Tokushima Line Explained

Tokushima Line
Color:2B4B65
Type:Heavy rail
Stations:24
Open:1899
Electrification:None
Speed:110 km/h (68 mph)
Map State:collapsed

The is a railway line in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku). The Tokushima Line connects Sako Station in Tokushima and Tsukuda Station in Miyoshi from west to east in central Tokushima Prefecture. As the line parallels the Yoshino River, it is officially nicknamed the . In addition to linking Tokushima and Kōchi prefectures, the line's eastern half serves the city of Tokushima as a commuter line.

Services

Although the official start of the line is at, rail services from Sako to Tsukuda are considered outbound, with the reverse being inbound. This is to allow for more efficient connecting service to the Dosan Line at Tsukuda.

The Tsurugisan limited express provides the bulk of express services on the line from Awa-Ikeda (on the Dosan Line) and Anabuki to Tokushima and Kaifu (on the Mugi Line). In the March 2009 timetable revision, a single inbound Muroto limited express was established, providing through service to on the Mugi Line.

There are two to three local trains per hour, with most trains serving the Tokushima  - Awa-Ikeda, Tokushima  - Anabuki, and Tokushima  - Awa-Kawashima sections. Some trains continue through to the Mugi Line via Tokushima. Local trains are generally driver-only operated, but some daytime and late-night trains between Tokushima and Anabuki, as well as three trains between Anabuki and Awa-Ikeda, often have a conductor on board. Due to the length of platforms, train lengths are limited to a maximum of four cars.

The Tokushima Line serves as a bypass route between Tokushima and Kōchi; in the past, the Asa and Yoshinogawa express and some Tsurugisan limited express services connected the two cities (now passengers must change at Awa-Ikeda to the Nanpū limited express).

Station list

Station No.StationJapaneseDistance (km)Transfers Location
Between
stations
From
Sako
徳島-1.4Mugi Line (M00)Tokushima
Through from Tokushima via the Kōtoku Line
佐古1.40.0Kōtoku Line (T01) (for and Naruto Line)*Tokushima
蔵本1.91.9 
鮎喰1.13.0 
府中2.25.2 
石井3.78.9 Ishii, Myōzai District
下浦2.311.2 
牛島2.513.7 Yoshinogawa
麻植塚2.015.7 
鴨島1.817.5 
西麻植1.919.4 
阿波川島1.921.3 
3.524.8 
山瀬2.827.6 
阿波山川2.229.8 
川田2.932.7 
穴吹4.537.2 Mima
小島5.742.9 
貞光5.248.1 Tsurugi, Mima District
阿波半田2.250.3 
江口6.056.3 Higashimiyoshi, Miyoshi District
三加茂2.558.8 
阿波加茂2.160.9 
5.166.0 Miyoshi
1.567.5Dosan Line (D21) (for)
Through to Awa-Ikeda via the Dosan Line
阿波池田5.172.6Dosan Line (D22) (for)Miyoshi

*

Although the official start of the Naruto Line is at Ikenotani, most trains travel through on the Kōtoku Line to Tokushima.

History

The first section of the line, between Tokushima and Kawata, was opened in 1899 by the . In 1907, the Tokushima Railway was nationalised under the Railway Nationalization Act.

The line was extended to Awa-Ikeda in 1914, connecting to the Dosan Line, and further extended to Minawa in 1931, which at the time was classed as an extension of the Tokushima line. In 1935 the section was incorporated into the Dosan Line.

Freight service on the line ceased in 1986.

See also

References

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

External links