Japan - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

Obscure services

Honshu: Echigo-Yuzawa – Gala-Yuzawa JP1

This 1.8km standard gauge branch operates only during the winter ski season, usually from mid-December to March. Services (shown in the national timetable) are classed as "Limited express" - extensions of Joetsu Shinkansen Tanigawa service of East Japan Railway Company (JR East). Reported: January 2010

Honshu: Seibu-Chichibu Station - Ohanabatake Station link lines JP2

These two stations - on, respectively, the Seibu Railway and the Chichibu Railway, are virtually adjacent. Linking tracks are provided in both directions (see sketch). Principal uses:

• Mondays to Fridays two trains in each direction over the "left hand turnout" in the morning and evening, between the Chichibu Railway and Hanno (via Yokose) on the Seibu Railway;
• Saturday and Sunday morning trains between Kagemori (Seibu Railway) and Mitsumineguchi (via Yokose) (Chichibu Railway), and returns in the afternoons, use the "right hand turnout", and reverse at Seibu-Chichibu station.

Hokkaido: Nanae Station - Ōnuma Station JP3

Only 3 northbound services run directly between these stations, all of the other services and all southbound trains use the route via Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto and Niyama. Both single track routes were shown on a 1970 topographic map, but it is assumed passenger service was drastically reduced on this route without stations when the Shinkansen opened to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto. The quite frequent freight trains are also likely to use this route.

			Hakodate – 12:57 Nanae – Oshamambe
			Hakodate – 17:54 Nanae – Oshamambe
			Hakodate – 20:34 Nanae – Oshamambe

Reported: June 2025

Honshu: Morioka (ground level station) - Maegata JP4

This is a standard gauge connection from the main JR station westernmost platforms to join the connection from the Shinkansen high level platforms to Maegata, Shizukuishi and Ōmagari.

The majority of daily trains between Morioka and Shizukuishi are though Shinkansen services from Tokyo to Akita (the trains splits at Morioka Shinkansen platform from another at heading to Shin-Aomori and beyond).

However there are also about 12 local standard gauge trains from the west side of Morioka (ground level) JR station which climb up to join the Shinkansen Akita branch connection before dropping back down to ground level. As the Morioka - Ōmagari line was converted to standard gauge these local trains are run by standard gauge 2 car EMUs from 2(!) standard gauge only platforms at the west of Morioka (ground level) station, with stop blocks at the south end. Interestingly these platforms are marked with coach numbers for 7 car trains, for use if the Shinkansens have to be terminated rather than running though.

Reported July 2025

Sparse services

None known.

Deletions since last edition

None.