Akō Line

The line is operated in two sections:

• Aioi, Banshū-Akō and
• Banshū-Akō, Higashi-Okayama

No trains terminate at either of the official terminal stations. At Aioi all trains operate a through service to/from Himeji on the Sanyo Main Line with many services continuing further on JR West's Kansai region Urban Network through to Osaka, Kyoto, Maibara & Tsuruga.

As of January 2026, the furthest in distance that Ako Line trains operate to/from is Tsuruga, while the longest service in time is the first weekday service departing Banshū-Akō at 05:33 which operates a Rapid service to Maibara arriving at 10:13 with a running time of 4 hours, 40 minutes.

At Higashi-Okayama all trains operate a through service to/from Okayama and beyond on the Sanyo Main Line.

All trains on the line are Local services, stopping at every station. "Rapid" and "Special Rapid" trains to/from Kyoto and beyond operate as Local trains between Aioi and Banshū-Akō.

The initial section between Aioi and Banshu-Ako opened in 1951, and the line was opened progressively, to Hinase in 1955, Inbe in 1958, and Higashi-Okayama in 1962. The Aioi - Banshu-Ako section was electrified in 1961, and the rest of the line in 1969.

CTC signalling was commissioned between Higashi-Okayama and Banshu-Ako in 1983.

Former connecting lines

• Banshu-Ako Station: The Ako Railway operated a 13 km (8.1 mi) 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line to Une on the Sanyo Main Line between 1921 and 1951.
• Nishi-Katakami Station: The Dowa Mining Co. opened a 34 km (21 mi) line to Yanahara, to haul iron sulphide ore, between 1923 and 1931. The line is also connected to Wake station on the Sanyo Main Line. Passenger services commenced in 1931, freight services ceased in 1988 and the line closed in 1991.