{{short description|Railway station in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan}} {{More citations needed|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox station | name = Kuroiso Station | style = JR East | native_name = 黒磯駅 | native_name_lang = ja | type = | image = JR Tohoku-Main-Line Kuroiso Station Platform 1.jpg | alt = JR Tohoku Main Line Curious Station Platform 1 | caption = Platform 1 of JR Tohoku-Main-Line Kuroiso Station | address = 1 Honchō, Nasushiobara-shi, Tochigi-ken 325-0056 | country = Japan | coordinates = {{coord|36|58|11.98|N|140|3|34.24|E|source:kowiki_region:JP|display=inline, title}} | operator = [[File:JR logo (east).svg|20px]] [[JR East]] | line = [[Tōhoku Main Line]] | distance = 163.3 km from {{STN|Tokyo|x}} | platforms = 2 island +1 side platforms | tracks = | connections = Bus stop | structure = | code = | status = Staffed (''[[Midori no Madoguchi]]'') | website = {{Official website|1=http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=638}} | opened = December 1, 1886 | closed = | former = | passengers = 2316 daily | pass_year = FY2019 | map_type = Japan Tochigi Prefecture#Japan | map_dot_label = Kuroiso Station | services = {{Adjacent stations|system=JR East|line=Tohoku|right=Takaku|note-mid=Local |line2=Utsunomiya|note-mid2=Local|left2=Nasushiobara}} }} {{nihongo|'''Kuroiso Station'''|黒磯駅|Kuroiso-eki}} is a [[railway station]] in the city of [[Nasushiobara, Tochigi]], Japan, operated by the [[East Japan Railway Company]] (JR East).

==Lines== Kuroiso Station serves as the [[Train station#Terminus|terminal station]] for two subsections of the JR East [[Tōhoku Main Line]], connecting the [[Utsunomiya Line]] (for {{STN|Utsunomiya|x}}, {{STN|Ōmiya|x|Saitama}}, and {{STN|Ueno|x}} to the south) and the [[Tōhoku Main Line#Southern Tōhoku Main Line|Southern Tōhoku Main Line]] (for {{STN|Fukushima|x|Fukushima}}, {{STN|Sendai|x|Miyagi}}, and {{STN|Morioka|x}} to the north). It is 163.3 km from the line's starting point of {{STN|Tokyo|x}}.

==Station layout== The station has one [[side platform]] and two [[island platform]]s serving five tracks. The platforms are connected to the station building by a footbridge. The station has a ''[[Midori no Madoguchi]]'' staffed ticket office.

===Platforms=== {{jpf|pfn=1-3|first=2|name=Utsunomiya Line|col=DarkOrange|dir=for {{STN|Utsunomiya|x}}, {{STN|Oyama|x}}}} {{jpf|pfn=4-5|first=3|name=Tohoku Main Line|col= MediumSeaGreen |dir=for {{STN|Shin-Shirakawa|x}}}}

==History== Kuroiso Station opened on December 1, 1886, operated by [[Nippon Railway]]. The station came under the control of [[Japanese Government Railways|JGR]] after Nippon Railway was [[Railway Nationalization Act|nationalized]] on November 1, 1906. JGR was reorganized into [[JNR]] on June 1, 1949, and inherited the station. The portion of the Utsunomiya Line from Hōshakuji to Kuroiso was [[Railway electrification system|electrified]] at 1.5 kV DC on May 22, 1959, and the section from Kuroiso to Shiroishi was electrified at 20 kV 50 Hz AC on July 1, 1959. With the privatization of JNR on April 1, 1987, the station came under the control of JR East.

The [[Overhead line#Dead section|dead section]] between the AC and DC powered sections of the Tohoku Main Line was once located within the station. Trains hauled by electric locomotives switched to AC or DC-powered locomotives when continuing northbound or southbound respectively, and electric multiple units dropped their pantograpsh when changing sections. In 2008, a maintenance worker was killed by electric shock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sa43ec6269b327851.jimcontent.com/download/version/1552608998/module/7771447061/name/%E9%83%A1%E5%B1%B1%E6%94%AF%E9%83%A8%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E2%84%9610~11.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025005705/https://sa43ec6269b327851.jimcontent.com/download/version/1552608998/module/7771447061/name/%E9%83%A1%E5%B1%B1%E6%94%AF%E9%83%A8%E6%83%85%E5%A0%B1%E2%84%9610~11.pdf|title=郡山支部情報|archivedate=2020-10-25|date=2018-11-18|page=2|accessdate=2020-10-25|publisher=東日本旅客鉄道労働組合郡山支部|format=PDF|language=ja}}</ref> In 2013, JR East changed the overhead lines in the station to be entirely DC-powered. The power system was then renovated, and on 1 January 2018, the dead section was relocated near a bridge north of the station.

==Passenger statistics== In fiscal 2019, the station was used by an average of 2316 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).<ref name="jreast2019stats">{{cite web |url=http://www.jreast.co.jp/passenger/2019_04.html|script-title=ja: 各駅の乗車人員 (2019年度)|trans-title=Station passenger figures (Fiscal 2019)|year= 2020|publisher= East Japan Railway Company|location= Japan|language= ja|access-date= 2 August 2020}}</ref>

==Surrounding area== The station, located in the former city of [[Kuroiso, Tochigi|Kuroiso]], sits in front of a street lined with several local cafes and businesses. Having a bus terminal, it also serves as a gateway to the neighboring town of [[Nasu, Tochigi|Nasu]], known in Japan for its mountain [[Onsen|hot springs]] and as the location of the [[Nasu Imperial Villa]].

==See also== * [[List of railway stations in Japan]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * [http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/station/info.aspx?StationCd=638 JR East station information] {{in lang|ja}}

{{Utsunomiya Line}} {{Tohoku Main Line}}

[[Category:Railway stations in Tochigi Prefecture]] [[Category:Tōhoku Main Line]] [[Category:Utsunomiya Line]] [[Category:Railway stations in Japan opened in 1886]] [[Category:Nasushiobara]] [[Category:Stations of East Japan Railway Company]]