Himeji Station
The station building is located close to the Sanyo Electric Railway Himeji Station and Himeji Castle. Station layout. The preparation for elevation of the conventional lines has been undertaken since 1989, and begun in earnest in 1994 after the relocation of Himeji's freight terminal and train yards. On March 26, 2006, platforms for the JR Kobe Line and Sanyo Main Line switched to the elevated railway, while the remainder of the platforms, for the Bantan and Kishin Lines, were elevated beginning on December 22, 2008. Removal of ground platforms and the remainder of reconstruction work is planned  to conclude in 2010. History. Himeji Station was opened by Sanyo Railway, the present-day Sanyo Main Line, in 1888. At the time, railway stations were usually built either outside or alongside urban areas, but Himeji Station was built bordering the old city walls, at the end of the main street (Ootemae-dori). The current Sanyo Railway Station is actually constructed on top of part of the old city wall. It is thought that the reason was that the army was based in Himeji Castle. This proximity to the city helped to contribute to urban development. Himeji Station was linked  to , the present day Bantan Line, in 1894. Kishin Line was linked to the station in 1930. The station was expanded with the opening of the Sanyo Shinkansen in 1972.