 Both of these stations are also on the Tōhoku Main Line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East).The line first opened on 1 April 1968 as the , operated by Japanese National Railways (JNR) between Tsukinoki and Marumori.The original plan was to create a bypass route to relieve overcrowding on the Tōhoku Main Line, but work to extend the line was suspended following the quadrupling of tracks on the Tōhoku Main Line.