*) Ueno - Ōmiya was opened in 1883 as a part of present Takasaki line. However, there was no station at Ōmiya. Ōmiya station opened first in 1885 when the Tōhoku line was opened.

Tōhoku ("Eastnorth") is the name of the northern part of the Honshu island. Tōhoku line is the old main line from Tōkyō to the north. Replaced by Shinkansen for long-distance travel. Used by local trains and the night trains.

The traffic on the Tōhoku lines between Tōkyō and Ōmiya is rather complex. Different line names are used for the different traffic concepts.

Utsunomiya line
Ueno - Ōmiya: Separate double track. The tracks passes Nippori station (no platforms) and runs over the Oku section to Akabane. The name "Utsunomiya line" is used for the medium- and long distance traffic on the Ueno - Kuroiso section of Tōhoku line.
Traffic pattern: See below

Takasaki line
Ueno - Ōmiya: Uses same tracks as Utsunomiya line.
The Takasaki line starts officially in Ōmiya, but the name is also used for Ueno - Ōmiya section.
Traffic pattern: At Takasaki line page

Keihin Tōhoku line
Tōkyō - Ōmiya: Separate double track. Between Tabata and Akabane the only line running the original Tōhoku line route.
Traffic pattern: At Keihin-Tōhoku line page

Shōnan Shinjuku line
(Ikebukuro -) Akabane - Ōmiya: Separate double track.
The tracks run between Ikebukuro and Akebane along the Yamanote to Komagome, bypassing Tabata north of the station and then along the Utsunomiya line tracks. However, fares are calculated the shorter way over Akabane (Saikyō) line between Ikebukuro and Akabane.
Traffic pattern: At Shōnan Shinjuku Line page (trains beyond Ōmiya are also listed below).

Chūō line
Tōkyō - Kanda: Separate double track
Traffic pattern: At Chūō line page

Yamanote line
Tōkyō - Tabata: Separate double track
Traffic pattern: At Yamanote line page

Jōban line
Ueno - Nippori: Separate double track
Traffic pattern: At Jōban line page

At Yono, there is a 4.9 km line to Nishi-Urawa at Musashino line. It is known as Musashino Ōmiya branch line. It is a freight line but it is used by the Rapid Musashino between Hachiōji/Fuchū-Honmachi and Ōmiya (2 trains/day in each direction).

This section is used by all medium- and long-distance Tōhoku line trains between Ueno and Ōmiya. The original line is only used by the short-distance Keihin Tōhoku line trains Tōkyō - Ōmiya and, between Nippori and Tabata, by Yamanote line trains.
For traffic pattern information, please consult the Tōhoku line section above!

Utsunomiya line is an endearment name used for the medium- and long-distance traffic on Tōhoku Hon line Ueno - Ōmiya - Utsunomiya - Kuroiso. The trains on Utsunomiya line runs Ueno - Nippori - Oku - Akabane. The trains from Ueno to Takasaki line runs the same way between Ueno and Ōmiya. Traffic pattern: See Tōhoku Hon section above!