Shintetsu Ao Line Explained

Shintetsu Ao Line
Native Name:粟生線
Native Name Lang:ja
Color:D03
Stations:20
Open:28 December 1936
Linelength:29.2km (18.1miles)
Electrification:1,500 V DC
Speed:70round=5NaNround=5

The is a commuter railway line in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, operated by the Kobe Electric Railway (Shintetsu). It connects Kobe with its northwestern suburb, Ono. The line is 29.2km (18.1miles) long, extending from Suzurandai in Kita-ku to Ao, where the line connects with the West Japan Railway Company (JR West) Kakogawa Line, although all trains continue past Suzurandai to Shinkaichi via the Shintetsu Arima Line and Kobe Rapid Railway Namboku Line.

Between Suzurandai Station and Kizu Station, track gradient can reach 50 at most.

History

The Miki Electric Railway Co. opened the Suzurandai – Hirono Golf-jo-mae on 28 December 1936.[1] DMUs operated until the section was electrified the following year and extended to Miki Uenomaru, with the extension to Miki opening in 1938.

In 1947 the company merged with the Kobe Electric Railway Co., which extended the line to Ono on 28 December 1951, and from Ono to Ao on 10 April 1952.[1]

The Nishi-Suzurandai – Aina section was duplicated in 1982, and the Kizu – Oshibedani section was duplicated between 1979 and 1989.

Former connecting lines

Stations

No.StationDistance (km)Local
(普通)
Semi-Express
(準急)
Express
(急行)
TransfersLocation
↑ Through Service via the Shintetsu Arima Line and Kobe Kosoku Line to/from ↑
Suzurandai鈴蘭台0.0SSS Arima Line (Through Service)Kita-ku, Kobe
Suzurandai-nishiguchi鈴蘭台西口0.8SSS 
Nishi-Suzurandai西鈴蘭台1.3SSS 
Aina藍那3.0SS 
Kizu木津6.4SS Nishi-ku, Kobe
Kobata木幡8.1SSS 
Sakae9.6SSS 
Oshibedani押部谷11.2SSS 
Midorigaoka緑が丘12.8SSS Miki
Hirono Golf-jo-mae広野ゴルフ場前13.5SSS 
Shijimi志染15.6SSS 
Ebisu恵比須17.6SSS 
Miki Uenomaru三木上の丸18.6SSS 
Miki三木19.3SSS 
Omura大村20.8SSS 
Kashiyama樫山23.2SSS Ono
Ichiba市場23.9SSS 
Ono小野26.2SSS 
Hata葉多27.7SSS 
Ao粟生29.2SSS Kakogawa Line
Hojo Railway Hojo Line

References

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

Notes and References

  1. Book: Terada, Hirokazu . データブック日本の私鉄 . Databook: Japan's Private Railways . Neko Publishing . July 2002 . Japan . 263–4. 4-87366-874-3.