Akō Line

Akō Line (赤穂線, Akō-sen) is a railway line owned by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) between Aioi, Hyōgo to Okayama, Okayama in Japan.

Trains from the east continue from Himeji on the Sanyō Main Line and terminate at Akō, while westbound services originating from Akō continue past Higashi-Okayama and continue on the Sanyō Main Line to Okayama and beyond.

"Rapid" and "Special Rapid" trains from Kyoto and beyond make local stops between Aioi and Banshū-Akō, and the segment of the line is part of JR West's Kinki region Urban Network.

The line is split into two sections at Banshū-Akō Station, where passengers would have to interchange for train services to/from the Keihanshin region and the Okayama region.

The Aioi - Banshu-Ako section was electrified in 1961, and the rest of the line in 1969.

Opening ceremony for the Ako Railway at Banshu-Ako station, 14 April 1921
Dowa Mining Co. diesel rail car