Kūkō Line (Fukuoka City Subway) Explained

Airport Line
Other Name:Airport Line
Native Name:空港線
Native Name Lang:ja
Type:Rapid transit
Locale:Fukuoka, Fukuoka
Stations:13
Depot:Meinohama
Stock:1000 series, 2000 series, etc.
Electrification:1,500 V DC overhead catenary
Map State:Show
Mapcolor: Orange

The is a subway line, part of the Fukuoka City Subway system in Fukuoka, Japan. It connects Meinohama, Nishi Ward to Fukuokakūkō (Fukuoka Airport), Hakata Ward, all within Fukuoka. The line's color on maps is orange. Officially, the line is called . The line has a through service with JR Chikuhi Line. Like other Fukuoka City Subway lines, stations are equipped with automatic platform gates, and trains are automatically operated by ATO system. However, JR train cars (from Chikuhi Line) are operated manually.

This is the only subway line in Japan that directly links to an airport. Although Toei Asakusa Line trains in Tokyo also serve airports (Narita and Haneda), those are not the stations of the Asakusa Line itself. Rather, they are the stations of suburban lines that the Asakusa Line has through services with.

The Airport Line goes through many important areas of the city, namely Nishijin, Tenjin, Hakata, and the airport.

Station list

All stations aer in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture.

No.Station nameJapaneseDistance (km)TransfersLocation
Some through services to/from via the and the Karatsu Line
K01姪浜 0 Chikuhi Line (JK01) (through service)
K02室見 1.5 Sawara
K03藤崎 2.3
K04西新 3.4
K05唐人町 4.6 Chūō
K06大濠公園 5.4
K07赤坂 6.5
K08天神 7.3 (Tenjin-minami (N16))
Tenjin-Ōmuta Line (Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin))
K09中洲川端 8.1 (H01) (through service) Hakata
Some through services to/from via the
K10祇園 9.1
K11博多 9.8 Kyushu Shinkansen, Kagoshima Main Line, Sasaguri Line (Fukuhoku Yutaka Line)
Hakata Minami Line, Sanyō Shinkansen (N18)
K12東比恵 11.0
K13 (Fukuoka Airport) 福岡空港 13.1

Through services to/from the Hakozaki Line do not continue onto the Chikuhi Line (and vice versa); they terminate at Meinohama Station instead.

Rolling stock

Fukuoka Subway

JR Kyushu

A fleet of six new 305 series 6-car electric multiple unit (EMU) commuter trains was introduced on through services to and from the Chikuhi Line from February 2015.[2]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-11-30 . ja:福岡市地下鉄空港線・箱崎線へ新型車両「4000系」導入 24年秋ごろ運用開始 . New 4000 series trains to be introduced on the Fukuoka City Subway Kuko Line and Hakozaki Line. Operation will begin around fall 2024. . 2023-11-30 . Tetsudo Channel . ja.
  2. Web site: 1 August 2014 . JR九州 筑肥線に305系通勤型直流電車投入 . JR Kyushu to introduce 305 series DC commuter trains on Chikuhi Line . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150123120228/https://rail.hobidas.com/news/info/article/141079.html . 23 January 2015 . 1 August 2014 . Tetsudo Hobidas . Neko Publishing . ja . Japan.