| Aichi Loop Line | |
| Color: | 0000CD |
| Logo Alt: | Logo of Aichi Loop Line |
| Stations: | 23 |
| Open: | 31 January 1988 |
| Operator: | Aichi Loop Railway |
| Linelength: | 45.3km (28.1miles) |
| Electrification: | 1,500 V DC |
| Speed: | 110 km/h (68 mph) |
The is a Japanese railway line connecting Okazaki Station in Okazaki and Kōzōji Station in Kasugai, operated by the . The company or the line is abbreviated as . This is the only line the company operates. Despite its name, the line is not a true loop, but a north-south line situated east of Nagoya, which can be considered as an unclosed loop (with the JR Tokaido line and Chuo Line serving as the portions of the circle).
The Aichi Loop Railway is a third sector company, with shares held by public sector such as Aichi Prefecture, the city of Toyota, and also by private companies. Unlike typical third-sector lines in Japan, the Aichi Loop Line makes a profit, since the line functions as a commuter rail line for nearby Toyota Motor factories.
Automatic (ATS-ST)
There are no rapid services. All trains stop at every station. Three or four trains run per hour.
| Station No. | Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Between stations | Total | |||||||
| 01 | 岡崎 | style="text-align:right;" | - | 0.0 | Tōkaidō Main Line | ｜ | Okazaki | |
| 02 | 六名 | 1.7 | 1.7 | ◇ | ||||
| 03 | 中岡崎 | 1.7 | 3.4 | Meitetsu Nagoya Line | ^ | |||
| 04 | 北岡崎 | 1.9 | 5.3 | v | ||||
| 05 | 大門 | 1.2 | 6.5 | ｜ | ||||
| 06 | 北野桝塚 | 2.2 | 8.7 | ^ | ||||
| 07 | 三河上郷 | 2.0 | 10.7 | v | Toyota | |||
| 08 | 永覚 | 1.7 | 12.4 | ｜ | ||||
| 09 | 末野原 | 1.6 | 14.0 | ◇ | ||||
| 10 | 三河豊田 | 1.9 | 15.9 | ^ | ||||
| 11 | 新上挙母 | 1.7 | 17.6 | Meitetsu Mikawa Line | ∥ | |||
| 12 | 新豊田 | 1.9 | 19.5 | Meitetsu Mikawa Line | v | |||
| 13 | 愛環梅坪 | 2.0 | 21.5 | ｜ | ||||
| 14 | 四郷 | 2.0 | 23.5 | ◇ | ||||
| 15 | 貝津 | 2.0 | 25.5 | ｜ | ||||
| 16 | 保見 | 1.3 | 26.8 | ◇ | ||||
| 17 | 篠原 | 2.4 | 29.2 | ◇ | ||||
| 18 | 八草 | 2.8 | 32.0 | Linimo (L09) | ◇ | |||
| 19 | 山口 | 2.6 | 34.6 | ◇ | Seto | |||
| 20 | 瀬戸口 | 2.1 | 36.7 | ◇ | ||||
| 21 | 瀬戸市 | 2.4 | 39.1 | Meitetsu Seto Line | ^ | |||
| 22 | 中水野 | 2.8 | 41.9 | ∥ | ||||
| 23 | 高蔵寺 | 3.4 | 45.3 | Chūō Main Line[1] | ∥ | Kasugai | ||
Services are operated by a fleet of 2-car 2000 series EMUs.[2]
The first section of the line between Okazaki and Kitano-Masuzuka opened in 1970 as the, a freight rail line of Japanese National Railways (JNR). The section between Kitano-Masuzuka and Shin-Toyota was extended and the whole line started a passenger service in 1976.
Another part of the line, between Setoshi and Kōzōji, was originally planned as the JNR Seto Line, a (later cancelled) freight line. The Okata Line, merged with the planned Seto Line route and the link between two, was renamed the Aichi Loop Line in 1988.
The newly founded Aichi Loop Line Company took over the line from Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central), with services starting on 31 January 1988.[3]
From 1 October 2005, through services began over the JR Chuo Main Line to Nagoya Station.[3]