Izu Kyūkō Line Explained

Izu Kyūkō Line
Type:Heavy rail
Locale:Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Stations:16
Open:1961
Operator:Izukyū Corporation
Linelength Km:45.7
Electrification:1,500 V DC overhead

The Izu Kyūkō Line (Japanese: 伊豆急行線|Izu Kyūkō-sen) is a privately owned railway line of the Izukyū Corporation in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

The line approximately parallels the eastern coast of the Izu Peninsula, a tourist district noted for its numerous hot spring resorts, and golf courses, between Itō Station in Itō and Izukyū Shimoda Station in Shimoda. The line opened in 1961.

Since March 13, 2010, PASMO and Suica cards are accepted on the line.[1]

Basic data

Automatic (ATS-Si, compatible with East Japan Railway Company (JR East) ATS-SN.)

History

Initial plans called for the Japanese National Railways (JNR) to build a spur line linking Atami on the Tōkaidō Main Line with Shimoda. However, funding was limited in the 1930s due to a combination of a tight fiscal policy under Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi during the Great Depression, and a number of technical issues.

On March 30, 1935, the initial 8.7 km section of the Itō Line linking Atami with was opened. The second (8.3 km) section from Ajiro to was opened on December 15, 1938. Both sections were electrified at 1500 VDC when opened. Further work was delayed, and then canceled due to the outbreak of World War II.

Construction south of Itō resumed when the private-sector Tokyu Corporation acquired the rights to complete the line to Shimoda and established the Izukyū Corporation to manage construction and operations of this section. The line to Shimoda opened in 1961.

Operation

The northern terminal station for the Izu Kyūkō Line is at Ito Station, from which local trains depart for the southern terminal station of Izukyū-Shimoda. However, several varieties of limited express trains operated by JR East originate at Tokyo Station travel via the Itō Line tracks to Ito, and then terminate at Izukyū-Shimoda. These include the Odoriko and Super View Odoriko named trains. Similarly, the Resort Odoriko operated by the Izu Kyūkō Line also makes the same run, but using different rolling stock.

Station list

No.Station
Name
JapaneseDistance from
Itō (km)
TransfersLocation
Town/CityPrefecture
IZ01伊東0.0JR East

Itō Line

ItōShizuoka
IZ02南伊東2.0
IZ03川奈6.1
IZ04富戸11.5
IZ05城ヶ崎海岸13.9
IZ06伊豆高原15.9
IZ07伊豆大川駅20.9Kamo District,
Higashiizu
IZ08伊豆北川駅22.9
IZ09伊豆熱川24.3
IZ10片瀬白田26.1
IZ11伊豆稲取30.3
IZ12今井浜海岸駅34.2Kamo District,
Kawazu
IZ13河津35.3
IZ14稲梓40.7Shimoda
IZ15蓮台寺43.4
IZ16伊豆急下田45.7

Rolling stock

Current

Former

See also

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

Notes and References

  1. http://www.izukyu.co.jp/ir/newsletter/210114.pdf "Suicaサービスの開始について" (14 January 2009)