Tsugaru Railway Explained

Box Width:20em
Tsugaru Railway Line
Native Name:津軽鉄道線
Native Name Lang:ja
Type:Regional rail
Status:In operation
Locale:Aomori Prefecture
Stations:12
Open:1930
Owner:Tsugaru Railway Company
Operator:Tsugaru Railway Company
Character:Rural
Linelength:20.7km (12.9miles)
Tracks:Single track (entire line)
Electrification:None
Speed:70 km/h (44 mph)
Map State:show

The is a railway line in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, connecting in the city of Goshogawara and in the town of Nakadomari, in central-southern Tsugaru Peninsula. The line is the only railway line operated by the Tsugaru Railway Company, which is locally referred to as . The Tsugaru Railway Line is notable for its seasonal trains that are run during the summer, autumn and winter.[1] [2] During the winter, the railcars are heated by coal fired stoves. The Tsugaru Railway Line should not be confused with the former government Tsugaru Line, now operated by JR East.

Operation

The Tsugaru Railway Line is single-track for its entire length, and its sole passing loop is located at Kanagi Station. Railway signaling of the line consists of two staff tokens; one token controls access between and, while the other token controls access between and .

As of 1 July 2023, there are 12 round-trip trains daily that run between and . This is down from 14 round-trip trains daily that ran before the COVID-19 pandemic. An additional 2 trains that run between and (one of which does not run on holidays), providing a service every 60-90 minutes during the day.[3] All train services on the line are officially classified by the company as Local services, and most trains stop at all stations; however, some trains are timetabled to skip several stations.[3] Historically, such trains were classified separately as Semi-Express services,[4] and are referred to as such in the station list below.

During the summer (from 1 July to 31 August), locally-made wind chimes and haiku strips are hung from the ceiling of all trains in operation.[5] These are replaced with baskets of suzumushi during the autumn (1 September to mid-October).[5]

Stove train

During the winter (from 1 December until 31 March the following year), a 'stove train' is generally operated three times per day. The 'stove train' features a traditional passenger car heated using a potbelly stove.[5] A supplementary 'stove train' ticket, which costs ¥500, is required to board the 'stove train'.[5] 'Stove trains' follow the Semi-Express stopping pattern.

Station list

StationJapaneseDistance
(km)
Semi-ExpressTransfersLocation
Tsugaru-Goshogawara津軽五所川原0.0Gonō Line GoshogawaraAomori
十川1.3 
五農校前3.2
津軽飯詰4.2
毘沙門7.4
嘉瀬10.1
金木12.8
芦野公園14.3
川倉16.0
大沢内17.7Nakadomari
深郷田19.0
津軽中里20.7

History

The Tsugaru Railway Company was founded in 1928, and the first section of the line was opened on July 15, 1930, from Goshogawara to Kanagi. This was extended to Ōzawanai by October 4, 1930, and to its present terminus of Tsugaru-Nakasato by November 13, 1930. All freight operations were discontinued on February 1, 1984.

Former connecting lines

See also

References

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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Tsugaru Railway Line . . 2 August 2021 . en . August 2020.
  2. Web site: 津軽鉄道株式会社 日本民営鉄道協会 . www.mintetsu.or.jp . 2 August 2021 . ja.
  3. Web site: 時刻表 津軽鉄道 株式会社 . 津軽鉄道 株式会社 奥津軽を走る風物列車~津軽鉄道。愛称:津鉄(つてつ) . 2 August 2021 . ja . 11 March 2019.
  4. 『JTB時刻表』2016年4月号(JTBパブリッシング)p.793
  5. Web site: ストーブ列車 津軽鉄道 株式会社 . 津軽鉄道 株式会社 奥津軽を走る風物列車~津軽鉄道。愛称:津鉄(つてつ) . Tsugaru Railway Company . 2 August 2021 . ja . 9 September 2015.