Kawagoe Line

Kawagoe Line
Kawagoe Line
	E233-7000 series EMU operating on the Kawagoe Line
Overview
Native name	川越線
Owner	JR East
Locale	Saitama Prefecture
Termini	Ōmiya; Komagawa;
Stations	11
Service
Depot	Kawagoe
History
Opened	22 July 1940; 86 years ago
Technical
Line length	30.6 km (19.0 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Overhead line, 1,500 V DC
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	Keihin–Tōhoku Line
	Tōhoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line)
	Saikyō Line
	Tōbu Noda Line
	Tōhoku Main Line (Utsunomiya Line)
	Tōhoku & Jōetsu Shinkansen
	New Shuttle
	Takasaki Line
	Kawagoe Line (until 1985)
	Hon-Kawagoe
	Seibu Shinjuku Line
	Komagawa
	Hachikō Line
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Kawagoe Line (Japanese: 川越線, Hepburn: Kawagoe-sen) is a railway line in Japan operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East), which connects the cities of Saitama, Kawagoe, and Hidaka in Saitama Prefecture. The main transfer stations on the line are Ōmiya, Kawagoe, and Komagawa.

Services

The eastern section between Kawagoe and Ōmiya operates as an extension of the Saikyō Line, which runs between Ōmiya and Ōsaki in central Tokyo, using 10-car electric multiple unit (EMU) trains. Most trains continue through Ōsaki to Shin-Kiba via the Rinkai Line or to Ebina via the Saikyō, Shōnan-Shinjuku, and Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama lines.

The western section between Kawagoe and Komagawa uses shorter four-car EMU trains, with about half of the trains continuing to Hachiōji via the Hachikō Line.

Because the two sections use different train lengths, there is no regular through service between Komagawa and Ōmiya. Except for a few rush-hour services that originate or terminate at Minami-Furuya, trains from Komagawa terminate at Kawagoe, as do trains from Ōmiya in the opposite direction. Passengers traveling beyond Kawagoe must change trains there.

Station list

All stations are located in Saitama Prefecture.
Passengers bound for Ōmiya or Komagawa must change trains at Kawagoe. However, during early mornings and evenings, some trains leaving Kawagoe depot provide service from Minami-Furuya to Komagawa.
All rapid or commuter rapid trains to/from the Saikyo Line stop at every station on the Kawagoe Line.
Trains can pass each other at stations marked "∥", "∨", and "◇"; they cannot pass at stations marked "｜".

Saitama – Kawagoe

Station	Distance in km (mi)		Transfers	Track layout	Location
Station	Between stations	Total	Transfers	Track layout	Location
↑ Through-running to/from ↑ Shin-Kiba via the Saikyō and Rinkai lines Ebina via the Saikyō, Shōnan-Shinjuku and Sōtetsu Shin-Yokohama lines
Ōmiya 大宮	N/a	from Ōsaki: 36.9 (22.9) 0 (0)	Saikyo Line (through service) Tōhoku Shinkansen (Hokkaido, Akita, Yamagata) Jōetsu Shinkansen Hokuriku Shinkansen Keihin–Tōhoku Line (JK47) Utsunomiya Line/Takasaki Line (JU07) Shōnan–Shinjuku Line (JS24) Tōbu Urban Park Line (TD01) New Shuttle (NS01)	∥	Ōmiya-ku	Saitama
Nisshin 日進	3.7 (2.3)	3.7 (2.3)		∨	Kita-ku
Nishi-Ōmiya 西大宮	2.6 (1.6)	6.3 (3.9)		◇	Nishi-ku
Sashiōgi 指扇	1.4 (0.87)	7.7 (4.8)		◇	Nishi-ku
Minami-Furuya 南古谷	4.7 (2.9)	12.4 (7.7)		◇	Kawagoe
Kawagoe 川越	3.7 (2.3)	16.1 (10.0)	■ Kawagoe Line (to Komagawa) Tobu Tojo Line Seibu Shinjuku Line (at Hon-Kawagoe)	◇	Kawagoe

Kawagoe – Komagawa

Station	Distance in km (mi)		Transfers	Track layout	Location
Station	Between stations	Total	Transfers	Track layout	Location
Kawagoe 川越	3.7 (2.3)	16.1 (10.0)	■ Kawagoe Line (to Ōmiya) Tobu Tojo Line Seibu Shinjuku Line (at Hon-Kawagoe)	◇	Kawagoe
Nishi-Kawagoe 西川越	2.6 (1.6)	18.7 (11.6)		\|
Matoba 的場	2.2 (1.4)	20.9 (13.0)		◇
Kasahata 笠幡	2.9 (1.8)	23.8 (14.8)		\|
Musashi-Takahagi 武蔵高萩	3.2 (2.0)	27.0 (16.8)		◇	Hidaka
Komagawa 高麗川	3.6 (2.2)	30.6 (19.0)	■ Hachiko Line (through service)	◇	Hidaka
↓ Through-running to/from Hachiōji via the Hachiko Line ↓

Rolling stock

JR East E233-7000 series 10-car EMUs x 38 (Kawagoe Line/Saikyo Line/TWR Rinkai Line services since 30 June 2013)
JR East 209-3500 series 4-car EMUs x 5 (Kawagoe Line/Hachiko Line services since 7 May 2018)
JR East E231-3000 series 4-car EMUs x 6 (Kawagoe Line/Hachiko Line services since 19 February 2018)
TWR 70-000 series 10-car EMUs x 8 (Kawagoe Line/Saikyo Line/TWR Rinkai Line services since 1 December 2002)
TWR 71-000 series 10-car EMUs (Kawagoe Line/Saikyo Line/TWR Rinkai Line services since 1 October 2025)

The electric multiple unit (EMU) fleet used on Kawagoe Line services is based at Kawagoe Depot (close to Minami-Furuya Station). The first of a fleet of 31 new 10-car E233-7000 series sets were introduced on Saikyo Line, Kawagoe Line, and Rinkai Line services between Kawagoe and Shin-Kiba from 30 June 2013, displacing all but one of the fleet of 205 series EMUs. The sole 205 series set was withdrawn from service in October 2016, then in 2019 seven more E233-7000 series sets entered service, bringing the total number of E233-7000's to 38.

From 2017, former E231-0 series ten-car sets based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chuo-Sobu Line services were reformed and converted to become four-car E231-3000 series sets based at Kawagoe for use on Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line services. The first set entered revenue service on the line on 19 February 2018.

From 2018, former 209-500 series ten-car sets based at Mitaka Depot for use on Chuo-Sobu Line services were reformed and converted to become four-car 209-3500 series sets based at Kawagoe for use on Kawagoe Line and Hachiko Line services.

An E233-7000 series EMU January 2022
A 209-3500 series in June 2018
E231-3000 series in March 2018
A TWR 70-000 series EMU in June 2018
A TWR 71-000 series EMU in October 2025

Rolling stock previously used

9600 class steam locomotives (until September 1969)
KiHa 07 diesel cars (from 1955)
KiHa 15 DMUs
KiHa 20 DMUs
KiHa 35 DMUs (1964 – September 1985)
103-3000 series EMUs (from March 1985 until October 2005)
103-3500 series EMU (from March 1996 until March 2005)
205 series 10-car EMUs x 32 (Kawagoe Line/Saikyo Line/TWR Rinkai Line services until October 2016)
205-3000 series 4-car EMUs x 5 (Kawagoe Line/Hachikō Line services until July 2018)
209-3000 series 4-car EMUs x 4 (Kawagoe Line/Hachiko Line services from March 1996 until February 2019)
209-3100 series 4-car EMUs x 2 (Kawagoe Line/Hachiko Line services from 17 April 2005 until January 2022)

As of October 2016^[update], all Saikyo Line 205 series sets have been removed from service.

A Hachiko Line KiHa 35 series DMU
A Kawagoe Line 103-3000 series EMU, June 2004
A Kawagoe Line 103-3500 series EMU, June 2004
A Saikyo Line 205 series EMU in September 2016
A 205-3000 series EMU in April 2017
A 209-3000 series EMU in April 2017
A 209-3100 series EMU in April 2017

History

Line opening

A line linking Ōmiya with Kawagoe and continuing to the Hachikō Line at Komagawa was first proposed in March 1920. Construction work started in September 1935, with the line opening on 22 July 1940.

Switch to diesel

Services were initially steam hauled, but diesel multiple unit trains were introduced from 1 June 1950. The final steam-hauled passenger train ran on 30 September 1969.

Electrification

The line was electrified (1,500 V DC) from 30 September 1985, and through running commenced to and from the Saikyō Line, which opened at the same time. The tracks were doubled between Ōmiya to Nisshin, and a new EMU depot was opened close to Minami-Furuya Station. A special "Kawagoe Line Diesel Sayonara" train ran on the line on 3 November 1985.

Hachikō Line through services

Through services between Kawagoe and Hachiōji on the Hachikō Line began on 16 March 1996 following the electrification of the southern section of the Hachikō Line between Komagawa and Hachiōji.

References

↑ "JR埼京線へ直通、りんかい線の新型車両71-000形 - 早速乗ってみた" [Direct connection to JR Saikyō Line, new Rinkai Line 71-000 series train - I tried it out right away]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
↑ JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2012]. Japan: JRR. October 2011. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.
↑ 秋田新幹線用車両と埼京線・横浜線用車両の新造について [Akita Shinkansen, Saikyo Line, and Yokohama Line new train details] (PDF) (in Japanese). JR East. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
↑ 新型車両で快適に埼京・川越線、30日から導入 [Comfortable new trains to be introduced on Saikyo/Kawagoe Line from 30th] (in Japanese). Japan: The Saitama Shimbun. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.
↑ E231系3000番台4両が配給輸送される [E231-3000 series 4-car set transferred]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.
↑ 八高線用の209系3500番台が試運転 [Hachiko Line 209-3500 series undergoes test-running]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
↑ 八高線用の209系3500番台が配給輸送される [Hachiko Line 209-3500 series transferred]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
1 2 3 "川越線に209系3100代を投入 103系を置換え" [209-3100 series introduced on Kawagoe Line – Replacing 103 series]. Railway Journal. 39 (465). Japan: Tetsudō Journal: 106. July 2005.
↑ JR車両ファイル2016 [JR Rolling Stock File 2016]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 663. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2016. p. 34.
1 2 3 4 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線国鉄・JR NO.45 埼京線・八高線・川越線・武蔵野線・京葉線 [Railway Line History – JNR/JR No. 45: Saikyo Line, Hachiko Line, Kawagoe Line, Musashino Line, Keiyo Line]. Japan: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. June 2010. EAN 4910222710600.

External links

Stations of the Kawagoe Line (JR East) (in Japanese)

[:06102025-1] "JR埼京線へ直通、りんかい線の新型車両71-000形 - 早速乗ってみた" [Direct connection to JR Saikyō Line, new Rinkai Line 71-000 series train - I tried it out right away]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan. 6 October 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.

[jrr2012-2] JR電車編成表 2012冬 [JR EMU Formations – Winter 2012]. Japan: JRR. October 2011. pp. 66–67. ISBN 978-4-330-25611-5.

[jreast20120410-3] 秋田新幹線用車両と埼京線・横浜線用車両の新造について [Akita Shinkansen, Saikyo Line, and Yokohama Line new train details] (PDF) (in Japanese). JR East. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.

[saitamashimbun20130607-4] 新型車両で快適に埼京・川越線、30日から導入 [Comfortable new trains to be introduced on Saikyo/Kawagoe Line from 30th] (in Japanese). Japan: The Saitama Shimbun. 7 June 2013. Archived from the original on 9 June 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2013.

[railfan20171129-5] E231系3000番台4両が配給輸送される [E231-3000 series 4-car set transferred]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 29 November 2017. Archived from the original on 29 November 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2017.

[railfan20180221-6] 八高線用の209系3500番台が試運転 [Hachiko Line 209-3500 series undergoes test-running]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 21 February 2018. Archived from the original on 21 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.

[railfan20180119-7] 八高線用の209系3500番台が配給輸送される [Hachiko Line 209-3500 series transferred]. Japan Railfan Magazine Online (in Japanese). Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. 19 January 2018. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.

[journal465-8] 1 2 3 "川越線に209系3100代を投入 103系を置換え" [209-3100 series introduced on Kawagoe Line – Replacing 103 series]. Railway Journal. 39 (465). Japan: Tetsudō Journal: 106. July 2005.

[railfan663-9] JR車両ファイル2016 [JR Rolling Stock File 2016]. Japan Railfan Magazine (in Japanese). Vol. 56, no. 663. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. July 2016. p. 34.

[asahi-saikyo-10] 1 2 3 4 歴史でめぐる鉄道全路線国鉄・JR NO.45 埼京線・八高線・川越線・武蔵野線・京葉線 [Railway Line History – JNR/JR No. 45: Saikyo Line, Hachiko Line, Kawagoe Line, Musashino Line, Keiyo Line]. Japan: Asahi Shimbun Publications Inc. June 2010. EAN 4910222710600.

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