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Utsunomiya Station

is a railway station in the city of Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). The station also is a freight depot for the Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight).

Utsunomiya Station East is the current terminus of the Utsunomiya Light Rail line located in front of the East Exit, while Tōbu-Utsunomiya Station is located 1.6 km west of this station.

Lines

Utsunomiya Station is served by the following JR East lines:

Layout

The elevated Shinkansen platforms are designed to handle 16-car trains. Inbound and outbound trains have their own platform. An additional two through (passing) tracks (tracks 2 and 3) are located between the platforms.

The platforms for local trains are a combination of both island and individual platforms, designed to handle 15-car trains. A side track (often used for freight trains) is located between platforms 5 and 7.

LED information signboards are located on the 2nd-floor concourse both outside and within the ticket gates. Further LED signboards are located on each individual platform.

Platforms

Some Nikkō Line trains operate from platform 7. Some Utsunomiya Line trains operate from platform 5.

History

  • July 16, 1885: Station opens on what is now the Tōhoku Main Line.
  • June 1, 1890: Nikkō Line begins operation
  • June 23, 1982: Tōhoku Shinkansen begins operation
  • November 18, 2001: Introduction of Suica-enabled ticket gates.
  • October 12, 2003: Introduction of Suica-enabled ticket gates for Shinkansen passes.
  • January 29, 2008: Introduction of Suica-only ticket gates.
  • March 2019: Discontinued operating services bound for Takasaki Station via Shin-Maebashi Station on Ryomo Line, which last for 60 years since 1958.
  • August 26, 2023: Utsunomiya Light Rail started operation of the and held an opening ceremony near Utsunomiya Station East.

Passenger statistics

In fiscal 2019, the station was used by an average of 37,374 passengers daily (boarding passengers only).

Utsunomiya Light Rail

Utsunomiya Station East

is the current terminus of the light rail line, located in front of the East Exit. The station is also called named after the nearby convention center .

Utsunomiya Station West

Utsunomiya Light Rail has an extension plan to overcross the JR conventional lines, undercross the elevated Tohoku Shinkansen line, open another station in front of the West Exit, , and extend the line to Tochigi Education Center where points 3km further west. It is scheduled to open in the 2030s.

Bus routes

West Exit

Track 1,2

Track 3

It is possible for passengers who have valid Japan Rail Pass to use following all bus routes operated by JR Bus Kanto for free.

Track 4

Track 4 has not been used since August 27, 2023.

Track 5

Buses bound for Fujimigaoka via Hanada and Utsunomiya Commercial high school or Takebayashi and FKD operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

Track 6

Buses bound for Otani Kaido Avenue via Babacho and Prefectural operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

Track 7

Track 8

Track 9

Track 10

Track 11

Track 12

Track 13

Track 14

Former Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 15

Toya Kotsu (Kanto Transportation)

Track 16

Highway buses operated by Kanto Transportation depart from and arrive at this track.

Track 38

  • [34] Utsunomiya City Circular-route Bus "Kibuna"

East Exit

Track 3

Track 4

See also

References

External links