# Geibi Line

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Railway line in Okayama and Hiroshima prefectures

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Geibi Line A Geibi Line KiHa 120 DMU Overview Native name 芸備線 Status In operation Owner JR West Locale Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures Termini Bitchū-Kōjiro Hiroshima Stations 44 Service Type Commuter rail line System Hiroshima City Network (Karuga–Hiroshima) Operator JR West Rolling stock KiHa 120 series DMU, KiHa 40 series DMU History Opened 28 April 1915; 111 years ago (1915-04-28) Technical Line length 159.1 km (98.9 mi) Number of tracks Entirely Single-tracked Character Rural and urban Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) Electrification None Operating speed 85 km/h (53 mph) Signalling Automatic closed block Train protection system ATS-SW Route map km - Niimi - Nunohara Two tunnels Hakubi Line 0.0 Bitchū Kōjiro Merge to Hakubi Line 3.9 Sakane 6.4 Ichioka 10.0 Yagami 13.6 Nochi 18.8 Tōjō 25.3 Bingo Yawata 29.0 Uchina 33.6 Onuka 37.8 Dōgoyama Four tunnels 44.6 Bingo Ochiai Kisuki Line Three tunnels 50.2 Hibayama 53.2 Bingo Saijō Saijō River 57.4 Hirako 68.5 Taka 68.5 Bingo Shōbara 70.5 Bingo Mikkaichi 72.2 Nanatsuka 75.2 Yamanouchi Chūgoku Expressway 80.1 Shimowachi Fukuen Line / Basen River 83.2 Shiomachi 84.7 Kamisugi Chūgoku Expressway 88.0 Yatsugi 90.3 Miyoshi Sankō Line 91.9 Nishi Miyoshi Two tunnels 99.6 Shiwachi 102.2 Kamikawatachi 106.5 Kōtachi 109.9 Yoshidaguchi 116.1 Mukaihara 122.0 Ibaraichi 126.0 Shiwaguchi 129.5 Kamimita 134.0 Nakamita 136.3 Shirakiyama 138.5 Karuga 140.7 Kamifukawa 143.5 Nakafukawa 144.9 Shimofukawa 146.8 Kumura Sanyō Expressway 149.3 Akiyaguchi 152.1 Hesaka 156.9 Yaga Hiroshima Prefectural Route 70 159.1 Hiroshima Hiroden Main Line San'yō Main Line Sanyō Shinkansen This diagram: view talk edit

The **Geibi Line** (芸備線, *Geibi-sen*) is a railway line operated by [West Japan Railway Company](/source/West_Japan_Railway_Company) (JR West) in the mountainous area of the [Chūgoku region](/source/Ch%C5%ABgoku_region) in [Japan](/source/Japan). It begins at [Bitchū-Kōjiro Station](/source/Bitch%C5%AB-K%C5%8Djiro_Station) on the west side of [Niimi](/source/Niimi%2C_Okayama), [Okayama Prefecture](/source/Okayama_Prefecture), connecting through [Miyoshi Station](/source/Miyoshi_Station_(Hiroshima)) in [Miyoshi](/source/Miyoshi%2C_Hiroshima), [Hiroshima Prefecture](/source/Hiroshima_Prefecture), and terminating at [Hiroshima Station](/source/Hiroshima_Station) in [Hiroshima](/source/Hiroshima). In addition to the [Chūgoku Expressway](/source/Ch%C5%ABgoku_Expressway), the Geibi Line is considered the main commuter and local rail line covering the route between northern Hiroshima Prefecture and the city of Hiroshima. The name of the line refers to the ancient [provinces](/source/Provinces_of_Japan) of [Aki](/source/Aki_Province) (安**芸**) (in Hiroshima Prefecture) and [Bitchū](/source/Bitch%C5%AB_Province) (**備**中) (in Okayama Prefecture), which the line connects.

Since 2007, the [ICOCA](/source/ICOCA) card can be used in all stations between Hiroshima Station and Karuga Station (stations in the [Hiroshima City Network](/source/Hiroshima_City_Network)).

The majority of the line was out of service after a bridge was destroyed in the [2018 Japan floods](/source/2018_Japan_floods). The entire line reopened in October 2019.

The line is one of the least used and least profitable in the JR West network, with average daily ridership of just 13 people (slightly more than two per train) on its least trafficked segment. The segment between Bitchu-Kojiro and Bingo-Yawata runs at an annual loss of JPY 700 million, while the segment between Tojo and Bingo-Shobara is both circuitous and speed-restricted, making it less attractive than bus service. However, local authorities along the route have refused to discuss alternative transportation options with JR West.[1]

## Station list

Listed in order from [Bitchū-Kōjiro Station](/source/Bitch%C5%AB-K%C5%8Djiro_Station) to [Hiroshima Station](/source/Hiroshima_Station), though the chart shows through [Niimi Station](/source/Niimi_Station) for convenience as all Geibi Line trains originate and terminate at Niimi.

- A ● indicates a station at which a Rapid train stops, and ｜ indicates a station at which a Rapid train does not stop. In addition, Rapid trains are only operated from Niimi to Bingo-Ochiai in one direction, and thus the stations it skips are marked ↓. Stations marked with ▼ are where Rapid *Shōbara Liner* trains (operating from Hiroshima to Bingo-Ochiai) skip and Rapid trains from Bingo-Ochiai to Hiroshima stop. Local trains stop at all stations.

- The section of the Geibi Line between Karuga and Hiroshima forms part of the [Hiroshima City Network](/source/Hiroshima_City_Network).

- From 19 July 2025 to 24 November 2025, JR West has announced plans to operate rapid trains from [Hiroshima Station](/source/Hiroshima_Station) to [Bingo-Ochiai Station](/source/Bingo-Ochiai_Station) on weekend and holidays. The Hiroshima-bound train operates as a regular rapid train, while the Bingo-Ochiai-bound train operates as Rapid *Shōbara Liner*. [2]

Line No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Rapid Rapid Miyoshi Liner Temporary Rapid / Rapid Shōbara Liner Transfers Location Hakubi Line Niimi 新見 ● Hakubi Line (for Kurashiki) Kishin Line Niimi Okayama Prefecture Nunohara 布原 ↓ Bitchū-Kōjiro 備中神代 0.0 ↓ Hakubi Line (for Hōki-Daisen) Geibi Line Sakane 坂根 3.9 ↓ Ichioka 市岡 6.4 ↓ Yagami 矢神 10.0 ● Nochi 野馳 13.6 ↓ Tōjō 東城 18.8 ● Shōbara Hiroshima Prefecture Bingo-Yawata 備後八幡 25.3 ● Uchina 内名 29.0 ● Onuka 小奴可 33.6 ● Dōgoyama 道後山 37.8 ● Bingo-Ochiai 備後落合 44.6 ● ● Kisuki Line Hibayama 比婆山 50.2 ● Bingo-Saijō 備後西城 53.2 ● Hirako 平子 57.4 ● Taka 高 62.3 ● Bingo-Shōbara 備後庄原 68.5 ● Bingo-Mikkaichi 備後三日市 70.5 ｜ Nanatsuka 七塚 72.2 ｜ Yamanouchi 山ノ内 75.2 ｜ Shimowachi 下和知 80.1 ｜ Miyoshi Shiomachi 塩町 83.2 ｜ Fukuen Line (for Fukuyama) Kamisugi 神杉 84.7 ｜ Yatsugi 八次 88.0 ｜ Miyoshi 三次 90.3 ● ● Fukuen Line Nishi Miyoshi 西三次 91.9 ｜ ▼ Shiwachi 志和地 99.6 ｜ ▼ Kamikawatachi 上川立 102.2 ｜ ▼ Kōtachi 甲立 106.5 ● ● Akitakata Yoshidaguchi 吉田口 109.9 ｜ ▼ Mukaihara 向原 116.1 ● ● Ibaraichi 井原市 122.0 ｜ ▼ Asakita-ku, Hiroshima Shiwaguchi 志和口 126.0 ● ● Kamimita 上三田 129.5 ｜ ▼ Nakamita 中三田 134.0 ｜ ▼ Shirakiyama 白木山 136.3 ｜ ▼ JR-P09 Karuga 狩留家 138.5 ｜ ▼ JR-P08 Kamifukawa 上深川 140.7 ｜ ▼ JR-P07 Nakafukawa 中深川 143.5 ｜ ▼ JR-P06 Shimofukawa 下深川 144.9 ● ● JR-P05 Kumura 玖村 146.8 ● ● JR-P04 Akiyaguchi 安芸矢口 149.3 ● ● JR-P03 Hesaka 戸坂 152.1 ● ● Higashi-ku, Hiroshima JR-P02 Yaga 矢賀 156.9 ● ● JR-P01 Hiroshima 広島 159.1 ● ● Sanyo Shinkansen Sanyo Main Line ■M Hiroshima Electric Railway Main Line Minami-ku, Hiroshima

### Former connecting lines

- [Sankō Line](/source/Sank%C5%8D_Line) (closed 1 April 2018) – Miyoshi Station

## Rolling stock

The following [diesel multiple unit](/source/Diesel_multiple_unit) (DMU) [rolling stock](/source/Rolling_stock) currently operate on the Geibi Line:

KiHa 120 KiHa 47 KiHa 47 Type 120 DMU Hiroshima livery Metropolitan area livery

## History

The Geibi Line consists of the section opened by the Geibi Railway, which connected Hiroshima Station and Bingo-Shōbara, the Shōbara Line between Bingo-Shōbara and Bingo-Ochiai which was partly built by the Geibi Railway and then nationalised and extended by the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) and the Sanshin Line built by the JGR between Onuka and Bitchū-Kōjiro. In 1936, the line between Hiroshima and Bitchū-Kōjiro was completed, and the Geibi Railway was nationalised the following year, bringing the entire line under the control of the JGR. Opening dates for individual sections are given below.

### Geibi Railway

- 18 April 1915: The Geibi Railway opened between Higashi Hiroshima (different from the current [Higashi-Hiroshima Station](/source/Higashi-Hiroshima_Station)) and [Shiwachi](/source/Shiwachi_Station).

- 1 June 1915: The line is extended from Shiwachi to Miyoshi (the current [Nishi Miyoshi Station](/source/Nishi_Miyoshi_Station)).

- 15 April 1916: [Hesaka Station](/source/Hesaka_Station) opens.

- 15 July 1920: The line between [Hiroshima](/source/Hiroshima_Station) and Higashi Hiroshima opens. [JNR](/source/Japanese_National_Railways) Hiroshima Station opens.

- 7 June 1922: The line between Miyoshi (the current Nishi Miyoshi Station) and Shiomachi (the current [Kamisugi Station](/source/Kamisugi_Station_(Hiroshima))) opens.

- 8 December 1923: The line between Shiomachi (the current Kamisugi Station) and [Bingo-Shōbara](/source/Bingo-Sh%C5%8Dbara_Station) opens.

- 20 September 1924: [Nakafukawa Station](/source/Nakafukawa_Station) and [Yamanouchi Station](/source/Yamanouchi_Station_(Hiroshima)) open.

- 1 February 1925: Wadamura Station becomes [Shimowachi Station](/source/Shimowachi_Station).

- 20 March 1929: [Yaga Station](/source/Yaga_Station_(Hiroshima)) and [Kamifukawa Station](/source/Kamifukawa_Station) open.

- 1 January 1930: Shirakiyamaguchi Station, Mita Yoshinaga Station, and Tōkaichi Station open.

- 22 April 1930: Takō Station (the current [Shiomachi Station](/source/Shiomachi_Station)) opens.

- 25 April 1930: Mikkaichi Station opens.

### Shōbara Line

- 1 June 1933: Tōkaichi Station is renamed Bingo-Tōkaichi Station and Mikkaichi Station is renamed Bingo-Mikkaichi Station. The Geibi Railway line between Bingo-Tōkaichi Station (the current [Miyoshi Station](/source/Miyoshi_Station_(Hiroshima))) and Bingo-Shōbara Station is nationalized and renamed the Shōbara Line.

- 1 January 1934: Shiomachi Station is renamed [Kamisugi Station](/source/Kamisugi_Station_(Hiroshima)), and Takō Station is renamed [Shiomachi Station](/source/Shiomachi_Station).

- 15 March 1934: The line between Bingo-Shōbara Station and [Bingo-Saijō Station](/source/Bingo-Saij%C5%8D_Station) opens.

- 20 December 1935: The line between Bingo-Saijō Station and [Bingo-Ochiai Station](/source/Bingo-Ochiai_Station) opened.

### Sanshin Line

- 10 February 1930: The Sanshin Line opens between [Bitchū-Kōjiro Station](/source/Bitch%C5%AB-K%C5%8Djiro_Station) and [Yagami Station](/source/Yagami_Station).

- 25 November 1930: The line opens between Yagami Station and [Tōjō Station](/source/T%C5%8Dj%C5%8D_Station_(Hiroshima)).

- 15 June 1935: The line between Tōjō Station and [Onuka Station](/source/Onuka_Station) opens.

- 10 October 1936: The line between Onuka Station and Bingo-Ochia Station opens. The Shōbara Line is absorbed into the Sanshin Line, which now includes everything between Bitchū-Kōjiro Station and Bingo-Tōkaichi Station.

- 21 November 1936: [Dōgoyama Station](/source/D%C5%8Dgoyama_Station) opens.

### Geibi Line

- 1 July 1937: The Geibi Railway line between [Hiroshima Station](/source/Hiroshima_Station) and Bingo-Tōkaichi Station is nationalized, and the Sanshin Line is absorbed into the Geibi Line. Kawatachi Station is renamed [Kamikawatachi Station](/source/Kamikawatachi_Station), Mita Yoshinaga Station is renamed [Kamimita Station](/source/Kamimita_Station), Shirakiyamaguchi Station is renamed [Shirakiyama Station](/source/Shirakiyama_Station), and Yaguchi Station is renamed [Akiyaguchi Station](/source/Akiyaguchi_Station).

- 10 August 1941: [Kamifukawa Station](/source/Kamifukawa_Station) and [Yaga Station](/source/Yaga_Station_(Hiroshima)) close.

- 28 October 1942: Yaga Station closes, and a [signal box](/source/Signal_box) is installed.

- 2 April 1943: Yaga Station reopens.

- 10 August 1948: Kamifukawa Station reopens.

- 1 February 1952: [Hirako Station](/source/Hirako_Station) opens.

- 1 October 1953: [Ichioka Station](/source/Ichioka_Station) opens.

- 10 November 1954: The former Miyoshi Station is renamed [Nishi Miyoshi Station](/source/Nishi_Miyoshi_Station).

- 10 December 1954: Bingo-Tōkaichi Station is renamed [Miyoshi Station](/source/Miyoshi_Station_(Hiroshima)).

- 20 July 1955: [Uchina Station](/source/Uchina_Station) opens.

- 11 November 1955: The *Chidori* service begins.

- 20 December 1956: Bingo-Kumano Station is renamed [Hibayama Station](/source/Hibayama_Station).

- 13 April 1959: The *Chidori* is upgraded to a local express train.

- 15 March 1962: The *Taishaku* service begins.

- 5 March 1968: The *Taishaku* and *Chidori* services are upgraded to regular express trains.

- 1 March 1983: The line between Miyoshi Station and Hiroshima Station uses [CTC](/source/Centralized_traffic_control).

- 31 October 1983: The line between Bitchū-Kōjiro and Miyoshi uses CTC.

- 15 March 1985: The *Miyoshi* express service begins.

- 1 November 1986: Freight service is discontinued on the Geibi Line.

- 1 April 1987: The Geibi Line becomes part of [West Japan Railway Company](/source/West_Japan_Railway_Company) following privatization of [Japanese National Railways](/source/Japanese_National_Railways).

- 1 April 1991: *Wanman* [driver-only operation](/source/Driver-only_operation) commences on the line between [Niimi](/source/Niimi_Station) and [Miyoshi](/source/Miyoshi_Station_(Hiroshima)).

- 1 November 1991: The line between Miyoshi and Hiroshima is converted to *wanman* [driver-only operation](/source/Driver-only_operation).

- 22 March 2002: The *Chidori* and *Taishaku* express services are absorbed into the *Miyoshi* express service.

- 1 October 2003: The *Miyoshi Liner* and *Tsūkin Liner* services begin.

- 23 April 2006: The Geibi Line is moved between Kamikawatachi and Kōtachi following widening of Hiroshima Prefectural Route 37 between Hiroshima and Miyoshi.

- 19 July 2006: Services between Bingo-Ochiai and Bingo-Saijō are suspended due to storm damage of the Geibi Line. An interim bus service begins the following day.

- 1 April 2007: Train service is resumed between Bingo-Ochiai and Bingo-Saijō.

- 1 July 2007: *Miyoshi* express services are discontinued, and *Tsūkin Liner* rapid services are integrated into *Miyoshi Liner* rapid services.[3]

- 7 July 2018: The [2018 Japan floods](/source/2018_Japan_floods) result in damage to the line in several places, most significantly destroying the bridge over the Misasagawa River between Shirakiyama and Karuga stations, resulting in the closure of the entire line.[4]

- 23 July 2018: The Hiroshima – Shimofukawa section of the line is reopened. JR West advises replacement of the Misasagawa Bridge is expected to take up to a year.

- 25 August 2018: The Karuga – Shimofukawa section of the line is reopened.

- 27 August 2018: The Bitchū-Kōjiro – Tōjō section of the line is reopened.

- 31 August 2018: The Tōjō – Bingo-Ochiai section of the line is reopened.

- 4 October 2018: The Bingo-Shōbara – Miyoshi section of the line is reopened.

- 20 December 2018: The Bingo-Ochiai – Bingo-Shōbara section of the line is reopened.

- 4 April 2019: The Miyoshi – Nakamita section of the line is reopened. However, trains only operate in the morning and evening hours (Operations were suspended from 25 July to 31 August).

- 23 October 2019: The Nakamita – Karuga section of the line is reopened. The entire line reopened after 1 year and 3 months from the 2018 Japan floods.

- 9 March 2020: A KiHa 120 car derails near Bingo-Yawata station, causing a temporary closure of the line between Tōjō and Bingo-Ochiai.[5]

- 8 June 2021: JR West initiated a work group with local communities along the [Bingo-Shōbara](/source/Bingo-Sh%C5%8Dbara_Station) – [Niimi](/source/Niimi_Station) section to assess the future of the line. According to JR West data, on average only 81 passengers use the line between [Bitchū-Kōjiro](/source/Bitch%C5%AB-K%C5%8Djiro_Station) and [Tōjō](/source/T%C5%8Dj%C5%8D_Station_(Hiroshima)), 11 between Tōjō and [Bingo-Ochiai](/source/Bingo-Ochiai_Station) and 215 between Bingo-Ochiai and [Miyoshi](/source/Miyoshi_Station_(Hiroshima)). Due to the lack of patronage, JR West is considering to abolish the aforementioned section and replace it with bus services.[6]

## See also

- [List of railway lines in Japan](/source/List_of_railway_lines_in_Japan)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["乗客は1日13人…JR西が困り果てる「赤字ローカル線」1ミリも譲らない地元自治体の言い分とは？"](https://diamond.jp/articles/-/342988?page=2). *ダイヤモンド・オンライン* (in Japanese). 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["芸備線再構築協議会 実証事業に係る臨時列車の運行について：JR西日本"](https://www.westjr.co.jp/press/article/2025/06/page_28282.html). *www.westjr.co.jp* (in Japanese). Retrieved 21 July 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-jrwest20070509_3-0)** [平成19年夏のダイヤ改正（広島・山口エリア）](https://web.archive.org/web/20080503095210/http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/1172977_799.html) [Summer 2007 timetable revision (Hiroshima and Yamaguchi area)]. *News release* (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 9 May 2007. Archived from [the original](http://www.westjr.co.jp/news/newslist/article/1172977_799.html) on 3 May 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["10 rail sections out of service for over a month in flood-hit region：The Asahi Shimbun"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180720165605/http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201807120037.html). Archived from [the original](http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201807120037.html) on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["線路上に土砂、快速列車が横転 広島・芸備線、乗客なし：朝日新聞デジタル"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200321072653/https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASN392SM5N39PITB003.html). *朝日新聞デジタル* (in Japanese). 9 March 2020. Archived from [the original](https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASN392SM5N39PITB003.html) on 21 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["廃線危機の芸備線一部区間 JR発足時から大きく変化したダイヤ 途中で急行化し広島へ"](https://trafficnews.jp/post/107964). *乗りものニュース* (in Japanese). 12 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.

v t e JR West lines Shinkansen San'yō Shinkansen (Hakataminami) Hokuriku Shinkansen Main Kansai Kisei Sanin San'yō Takayama Tōkaidō Hokuriku Local Akō Bantan Line Etsumi-Hoku JR Takarazuka Line Fukuen Line Gantoku Geibi Line Hakubi Line Hanwa Line Himi Honshi-Bisan Line Inbi Line Jōhana JR Tōzai Line Kabe Line Kakogawa Line Kansai Airport Line Gakkentoshi Line Kibi Line Kishin Line Kisuki Line Kosei Line Kure Line Kusatsu Line Maizuru Line Mine Nanao Nara Line Obama Ōito Onoda Osaka Higashi Line Osaka Loop Sakai Line Man-yō Mahoroba Line (Sakurai Line) JR Yumesaki Line Tsuyama Line Ube Uno Line Wakayama Line Yamaguchi Other Biwako Line JR Kyōto Line JR Kōbe Line Sagano Yamatoji Seto-Ōhashi Past Gannichi Hokuriku Main Hapi Fukui Ishikawa Ainokaze Toyama Echigo Tokimeki Nihonkai Hisui Kajiya Miki Miyazu Noto Sankō Shigaraki Taisha Toyamakō Wakasa Gakkentoshi Kyobashi - Katamachi

v t e Transit in Hiroshima JR West Shinkansen San'yō Hiroshima City Network San'yō Geibi Kabe Kure Fukuen Hiroshima Rapid Transit Astram Hiroden Lines Main Ujina Eba Hakushima Hijiyama (Minami) Yokogawa Miyajima Routes Terminals Rail Hiroshima Kaitaichi Kure Fukuyama Bus Hiroshima Bus Center Airport Hiroshima Port Hiroshima Miyajimaguchi Bus Geiyo Bus Hiroshima Kotsu Hiroden Bus HD Bon Bus Chugoku JR Bus Ferries JR Miyajima Ferry Miyajima Matsudai Kisen First Beach Aqua Net Hiroshima Akitsu Ferry Inoshima Kisen Setonai Kaisen Sanyo Shosen Ferry First Beach Cards PASPY ICOCA Japan transit: Tokyo Keihanshin Chūkyō Fukuoka–Kitakyushu Hokkaido Aomori Sendai Akita Niigata Toyama Nagano Hakone–Fuji–Izu Okayama Hiroshima Shikoku Metro systems Shinkansen monorails (list) trams (list) aerial lifts (list)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Geibi Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geibi_Line) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geibi_Line?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.