Bingo-Ochiai Station

Bingo-Ochiai Station
備後落合駅
The front of the station building.
Location 1778, Saijō-chō Hattori, Shōbara, Hiroshima
（広島県庄原市西城町八鳥1778）
Japan
Coordinates 35°00′04″N 133°08′54″E / 35.0012°N 133.1484°E / 35.0012; 133.1484Coordinates: 35°00′04″N 133°08′54″E / 35.0012°N 133.1484°E / 35.0012; 133.1484
Operated by JR West
Line(s)
Connections
  • Bus stop
History
Opened 1935

Bingo Ochiai Station (備後落合駅, Bingo-Ochiai-eki) is a JR West Geibi and Kisuki Line station in Hattori (sometimes called "Ochiai Ekimae"), Saijō-chō, Shōbara, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The Miyoshi Liner express service from Hiroshima (one evening run) terminates at this station, although it is operated as a local train between Miyoshi and Bingo Ochiai.

Bingo Ochiai was previously a transfer station for express trains, and had a lot of staff to handle the large number of services which called here. Now all of the traffic is handled by a CTC system and the station is due to become unmanned. Facilities pnce included an engine shed, turntable, water tower, and a coal yard, though most traces of these had been removed by 2004, although an old house which used to provide accommodation for engine drivers still stands. Following full automation of the station's functions the station area is nowadays generally quiet.

Bingo Ochiai is popular among railway fans owing to its location, and is now counted one of Japan's hikyō stations. Being situated at the meeting-point of JR West's Okayama, Yonago, and Hiroshima operational divisions, Bingo Ochiai often sees visits by the vintage Okuizumo Orochi-gō tourist train, with its old-style coaches fitted with wooden benches.

History

  • 1935-12-20: Opens as the terminus of the Shōbara Line between Bingo Saijō and Bingo Ochiai
  • 1936-10-10: Upon completion of the line from Onuka Station, becomes an intermediary stop on the Sanshin Line between Bitchū Kōjiro and Miyoshi
  • 1937-07-01: Becomes a station on the nationalized Geibi Line, which stretches from Hiroshima to Niimi
  • 1937-12-12: Becomes a junction station between the Kisuki Line and the Geibi Line
  • 1987-04-01: Japan National Railways is privatized, and Bingo Ochiai becomes a JR West station

It was recently announced that Bingo Ochiai is to become an unmanned station at some point in the near future.

Station building and platform

There is one station-side platform facing an island with two more platform faces. The station features a kumitorishiki benjo (basically an "indoor outhouse" attached to the building).

Environs

Hiroshima Prefectural Route 234 (Bingo Ochiai Teishajō Route) connects Bingo Ochiai station to Japan National Route 314. A beauty salon and taxicab service are located on this road, along with a variety of vending machines. In addition, there is a ryokan for travellers which is frequented by those using the evening Chidori express. Owing to the smaller number of customers, the ryokan also acts as a tobacconist's in order to stay in business. Across the bridge at the base of the hill is a small grocery store, another group of vending machines, and a small-contract post office.

Route 314 connects to Japan National Route 183 on the way toward Saijō. A pull-in restaurant featuring area specialties such as oden and udon, hot foods which are especially popular during the ski season, can-be found along this route.

Connecting lines

All lines are part of the JR West network.

« Service »
Geibi Line
Dōgoyama - Hibayama
Kisuki Line
Yuki - Terminus
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