)
203 series 10-car EMUs (Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line through-running services, emerald green stripe) (from 1982 until 26 September 2011)
415–1500 series 4-car EMUs (blue stripe) (from 1986 until 2016)
651 series 7+4-car EMUs (x9) (Hitachi services) (from March 1989 until March 2015)
E653 series 7+4-car EMUs (Fresh Hitachi services) (from October 1997 until March 2013)
209–1000 series 10-car EMUs (from 1999 until 13 October 2018)

File:JNR-485-Hitachi.jpg|A 485 series EMU on a Hitachi service, August 1998

File:Narita 103 at Narita 20030117.JPG|A Joban Line 103 series EMU, January 2003

File:JNR-415.JPG|A Joban Line 415 series EMU, July 2006

File:JNR-207-EMU.jpg|The sole 207–900 series EMU, May 2006

File:JRE 203.JPG|A 203 series EMU, July 2009

File:JRE 415 1500.JPG|A 415–1500 series EMU in September 2007

File:651 super hitachi.jpg|A 651 series EMU on a Super Hitachi service, July 2008

File:Jreast 653.jpg|An E653 series EMU on a Fresh Hitachi service, April 2003

File:209-1000 set 81 Matsudo Depot 20111123.jpg|A Joban Line 209–1000 series EMU, November 2011

</gallery>

History

The Mito Railway opened the line in sections between 1889 and 1905. The dates of the individual section openings are given below. After the line was nationalised in 1906, a program of double-tracking commenced in 1910, with the section between Nippori and Yotsukura completed in 1925. The Hirono - Kido and Ono - Futaba sections were double-tracked in 1976.

The first section electrified was Nippori - Matsudo (at 1,500 V DC) in 1936, and extended to Toride in 1949. The Toride - Kusano section was electrified at 20 kV AC between 1961 and 1963, and extended to Iwanuma in 1967.

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused severe disruption to the line, with services to Iwaki ( from Nippori) re-established by 17 April, to Yotsukura (a further ) by 14 May, and to Hirono (another ) by 10 October 2011. Services on the Hirono - Tatsuta section returned on 1 June 2014.

At the northern end, services on the isolated Haranomachi - Soma section were restored on 21 December 2011, with services from Iwanuma to Hamayoshida () restored on 16 March 2013. Services resumed on the Haranomachi - Odaka section on 12 July 2016 and the Hamayoshida - Soma section was rebuilt at a higher, tsunami-proof level, and reopened on 10 December 2016, re-establishing the connection to Sendai for stations north of Odaka. The line fully reopened on 14 March 2020.

May 2014: Test-running commenced on the section of the line between and stations closed since the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, with the intention of resuming passenger services on this section from 1 June.
1 June 2014: Train operations resumed between Hirono and Tatsuta.
12 July 2016: Train operations were resumed between Odaka and Haranomachi stations in Minami-Soma, Fukushima Prefecture.
20 August 2016: Station numbering introduced with Rapid services being assigned station numbers between JJ01 (Tokyo) and JJ24 (Toride). Station numbers were also assigned to local services between Ayase (JL19) and Toride (JL32).
10 December 10, 2016: The reconstructed section between Soma and Hamayoshida reopened.
14 March 2020: The section between Tomioka and Namie reopens 9 years after the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami reconstruction, bringing the full line back to service.
13 March 2021 (planned): Automatic train operation will be activated on the Jōban Line (Local) between Ayase and Toride using the STO (Semi-Automatic) standard.
12 March 2022: The number of direct trains on the Ueno Tokyo Line and Joban Line during the day increases to three per hour. During the daytime hours, the direct train operation between Shinagawa / Ueno and Mito is separated at Tsuchiura Station. Along with this, trains in the direction of Ueno and Mito at Tsuchiura Station will be connected at the same platform.
16 March 2022: Due to the 2022 Fukushima earthquake, a part of the platform was damaged at Nittaki Station in Soma City, and a part of the bridge between Kashima and Haranomachi in Minamisoma City was several tens of centimeters from the base. Confirmed damage such as misalignment. Hirono-Iwanuma will be suspended from driving.
18 March 2022: Yamashita-Resumed operation between Iwanuma.
21 March 2022: Resumed operation between Hirono-Tomioka and Shinchi-Yamashita.
22 March 2022: Resumed operation between Tomioka and Haranomachi.

Former connecting lines

thumb|Tsukuba Railway train at Iwase station

thumb|Kashima Light Railway RM3 (see Mito station entry)

thumb|Kashima Sangu Railway train

Tsuchiura Station: The Tsukura Railway opened a line to Iwase on the Mito Line in 1918. Freight services ceased in 1981, and the line closed in 1987.
Tsuchiura Station: A line to Ami, electrified at 600 VDC, was operated by the Southern Electric Railway Co. between 1926/28 and 1938.
Mito Station: The Mito Seashore Electric Railway Co. opened a line eventually extending between Kamimito and Nakaminato-Cho, electrified at 600 VDC, between 1922 and 1930. It closed in sections between 1953 and 1966. At Onuki station ( from Mito) on this line, the Kashima Light Railway Co. operated a gauge line between 1926 and 1930 to Hokota (see Ishioka station entry below).
Mito Station: The Mito Electric Railway Co. operated an line to Okunotani (not electrified, despite the company name) between 1929 and 1936.
Ishioka Station: The Kashima Sangu Railway opened a line to Hokota between 1924 and 1929. Freight services ceased in 2002 and the line closed in 2007.
Akatsuka Station: A line to Gozenyama was opened by the Ibaraki Railway Co. in 1926/27. In 1944/45 the first of the line to Minami Hakamatsuka was electrified. The line closed in sections between 1965 and 1971.
Tokai Station: The Ibaraki Prefectural Government operated a gauge line to Muramutsu between 1926 and 1933.
Omika Station: An line to Johoku Ota (now Hitachi-Ota on the Suigun Line) was opened by the Johoku Electric Railway in 1928/29. In 1944 the company merged with the Hitachi Electric Railway, and a line to Akukawa was opened in 1947. Both lines were electrified at 600 V DC from opening. CTC signalling was commissioned in 1969, and in 1971 the lines became the first electric railway in Japan converted to a one-person operation. Both lines closed in 2005.
Izumi Station: The Onahama Horse tram opened a gauge line to its namesake town in 1907, and extended the line a further to Ena in 1916. The Onahama - Ena section closed in 1936, the company renamed itself the Onahama Port Railway in 1939, and converted the line to gauge in 1941. The Ena Railway rebuilt the Onahama - Ena section as in 1953. In 1965 a typhoon caused the collapse of a retaining wall, and the Onahama - Ena section formally closed in 1967. The passenger service on the Izumi - Onahama section ceased in 1972, the line is now freight-only operated by the Fukushima Rinkai Railway.
Yumoto station: The gauge Iwaki Coalmine Railway operated to Onahama between 1905 and 1944.
Yumoto station: A line to Nagahashi was operated by the Iwaki City Council between 1914 and 1929.
Uchigo station: The Furukawa Co. built a gauge line to the Kita-Yoshima coal mine in 1905. In 1908 the line was rebuilt to gauge and shortened by . The mine and line closed in 1969.
Iwaki station: The Yoshima and Akai local railways connected here, details of these lines are not currently available.

References

External links

Stations of the Jōban Line (JR East)

Basic data

Services

Shinagawa – Ueno – Iwaki

Shinagawa – Ueno – Toride

Shinagawa – Ueno – Mito – Katsuta

Mito – Iwaki

Iwaki – Sendai

Iwaki – Tomioka

Tomioka – Namie

Station list

Shinagawa – Ueno – Mito – Iwaki

Iwaki – Iwanuma – Sendai

Rolling stock

Local / Rapid service stock

Shinagawa – Ueno – Iwaki

Iwaki – Sendai

Limited express stock

Past

History

Former connecting lines

See also

References

External links