Kintetsu Hachioji Line
Encyclopedia
The , often called the Kintetsu Nishihino Line (近鉄西日野線 Kintetsu Nishihino-sen) is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu
, connecting Hinaga Station
and Nishihino Station
, both in the city of Yokkaichi
, Mie Prefecture
, Japan
. With a total length of 1.3 km, it is the shortest of all the Kintetsu train lines.
The line connects with the Kintetsu Utsube Line
at Hinaga. Because all trains on the Hachiōji Line offer direct service to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi via the Utsube Line, the two lines are collectively called the Utsube-Hachiōji Line (内部・八王子線 Utsube-Hachiōji-sen).
The line is called the "Hachiōji Line" because it originally ran to Ise-Hachiōji Station, however for many years the endpoint has been Nishihino.
Unlike major Kintetsu lines, the line does not accept PiTaPa
or ICOCA
which are smart card
ticketing systems.
and so the gauge was especially narrow. Later on the line was legally upgraded from a tram to a light rail
, however the gauge was not widened as it was on the vast majority of Japan's train lines. Today, there are only four 762 mm gauge train lines in operation in Japan, and the Hachiōji Line is both the oldest and shortest of those four.
762 mm railways of Japan
, is one of Kintetsu's oldest train lines. The Hachiōji Line was actually built first, but became a branch line after the original section of what is now the much longer Utsube Line was opened later the same year. Steam engines ran on the line for many years until 1928 when gasoline
-powered trains were introduced, which ran until the line was electrified
in 1948.
Ownership of the line has shifted a few times during its existence. Mie Tramway built the line but control was given to Mie Railway (Santetsu) shortly after in 1916. Then in 1944, Santetsu, along with six other companies, merged to form Mie Transport
(Sanco). Twenty years later, the railway department of Sanco split off to become a separate company called Mie Electric Railway (Sanden), however this organization was short-lived as it was bought up by railway giant Kinki Nippon Railway
(Kintetsu) the following year, and thus in 1965 the line came under its current name and ownership.
Because so many years have passed since the endpoint was changed to Nishihino, younger generations primarily refer to the line as the Nishihino Line, a name that is even used by some Kintetsu train conductors. It is possible the line's name will be officially changed in the upcoming years.
Kintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
, connecting Hinaga Station
Hinaga Station (Mie)
is a Kintetsu train station in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan.-Lines:*Kintetsu**Utsube Line**Hachiōji Line-Adjacent stations:-External links:...
and Nishihino Station
Nishihino Station
is a Kintetsu train station in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan. It functions as the terminus of the Kintetsu Hachiōji Line.-Adjacent stations:-External links:...
, both in the city of Yokkaichi
Yokkaichi, Mie
is a city located in Mie, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 314,393. The total area is 205.53 km².The closest major city is Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture....
, Mie Prefecture
Mie Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province....
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. With a total length of 1.3 km, it is the shortest of all the Kintetsu train lines.
The line connects with the Kintetsu Utsube Line
Kintetsu Utsube Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station and Utsube Station, both in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan....
at Hinaga. Because all trains on the Hachiōji Line offer direct service to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi via the Utsube Line, the two lines are collectively called the Utsube-Hachiōji Line (内部・八王子線 Utsube-Hachiōji-sen).
The line is called the "Hachiōji Line" because it originally ran to Ise-Hachiōji Station, however for many years the endpoint has been Nishihino.
Unlike major Kintetsu lines, the line does not accept PiTaPa
PiTaPa
is a contactless smart card ticketing and electronic money system used in the Kansai region of Japan. The name PiTaPa is an acronym of "Postpay IC for Touch and Pay"...
or ICOCA
ICOCA
The card is a rechargeable contactless smart card used on JR West rail network in Japan. The card was launched on November 1, 2003 for usage on the Urban Network, which encompasses the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe...
which are smart card
Smart card
A smart card, chip card, or integrated circuit card , is any pocket-sized card with embedded integrated circuits. A smart card or microprocessor cards contain volatile memory and microprocessor components. The card is made of plastic, generally polyvinyl chloride, but sometimes acrylonitrile...
ticketing systems.
Narrow gauge railway
The line was originally built as a tramTram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
and so the gauge was especially narrow. Later on the line was legally upgraded from a tram to a light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
, however the gauge was not widened as it was on the vast majority of Japan's train lines. Today, there are only four 762 mm gauge train lines in operation in Japan, and the Hachiōji Line is both the oldest and shortest of those four.
762 mm railways of Japan
- Kintetsu: Utsube Line (neighboring line)
- Kintetsu: Hachiōji Line (this line)
- Sangi RailwaySangi Railwayis a railway company in Mie Prefecture, Japan. It also operates bus lines. The company was founded in 1928. Its original line, the Sangi Line, mainly functioned as a freight line transporting cement, but in recent years, it also became important as a commuter railway line for Yokkaichi. The Hokusei...
: Hokusei LineSangi Railway Hokusei LineThe , commonly known as the Sangi Hokusei Line, is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Sangi Railway, connecting Nishi-Kuwana Station and Ageki Station in Japan...
(also in northern Mie Prefecture, formerly operated by Kintetsu) - Kurobe Gorge RailwayKurobe Gorge RailwayThe , or for short, is a private 762 mm narrow gauge railway company operating the Kurobe Gorge Main Line along the Kurobe River in the Kurobe gorge area of Toyama Prefecture, Japan...
: Main Line (KurobeKurobe, Toyamais a city located in Toyama, Japan.As of 2008, the city has an estimated population of 42,612 and the density of 99.9 persons per km². The total area is 426.34 km². The city was founded on April 1, 1954...
, Toyama PrefectureToyama Prefectureis a prefecture of Japan located in the Hokuriku region on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Toyama.Toyama is the leading industrial prefecture on the Japan Sea coast, and has the industrial advantage of cheap electricity due to abundant water resources....
)
History
The Hachiōji Line was built in 1912 and, like the Utsube LineKintetsu Utsube Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station and Utsube Station, both in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan....
, is one of Kintetsu's oldest train lines. The Hachiōji Line was actually built first, but became a branch line after the original section of what is now the much longer Utsube Line was opened later the same year. Steam engines ran on the line for many years until 1928 when gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
-powered trains were introduced, which ran until the line was electrified
Railway electrification system
A railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
in 1948.
Ownership of the line has shifted a few times during its existence. Mie Tramway built the line but control was given to Mie Railway (Santetsu) shortly after in 1916. Then in 1944, Santetsu, along with six other companies, merged to form Mie Transport
Sanco
The Mie Kotsu Co.,Ltd. , also known as Sanco , is a public transportation company that is most well known for operating local and long-distance buses in Mie prefecture, Japan. The company has other ventures as well, including a taxicab business and selling homes....
(Sanco). Twenty years later, the railway department of Sanco split off to become a separate company called Mie Electric Railway (Sanden), however this organization was short-lived as it was bought up by railway giant Kinki Nippon Railway
Kintetsu
, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
(Kintetsu) the following year, and thus in 1965 the line came under its current name and ownership.
Flood damage
As the line's official name indicates, is not the original terminus. When the line was built it was 2.8 kilometers in length and extended past Nishihino and terminated in Yokkaichi's Hachiōji neighborhood and for over 60 years, trains went all the way to Ise-Hachiōji Station. However, in 1974, there was an especially heavy rainstorm that flooded the Tempaku River which runs right alongside the line. The track suffered from severe water damage and the entire line was temporarily shutdown for repairs. Although the reason is not clear, the track was only repaired as far as Nishihino and the rest of the line was abandoned. The remainder of the line, only 1.3 kilometers long, was reopened in 1976.Because so many years have passed since the endpoint was changed to Nishihino, younger generations primarily refer to the line as the Nishihino Line, a name that is even used by some Kintetsu train conductors. It is possible the line's name will be officially changed in the upcoming years.
Timeline
- August 15, 1912 - Hinaga ~ Ise-Hachiōji sections opens (Mie Tramway).
- July 19, 1916 - Control of line is transferred to Mie Railway (Santetsu).
- December 1, 1916 - Based on train-related laws, the line's classification is officially changed from a tram to a light railLight railLight rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
way. - March 1, 1928 - Gasoline-powered trains introduced.
- February 11, 1944 - Santetsu and six other companies merge to form Mie TransportSancoThe Mie Kotsu Co.,Ltd. , also known as Sanco , is a public transportation company that is most well known for operating local and long-distance buses in Mie prefecture, Japan. The company has other ventures as well, including a taxicab business and selling homes....
(Sanco). Line becomes part of the Sanco Mie Line. - September 10, 1948 - Entire line electrifiedRailway electrification systemA railway electrification system supplies electrical energy to railway locomotives and multiple units as well as trams so that they can operate without having an on-board prime mover. There are several different electrification systems in use throughout the world...
. - February 1, 1964 - Sanco railway division splits off and forms a new company named Mie Electric Railway (Sanden).
- April 1, 1965 - Sanden, and all of its lines, are acquired by Kinki Nippon RailwayKintetsu, named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise...
(Kintetsu). Line officially renamed Kintetsu Hachiōji Line. - July 25, 1974 - Operation on entire line is suspended due to water damage.
- April 1, 1976 - After repairs, Hinaga ~ Nishihino section reopens. Nishihino ~ Ise-Hachiōji permanently closes.
Services
LO Local (普通 futsū)- For
- For
- Locals stop at every station.
- All trains offer conductor-less (One-man) service.
- Trains run twice per hour in both directions.
Stations
| Station | Dist. (km) | Connections | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 日永 | 0.0 | Kintetsu Kintetsu , named Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. in English until June 27, 2003, is a Japanese rail transit corporation commonly known as . It is the largest non-JR railway in Japan. Its complex network of lines connects Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Tsu and Ise... : Utsube Line Kintetsu Utsube Line The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station and Utsube Station, both in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan.... |
Yokkaichi Yokkaichi, Mie is a city located in Mie, Japan.As of October 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 314,393. The total area is 205.53 km².The closest major city is Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture.... |
Mie Prefecture Mie Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan which is part of the Kansai regions on Honshū island. The capital is the city of Tsu.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, Mie prefecture was known as Ise Province and Iga Province.... |
|
| 西日野 | 1.3 | ||||