The Rikuu West Line (陸羽西線) is a railway line in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinjō Station to Amarume Station, and trains continue on to Sakata Station, even though it is not officially a part of the Rikuu West Line. Its name refers to the ancient provinces of Mutsu and Dewa (or alternatively, the Meiji-era provinces of Rikuzen and Uzen ), although strictly speaking, only the Rikuu East Line connects both areas.

[Line map

Red: Rikuu West Line Blue: Uetsu Main Line (Amarume - Sakata) | upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/46/JR///West///Rikuu///Line///linemap.svg]

Station list

Symbols:

Rolling stock

History

The line was opened in sections between 1913 and 1914. Freight services ceased in 1987, and CTC signalling was commissioned in 1991. Due to the construction of a tunnel, that is part of Shinjo Sakata Road of National Route 47, the Rikuu West Line has temporarily suspended services since 14 May 2022 until at least 2024~2025, with replacement buses operating in the neighbour towns of stations.