Жапониядағы Фукутияма темір жол желісі

Railway line in Japan

The Fukuchiyama Line (福知山線) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) connecting Osaka and Fukuchiyama, Japan. Within JR West's "Urban Network" covering the Osaka–Kobe–Kyoto metropolitan region, the line from Osaka to Sasayamaguchi is also called the JR Takarazuka Line (JR宝塚線). The line traverses the cities of Kawanishi and Takarazuka in the northwestern corner of the Osaka metropolitan area. Although Amagasaki is the line's official southeastern terminus, all trains continue east to Osaka and beyond on the JR Kōbe Line, or to the Gakkentoshi Line via the JR Tōzai Line.

The Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the Osaka – Kobe section of what is now the Tokaido Main Line in 1874 as a dual track line. The Horsecar (川辺馬車鉄道) opened a 762mm gauge line between Amagasaki and Itami (about 8 km) in 1891. In 1893, the horsecar railway was reorganized as Settsu Railway (摂津鉄道), which introduced steam power to the railway and extended the line to Ikeda. The Settsu Railway was merged by Hankaku Railway (阪鶴鉄道), which had a plan to build a railway between Osaka and Maizuru. The Hankaku Railway converted the line to 1067mm gauge and extended it to Takarazuka in 1897 and to Fukuchiyama in 1899. The company also connected the line to the Kanzaki Station (present day Amagasaki Station) of the JGR line in 1898 making the line to the original Amagasaki terminal a branch. Hankaku Railway was nationalized on August 1, 1907. The Amagasaki – Tsukaguchi section was duplicated in 1934, and extended to Takarazuka in 1979/80. The Takarazuka – Shin Sanda section was duplicated in 1986 in conjunction with the opening of the 2970m Najio tunnel and associated deviation, which shortened the route by 1.8 km. Duplication to Sasayamaguchi was completed in 1996. The Amagasaki – Tsukaguchi section was electrified in 1956, and extended to Takarazuka in 1981. The remainder of the line was electrified in 1986. CTC signalling was commissioned between Fukuchiyama and Sasayamaguchi in 1982, extended to Hirono in 1984 and to Amagasaki in 1986. The branchline between Amagasakikō Station (former Amagasaki terminal of the horsecar railway) and Tsukaguchi Station ceased passenger operation in 1981 and freight operation in 1984.

Sanda station – The Arima Line, a 12 km line to Arima operated from 1915 to 1943. Sasayama guchi station – The Sasayama Railway, a 5 km line to Sasayama Chō opened in 1915. The private railway was discontinued in 1944 when the Sasayama Line of the Japanese Government Railways opened. The Sasayama Line closed in 1972. Fukuchiyama station – The Hokutan Railway Co. operated a 12 km line to Koumori between 1923 and 1971.

On April 25, 2005, a seven car 207 series train on a Rapid service derailed and crashed into a building between Tsukaguchi and Amagasaki on its way for Doshisha mae via the JR Tōzai Line and the Katamachi Line. 107 passengers were killed in the accident. Operations on the affected part of the line remained suspended until trial runs began on June 7, 2005. Passenger service resumed on June 19, 2005. The train involved was train number 5418M, a limited stop "Rapid" commuter service from to It was a seven car 207 series electric multiple unit (EMU) formation consisting of a 4 car set and a 3 car set coupled together. The train was carrying approximately 580 passengers at the time of the accident.