The Shinonoi Line (篠ノ井線) is a railway line in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It connects Shinonoi Station in Nagano with Shiojiri Station in Shiojiri. The line is a corridor between the Shinetsu Main Line and the Chūō Main Line. All the limited express trains on the Shinonoi Line come from the Chūō Main Line: Azusa from Tokyo and Shinano from Nagoya.

Stations

All stations are located in Nagano Prefecture.

Passing loops and switchbacks

Hirase loop

A passing loop is located in Azumino, known as Hirase shingōjō (平瀬信号場). It has two tracks.

Haneo switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Haneo shingōjō (羽尾信号場)

Kuwanohara switchback

A switchback is located in Azumino, known as Kuwanohara shingōjō (桑ノ原信号場)

Rolling stock

Limited express

Local

Former rolling stock

History

The Shinonoi to Nishijo section opened in 1900, and was extended via Matsumoto to Shiojiri in 1902. The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was double-tracked between 1961 and 1965, with the Tazawa to Akashina section double-tracked in 1966. The Akashina to Nishijo section was also double-tracked, but the original line was decommissioned in 1988. The Shiojiri to Matsumoto section was electrified in 1964/5, and extended to Shinonoi in 1973, CTC signalling being commissioned on the entire line the previous year.

Former connecting lines