Honkawachi Station Explained

Honkawachi Station
Native Name:本川内駅
Native Name Lang:ja
Symbol Location:jp
Symbol:jrk
Style:JR Kyushu
Address:Hongawachigo, Nagayo-cho, Nishisonogi-gun, Nagasaki-ken 851-2122
Country:Japan
Coordinates:32.8328°N 129.8997°W
Operator: JR Kyushu
Line: Nagasaki Main Line
Distance:12.3 km from (starting point of branch)
Platforms:1 side platform
Tracks:1
Structure:At grade
Accessible:Yes - ramps lead to platform
Status:Unstaffed
Former:Hongawachi Signal Box (until 1 June 1952)
Passengers:81 daily
Pass Year:FY2014
Map Type:Japan Nagasaki Prefecture#Japan
Map Dot Label:Honkawachi Station
Mapframe:yes
Mapframe-Zoom:17

is a passenger railway station located in the town of Nagayo, Nishisonogi District, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Kyushu.[1]

Lines

The station is served by the old line or the branch of the Nagasaki Main Line and is located 12.3 km from the branch point at . Only local trains run on this branch.[2]

Station layout

The station consists of a side platform serving a single track. The station building is a timber structure and is unstaffed, housing only a waiting area, an automatic ticket vending machine and a SUGOCA card reader. A ramp leads from the station building to the platform. In the past, the platform track was on a siding and trains stopping at the station used to have to perform a switchback manoeuvre to enter and leave. This has been discontinued with the new platform built on the main track but the remnants of the switches and tracks used in the switchback can still be seen.[3] [4]

History

Japanese National Railways (JNR) opened the station as on 1 October 1943 on the existing track of the Nagasaki Main Line. On 1 June 1952, the facility was upgraded to a full passenger station. At the same time, the reading of the station name was changed from Hongawachi to Honkawachi, with no change to the corresponding kanji. On 2 October 1972, a shorter inland bypass route was opened between through to was opened, which became known as the new line or Ichinuno branch of the Nagasaki Main Line. The section serving Honkawachi which ran from Kikitsu through Nagayo to Urakami became known as the old line or the Nagayo branch. With the privatization of JNR on 1 April 1987, control of the station passed to JR Kyushu.

Passenger statistics

In fiscal 2014, there were a total of 29,561 boarding passengers, giving a daily average of 81 passengers.[5]

Surrounding area

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: JR Kyushu Route Map. JR Kyushu. 3 March 2018.
  2. Web site: 本川内. Honkawachi. 16 March 2018. JR Kyushu official station website.
  3. Book: Kawashima, Ryōzō. ja: 図説: 日本の鉄道 四国・九州ライン 全線・全駅・全配線・第5巻 長崎 佐賀 エリア. 2013 . Kodansha. 9784062951647. Japan Railways Illustrated. Shikoku and Kyushu. All lines, all stations, all track layouts. Volume 5 Nagasaki Saga area. Japanese. 42, 69.
  4. Web site: 本川内. Honkawachi. 16 March 2018. hacchi-no-he.net.
  5. Web site: 第63版(平成28年)長崎県統計年鑑. Nagasaki Prefecture Statistics Yearbook 63rd Edition 2016. 16 March 2018. Nagasaki Prefectural Government website. See table at section under Transportation and Communications.