# Musashino Line

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The **Musashino Line** (武蔵野線, *Musashino-sen*) is a railway line operated by the [East Japan Railway Company](/source/East_Japan_Railway_Company) (JR East). It links [Tsurumi Station](/source/Tsurumi_Station) in [Yokohama](/source/Yokohama) with [Nishi-Funabashi Station](/source/Nishi-Funabashi_Station) in [Chiba Prefecture](/source/Chiba_Prefecture), forming a 100.6 km (62.5 mi) unclosed loop around central [Tokyo](/source/Tokyo). Passenger operations are limited to the 71.8 km (44.6 mi) portion between and Nishi-Funabashi; the Tsurumi to Fuchūhommachi portion, called the "Musashino South Line", is normally used only by freight trains. The line forms part of what JR East refers to as the "Tokyo Mega Loop" (Japanese: 東京メガループ) around Tokyo, consisting of the [Keiyō Line](/source/Keiy%C5%8D_Line), Musashino Line, [Nambu Line](/source/Nambu_Line), and [Yokohama Line](/source/Yokohama_Line).[2]

## Services

Most services on the Musashino Line are local trains making all stops. Some trains continue through the [Keiyō Line](/source/Keiy%C5%8D_Line) past Nishi-Funabashi to , or .

Other services include:

- *[Musashino](/source/Musashino_(train))*: services operated between Fuchūhommachi/Hachiōji and
- *[Shimōsa](/source/Shim%C5%8Dsa_(train))*: services operated between and /
- *Holiday Kaisoku Kamakura* seasonal service between and
- *Burari Kamakura* and *Yokohama Bay Area* seasonal service between and
- *Burari Takao Sansaku* seasonal service between and

## Station list

Tsurumi Station is considered to be the origin of the Musashino Line; trains going clockwise (toward Nishi-Funabashi) are therefore referred to as heading "down" (下り, *kudari*), while trains going counter-clockwise (toward Fuchūhommachi) are heading "up" (上り, *nobori*). This is often counterintuitive, as it results in through trains to Tokyo being labeled and numbered as "down" trains while on the Musashino Line; however, such trains switch to "up" after joining the [Keiyō Line](/source/Keiy%C5%8D_Line).

All eastbound (for Nishi-Funabashi) passenger trains begin service at Fuchū-Hommachi Station. Details of the Musashino South Line and other branch lines, which are freight-only sections, can be found below the passenger station list.

### Musashino Line (passenger)

No. Name Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location Between stations Total 府中本町 - 0.0 (JN20), Musashino South Line (Freight) Fuchū Tokyo 北府中 1.7 1.7 西国分寺 2.2 3.9 (JC17) Kokubunji 新小平 3.5 7.4 (: ST03)[Note 1] Musashino Line (Kunitachi Freight Branch) Kodaira 新秋津 5.6 13.0 (: SI16) Higashimurayama 東所沢 2.7 15.7 Tokorozawa Saitama Niiza Freight Terminal 新座貨物ターミナル駅 3.7 19.4 Niiza 新座 0.3 19.7 北朝霞 3.1 22.8 (: TJ13) Asaka 西浦和 5.0 27.8 Musashino Line (Ōmiya Freight Branch) Sakura-ku, Saitama 武蔵浦和 2.0 29.8 (JA21) Musashino Line (Nishi-Urawa Freight Branch) Minami-ku, Saitama 南浦和 1.9 31.7 (JK42) 東浦和 3.7 35.4 Midori-ku, Saitama 東川口 3.8 39.2 (SR25) Kawaguchi 南越谷 4.3 43.5 (: TS20) Koshigaya Koshigaya Freight Terminal 越谷貨物ターミナル駅 0.4 43.9 越谷レイクタウン 2.4 46.3 吉川 1.9 48.2 Yoshikawa 吉川美南 1.7 49.9 新三郷 1.4 51.3 Misato 三郷 2.1 53.4 南流山 2.0 55.4 (TX10) Musashino Line (Kita-Kogane, Mabashi Freight Branches) Nagareyama Chiba 新松戸 2.1 57.5 (JL25) (: RN2) Matsudo 新八柱 4.1 61.6 (: KS84) 東松戸 2.4 64.0 (HS05) (HS05) 市川大野 1.9 65.9 Ichikawa 船橋法典 3.0 68.9 Funabashi 西船橋 2.9 71.8 (JM10; through to or ) (JB30) (T-23) (TR01)

Notes:

1. [Ōmekaidō Station](/source/%C5%8Cmekaid%C5%8D_Station) is approximately 10 minutes walk from Shin-Kodaira Station.

### Musashino Freight Branch Lines

Name Japanese Distance (km) Transfers Location Between stations Total Musashino South Line 鶴見 - 0.0 Tōkaidō Line, Keihin Tohoku Line, Tsurumi Line, Tokaido Freight Line, Takashima Freight Line Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa Shin-Tsurumi Yard 新鶴見信号場 3.9 3.9 Hinkaku Line, Nambu Line Freight Branch (for ) Kajigaya Freight Terminal 梶ヶ谷貨物ターミナル駅 8.8 12.7 Miyamae-ku, Kawasaki 府中本町 16.1 28.8 Musashino Line (towards Nishi-Kokubunji), Nambu Line Fuchū Tokyo Kunitachi Branch Line Shin-Kodaira 新小平 - 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Nishi-Funabashi) Kodaira Tokyo Kunitachi 国立 5.0 5.0 Chūō Line Kunitachi Omiya Branch Line Nishi-Urawa 西浦和 ‐ 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Fuchūhommachi and Tsurumi) Sakura-ku, Saitama Saitama Bessho Yard 別所信号場 1.3 1.3 Yono 与野 3.6 4.9 Tohoku Main Line (Tohoku Freight Line) Urawa-ku, Saitama Nishi-Urawa Branch Line Musashi-Urawa 武蔵浦和 ‐ ‐ Musashino Line (towards Nishi-Funabashi) Minami-ku, Saitama Saitama Bessho Yard 別所信号場 ‐ ‐ Musashino Line Omiya Branch Line Kita-Kogane Branch Line Minami-Nagareyama 南流山 ‐ 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Fuchūhommachi and Tsurumi) Nagareyama Chiba Kita-Kogane 北小金 2.9 2.9 Joban Line (towards Toride) Matsudo Mabashi Branch Line Minami-Nagareyama 南流山 ‐ 0.0 Musashino Line (towards Fuchūhommachi and Tsurumi) Nagareyama Chiba Mabashi 馬橋 3.7 3.7 Joban Line (towards Mikawashima) Matsudo

## Rolling stock

- [209-500 series](/source/209_series#209-500_series) eight-car EMUs (since December 2010)
- [E231-0 series](/source/E231_series#E231-0_series) eight-car EMUs (since November 2017)
- [E231-900 series](/source/E231_series#E231-900_series) eight-car EMU (since 20 July 2020)[3]

Three 209-500 series sets were transferred from the [Keiyō Line](/source/Keiy%C5%8D_Line) in 2010-2011, where they were displaced by new [E233-5000 series](/source/E233-5000_series) sets and reduced from ten to eight cars per set;[4] eight additional sets were transferred from the [Chūō–Sōbu Line](/source/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D%E2%80%93S%C5%8Dbu_Line) in 2018-2019. Between 2017 and 2020, E231-0 series sets were transferred from the Chūō–Sōbu Line and the Jōban Line and reduced from ten to eight cars per set to replace the 205 series.[5] In July 2020, the sole E231-900 series set was also transferred from the Chūō–Sōbu Line and reduced from ten to eight cars.[6]

### Former

- [101-1000 series](/source/101_series) 6-car EMUs (1 April 1973 - 26 October 1986)[2]
- [103 series](/source/103_series) 6-car, later 8-car EMUs (June 1980 - 8 December 2005)[2]
- [201 series](/source/201_series) 6-car EMUs (from 3 March 1986 - November 1996)[2]
- [205-0 series](/source/205_series#205-0_series) 8-car EMUs (from December 1991 - October 2019)
- [205-5000 series](/source/205_series#205-5000_series) 8-car EMUs (from 2002 - 19 October 2020)

[165](/source/165_series) and [169 series](/source/169_series) EMUs were used on *[Shinkansen Relay](/source/Shinkansen_Relay#Rapid_Shinkansen_Relay)* services and later *[Musashino](/source/Musashino_(train))* rapid services until 2002. [115 series](/source/115_series) EMUs were used on *Musashino* services from 2002 until the services were downgraded to all-stations "Local" status in December 2010. The 205-0 series sets were built from new for the Musashino Line, entering service from 1 December 1991,[2] and have six motored cars per eight-car set.[4] These were the last 205 series sets to be built from new.[2] The 205-5000 series sets were modified between 2002 and 2008 from displaced former [Yamanote Line](/source/Yamanote_Line) sets by adding new VVVF-controlled AC motors, and have four motored cars per eight-car set.[4] [205 series](/source/205_series) trains, both 205-0 and 205-5000 series, were withdrawn from Musashino Line and currently operated in Indonesia.

### Freight

Locomotive types seen hauling freight trains include the [Class EF64](/source/Class_EF64), [Class EF65](/source/Class_EF65), [Class EF66](/source/Class_EF66), [Class EF81](/source/Class_EF81), [Class EF200](/source/Class_EF200), [Class EF210](/source/Class_EF210), [Class EH200](/source/Class_EH200), [Class EH500](/source/Class_EH500), [Class DE10](/source/Class_DE10), and [Class HD300](/source/Class_HD300).

## History

The Musashino Line was initially envisioned as a "Tokyo Outer Loop Line" in a 1927 railway appropriations bill, but was not built for several decades due to [World War II](/source/World_War_II) and its aftermath.[citation needed] Construction finally began in November 1965.[2]

In 1967, a train carrying [jet fuel](/source/Jet_fuel) to [Tachikawa Air Base](/source/Tachikawa_Airfield) in western Tokyo exploded while passing through [Shinjuku Station](/source/Shinjuku_Station)[citation needed]. This disaster led to the banning of freight trains on railway lines in central Tokyo and sped the development of the Musashino Line as an alternative route[citation needed]. Because most of the line passed through sparsely populated areas, it was initially envisioned as a freight-only line. However, opposition from local residents, at the same time as the violent landowner battles plaguing [Narita International Airport](/source/Narita_International_Airport), led the railway authorities to agree to passenger service as well.

The first section of the line between and opened on 1 April 1973.[4] Train services were operated using 6-car [101-1000 series](/source/101_series) EMUs, which were modified specially for the line to comply with government regulations concerning fire resistance of trains operating through long tunnels, as the line included the 4,380 m (14,370 ft) Higashi-Murayama Tunnel (東村山トンネル) between Shin-Kodaira and Shin-Akitsu stations, and the 2,563 m (8,409 ft) Kodaira Tunnel (小平トンネル) between Shin-Kodaira and Nishi-Kokubunji stations.[2] Services operated at 15-minute intervals in the morning peak, and at 40-minute intervals during the daytime off-peak.[2]

The southern freight-only line from Fuchū-Hommachi to Tsurumi opened on 1 March 1976.[4] The eastern section of the line from Shin-Matsudo to opened on 2 October 1978.[4]

Inter-running to and from the Keiyo Line commenced on 1 December 1988.[4]

From the start of the 1 December 1996 timetable revision, all of the Musashino Line 103 series sets were lengthened from six to eight cars.[2]

On 20 August 2016, [station numbering](/source/Station_numbering) was introduced with stations on the Musashino line being assigned station numbers between JM10 and JM35.[7][8] Numbers increase in the counter-clockwise direction towards Fuchu-Hommachi.

### Future plans

In June 2025, [JR East](/source/East_Japan_Railway_Company) and [Seibu Railway](/source/Seibu_Railway) announced a plan to enable through service between the [Seibu Ikebukuro Line](/source/Seibu_Ikebukuro_Line) to the Musashino and Keiyo Lines by fiscal 2028.[9] The service would be achieved through a junction near [Shin-Akitsu Station](/source/Shin-Akitsu_Station) on the Musashino Line.

## See also

- [Osaka Higashi Line](/source/Osaka_Higashi_Line), envisioned as a counterpart in the Osaka area
- [Aichi Loop Line](/source/Aichi_Loop_Line), counterpart around Nagoya

## References

1. ["平成27年 大都市交通センサス 首都圏報告書"](http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001179760.pdf). *P.92*. 国土交通省.

1. Saka, Masayuki (August 2014). "ja:東京メガループ 車両・路線の沿革と現況" [Tokyo Megaloop: History and current situation of trains and line] (in Japanese). *Tetsudō Daiya Jōhō Magazine*. Vol. 43, no. 364. Japan: Kōtsū Shimbun. pp. 28–39.

1. ["【元209系】E231系900番台試作車・MU1編成として武蔵野線で"再出発""](https://train-fan.com/e231-900-mu1/) [[Former 209 series] E231-900 series prototype train restarts on Musashino Line as MU1]. 20 July 2020.

1. *ja: 首都圏鉄道完全ガイド 主要JR路線編* [Tokyo Area Complete Railway Guide - Major JR Lines]. Japan: Futabasha. 6 December 2013. pp. 87–97. ISBN 978-4-575-45414-7.

1. "ja: 武蔵野線にE231系が登場" [E231 series appears on the Musashino Line] (in Japanese). *[Japan Railfan Magazine](/source/Japan_Railfan_Magazine)*. Vol. 58, no. 681. Japan: Koyusha Co., Ltd. January 2018. p. 52.

1. ["【JR東】E231系元ミツB901編成大宮総合車両センター出場回送"](https://2nd-train.net/topics/article/28580/) [[JR East]E231 series former set B901 exited Omiya Rolling Stock Center]. 10 July 2020.

1. ["⾸都圏エリアへ 「駅ナンバリング」を導⼊します"](https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2016/20160402.pdf) [Introduce “station numbering” to the Tokyo metropolitan area] (in Japanese). *jreast.co.jp*. 6 April 2016. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20221207004741/https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2016/20160402.pdf) 7 December 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. Kusamachi, Yoshikazu (7 April 2016). ["JA・JK・JT・AKB…JR東日本、首都圏で駅ナンバリングなど導入へ"](https://response.jp/article/2016/04/07/273025.html) [JA, JK, JT, AKB … JR East to introduce station numbering in the Tokyo metropolitan area] (in Japanese). *Response Automotive Media*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20220806133507/https://response.jp/article/2016/04/07/273025.html) 6 August 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. ["西武池袋線とJRが初の直通運転、2028年度めどに…所沢駅と武蔵野線・新秋津駅の連絡線活用案"](https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/20250609-OYT1T50040/) (in Japanese). *[Yomiuri Shimbun](/source/Yomiuri_Shimbun)*. 2025-06-09. Retrieved 2025-06-09.

## External links

- [Stations of the Musashino Line](http://www.jreast.co.jp/estation/result.aspx?mode=2&rosen=63=1=%E6%AD%A6%E8%94%B5%E9%87%8E%E7%B7%9A) (JR East) (in Japanese)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Musashino Line](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashino_Line) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musashino_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.