1.
branch line; spur line; feeder line
A secondary railway line, road, or cable that branches off from a main line. Most commonly refers to a smaller railway line that connects to a trunk line.
この駅で支線に乗り換える。
Transfer to the branch line at this station.
支線は本数が少ないので時刻表を確認してください。
The branch line has few trains, so please check the timetable.
利用者の減少により支線の廃止が検討されている。
Discontinuation of the branch line is being considered due to declining ridership.
Compound of 支 ('branch; offshoot') and 線 ('line; route'). The standard term for a secondary railway or cable line that branches off from the main (本線).
USAGE:
- In railway terminology, 支線 contrasts with 本線 ('main line'). Branch lines typically serve smaller communities and run less frequently.
- Also used for telecommunications and electrical wiring: a 支線 branches from the main cable to serve individual buildings or areas.
- Many rural 支線 in Japan face closure due to population decline and low ridership — a recurring topic in regional news.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 支線に乗り換える: to transfer to a branch line
- 支線の廃止: discontinuation of a branch line
- 本線と支線: main line and branch line
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 本線: main line; trunk line — the primary route from which branch lines diverge
- 路線: route; line — the general term for a railway, bus, or airline route
- 単線: single-track line — a railway with only one track, common on branch lines
- 私鉄: private railway — a non-JR railway company, many of which operate branch lines