Koumi Line

The Koumi Line (小海線) is a railway line in Japan operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Kobuchizawa Station in Hokuto, Yamanashi with Komoro Station in Komoro, Nagano, and extends 78.9 km (49.0 mi) through the mountains with a total of 31 stations. It roughly follows the route of National Route 141, paralleling the road at some places and crossing it twice.

In February 2015, to mark the 80th anniversary of the opening of the Koumi Line, a single car KiHa 110 series unit was repainted into the "Metropolitan" all over red livery carried by KiHa 52 DMUs formerly used on the line. This was followed in March 2015 by a two car KiHa 110 series unit repainted into the vermillion and cream livery carried by KiHa 58 series DMUs formerly used on the line.

November 29, 1935: Nobeyama Station opens. March 1, 1944: Kubo Station renamed Kita Nakagomi Station. Namezu Station closed. November 11, 1944: Operations stopped at Managashi, Irizawa, Ōnara, and Otome stations. March 1, 1952: Second Namezu Station opens. Operations resume at Managashi, Aonuma (formerly Irizawa), Tatsuokajō (formerly Ōnara), Otome stations. May 1, 1952: Ōtabe Station opens. July 10, 1952: Higashi Komoro Station opens. October 1, 1959: Sakuhozumi Station renamed Yachiho Station. October 1, 1963: Sandanda Station renamed Usuda Station. February 1, 1984: Freight operations end. July 26, 1986: Photo Deck Station opens. September 1, 1986: Photo Deck Station closes. April 1, 1987: With the privatization and breakup of JNR, line becomes part of East Japan Railway Company (JR East). December 1, 1988: Misato Station opens. November 8, 1991: KiHa 110 series DMUs begin operation. March 14, 1992: Driver only operation begins. October 12, 1995: Iwamurada — Nakasato section elevated. October 1, 1997: Sakudaira Station opens. July 31, 2007: KiHa E200 series hybrid DMUs begin operation.