Geibi Line

Geibi Line
A Geibi Line KiHa 120 DMU
Overview
Native name芸備線
StatusIn operation
Owner JR West
LocaleHiroshima and Okayama Prefectures
Termini
Stations44
Service
TypeCommuter rail line
SystemHiroshima City Network (KarugaHiroshima)
Operator(s)JR West
Rolling stockKiHa 120 series DMU, KiHa 40 series DMU
History
Opened28 April 1915 (1915-04-28)
Technical
Line length159.1 km (98.9 mi)
Number of tracksEntirely Single-tracked
CharacterRural and urban
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
SignallingAutomatic closed block
Train protection systemATS-SW
Route map

km
-
Niimi
-
Nunohara
Two tunnels
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
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
80.1
Shimowachi
Fukuen Line / Basen River
83.2
Shiomachi
84.7
Kamisugi
88.0
Yatsugi
90.3
Miyoshi
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
149.3
Akiyaguchi
152.1
Hesaka
156.9
Yaga
Hiroshima Prefectural Route 70
159.1
Hiroshima

The Geibi Line (芸備線, Geibi-sen) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in the mountainous area of the Chūgoku region in Japan. It begins at Bitchū Kōjiro Station on the west side of Niimi, Okayama Prefecture, connecting through Miyoshi Station in Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, and terminating at Hiroshima Station in Hiroshima. In addition to the Chūgoku 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 of Aki () (in Hiroshima Prefecture) and Bitchū () (in Okayama Prefecture), which the line connects.

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

The majority of the line was out of service after a bridge was destroyed in the 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.