Kintetsu Shima Line
Encyclopedia
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu
, connecting Toba Station
(Toba
, Mie Prefecture
) and Kashikojima Station
(Shima
, Mie Prefecture
) in Japan
.
The line connects with the Toba Line
at Toba Station. The Yamada Line
, Toba Line, and Shima Line form a single train line that begins at Ise-Nakagawa Station
and serves the Ise-Shima
tourist region.
walked along a long-existing route that is now Mie Route 32, the Ise-Isobe road. As the Meiji era was near its end, in 1911, the government-owned Sangū Line
(now owned by JR Central
) was extended from the city of Ujiyamada (modern-day Ise
) to Toba
, therefore any plans for a railroad to Shima would assume Toba, not Ujiyamada, as the origin. As the Taishō period
began, many plans were put forth by various members of the railroad industry in the 1910s but none were implemented.
as the origin and the gauge
of the track would be 1067 mm so that the line could connect directly to the Sangū Line (also 1067 mm) in Toba. The original plan also specified that Ugata Station
would be the terminus, however just before construction began, a request was made to members of an already-established railway company, Tōkyū
, to see if the plan drawn up by Shima Electric Railway was sound. In the end, the only recommendation made was that the terminus be extended from Ugata to a nearby uninhabited island in Ago Bay
called Kashiko Island
, citing the island's natural beauty as being an ideal spot to establish a profitable resort and tourism industry to cater to travelers and pilgrims already coming to the area to visit nearby Ise Grand Shrine. Executives at Shima Electric Railway incorporated this suggestion into their plan and decided the line would include two stations on Kashiko Island: Kashikojima Station
for tourists, and Shinjukō Station (真珠港駅 Shinjukō-eki lit: Pearl Port Station), the new terminus, for use as a freight station by the area's marine industry. However, the people living near Ugata, the original terminus, opposed the new plan because they felt having the line's endpoint in their area would bring economic benefit. This period of opposition lasted for four years and during that time people living near Ugata refused to sell the land needed by Shima Electric Railway to lay the tracks leading to Kashiko Island, thereby delaying construction. After an agreement was reached, the line was finally completed and opened in 1929, five years after the original plan had been drafted.
In 1944, Shima Electric Railway, 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.
and voltage
used on the Shima Line were different from the majority of Kintetsu lines, including the nearby Yamada Line
which terminated at Ujiyamada. For the time being, Kintetsu offered bus service between Ujiyamada and Toba, but in the late 1960s they decided it was worthwhile to create a rail connection between the two in hopes of attracting customers from the upcoming 1970 World's Fair in Osaka
by offering direct rail service to the area. This was the impetus for the construction of the Kintetsu Toba Line
, and to make direct service possible between the Shima Line, the under-construction Toba Line, the Yamada Line, and beyond, the Shima Line was closed for four months in late 1969 and early 1970 to change the gauge to 1435 mm
and double the voltage to 1500V DC
to match the other Kintetsu lines it would connect with. Other improvements were added such as the ATS
system, a new switching network, and more gradual curves. The renovated Shima Line and the newly-built Toba Line opened together in March 1970, and Kintetsu began running limited express trains from (Osaka) and to Kashikojima just in time for the beginning of the World's Fair. The sharp increase of passengers on the line also motivated Kintetsu to invest money in a variety of tourism business enterprises in the Ise-Shima
, especially along the Shima Line.
In 1986, it was decided that a second track on the Shima Line would assist in increasing the speed and number of trains on the line. Construction took several years and now most but not all of the line has dual tracks. The Aomine Tunnel between Shiraki and Gochi was also added to the line during this phase.
LE Limited Express (特急 tokkyū)
NS Non-stop Limited Express (ノンストップ特急 nonsutoppu tokkyū)
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 Toba Station
Toba Station
is a train station in Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:*JR Central**Sangū Line*Kintetsu**Toba Line**Shima Line-Layout:...
(Toba
Toba, Mie
is a city in Mie, Japan.Toba is the site of the Toba Aquarium, which houses such animals as dugongs, African manatees, porpoises, and a wide-variety of aquatic life....
, 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....
) and Kashikojima Station
Kashikojima Station
is a train station in Shima, Mie, Japan operated by Kintetsu. It is the terminal of the Shima Line and a common destination for Kintetsu limited express trains from , and .-Layout:*There are 4 platforms with 5 tracks on the ground...
(Shima
Shima, Mie
is a city located in Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshu, Japan.The city was formed on October 1, 2004, by the merger of all five towns from Shima District, which was dissolved by the merger....
, 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....
) in 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...
.
The line connects with the Toba Line
Kintetsu Toba Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line....
at Toba Station. The Yamada Line
Kintetsu Yamada Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ise-Nakagawa Station and Ujiyamada Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to parts of the JR Central Kisei Main Line and Sangū Line.The line connects with the Toba Line at Ujiyamada Station...
, Toba Line, and Shima Line form a single train line that begins at Ise-Nakagawa Station
Ise-Nakagawa Station
is a Kintetsu train station in Matsusaka, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It serves as the junction of three major Kintetsu train lines.-Lines:*Kintetsu**Osaka Line**Nagoya Line**Yamada Line-Layout:...
and serves the Ise-Shima
Ise-Shima
The region, also called the , refers to the areas of eastern Mie Prefecture in or around Ise-Shima National Park, which include the cities Ise, Toba, Shima, and parts of the town of Minami-Ise. The area thrives on tourism, with many resort hotels and beaches awaiting people who come to visit the...
tourist region.
History
In the Meiji era, travelers coming to what is now ShimaShima, Mie
is a city located in Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshu, Japan.The city was formed on October 1, 2004, by the merger of all five towns from Shima District, which was dissolved by the merger....
walked along a long-existing route that is now Mie Route 32, the Ise-Isobe road. As the Meiji era was near its end, in 1911, the government-owned Sangū Line
Sangu Line
The is a railway line run by Central Japan Railway Company , connecting Taki Station with Toba Station in Japan....
(now owned by JR Central
Central Japan Railway Company
The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station...
) was extended from the city of Ujiyamada (modern-day Ise
Ise, Mie
, formerly called Ujiyamada , is a city located in eastern Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshū, Japan.Ise is home to Ise Grand Shrine, the most sacred Shintō Shrine in Japan, and is thus a very popular destination for tourists. The city has a long-standing nickname—Shinto —that roughly means...
) to Toba
Toba, Mie
is a city in Mie, Japan.Toba is the site of the Toba Aquarium, which houses such animals as dugongs, African manatees, porpoises, and a wide-variety of aquatic life....
, therefore any plans for a railroad to Shima would assume Toba, not Ujiyamada, as the origin. As the Taishō period
Taisho period
The , or Taishō era, is a period in the history of Japan dating from July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926, coinciding with the reign of the Taishō Emperor. The health of the new emperor was weak, which prompted the shift in political power from the old oligarchic group of elder statesmen to the Diet...
began, many plans were put forth by various members of the railroad industry in the 1910s but none were implemented.
Shima Electric Railway
In 1993, was established by Kakuya Morimoto, and by 1924 the plan for a railroad to Shima was finally approved. This plan specified Toba StationToba Station
is a train station in Toba, Mie Prefecture, Japan.-Lines:*JR Central**Sangū Line*Kintetsu**Toba Line**Shima Line-Layout:...
as the origin and the gauge
Rail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
of the track would be 1067 mm so that the line could connect directly to the Sangū Line (also 1067 mm) in Toba. The original plan also specified that Ugata Station
Ugata Station
is a train station in Shima, Mie, Japan.-Adjacent stations:-Surrounding area:*Shima City Hall*Shima Spain Village*Shirahama beach*Goza beach*Shima tourism information center-External links:...
would be the terminus, however just before construction began, a request was made to members of an already-established railway company, Tōkyū
Tokyu
Tokyu may refer to:* Tokyu Group, a group of companies centered around Tokyu Corporation** Tokyu Corporation, a Japanese railway company, the largest member of the group*** Tokyu Car Corporation, a Japanese railway vehicle manufacturer...
, to see if the plan drawn up by Shima Electric Railway was sound. In the end, the only recommendation made was that the terminus be extended from Ugata to a nearby uninhabited island in Ago Bay
Ago Bay
is a bay in the city of Shima, Mie Prefecture, Japan. It is part of the Ise-Shima region.The bay is known for its beauty and sees many tourists each year, in particular due to a train network owned by Kintetsu which runs trains from both Osaka and Nagoya to Kashikojima, an island in the bay.Pearl...
called Kashiko Island
Kashiko Island
is an island in Ago Bay. It is located in the city of Shima, Mie Prefecture, Japan.The island was uninhabited until the 1920s when a railway built by Shima Electric Railway was constructed there to serve as the endpoint of the line. The building of this railway sparked the creation of a tourism...
, citing the island's natural beauty as being an ideal spot to establish a profitable resort and tourism industry to cater to travelers and pilgrims already coming to the area to visit nearby Ise Grand Shrine. Executives at Shima Electric Railway incorporated this suggestion into their plan and decided the line would include two stations on Kashiko Island: Kashikojima Station
Kashikojima Station
is a train station in Shima, Mie, Japan operated by Kintetsu. It is the terminal of the Shima Line and a common destination for Kintetsu limited express trains from , and .-Layout:*There are 4 platforms with 5 tracks on the ground...
for tourists, and Shinjukō Station (真珠港駅 Shinjukō-eki lit: Pearl Port Station), the new terminus, for use as a freight station by the area's marine industry. However, the people living near Ugata, the original terminus, opposed the new plan because they felt having the line's endpoint in their area would bring economic benefit. This period of opposition lasted for four years and during that time people living near Ugata refused to sell the land needed by Shima Electric Railway to lay the tracks leading to Kashiko Island, thereby delaying construction. After an agreement was reached, the line was finally completed and opened in 1929, five years after the original plan had been drafted.
In 1944, Shima Electric Railway, 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.
Kintetsu renovation
In acquiring the line, Kintetsu now had a problem because the Shima Line, which originated at Toba Station, was not connected with the rest of Kintetsu's extensive rail network which only stetched as far as Ujiyamada Station in Ise. Moreover, the railway gaugeRail gauge
Track gauge or rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the heads of the two load bearing rails that make up a single railway line. Sixty percent of the world's railways use a standard gauge of . Wider gauges are called broad gauge; smaller gauges, narrow gauge. Break-of-gauge refers...
and voltage
Voltage
Voltage, otherwise known as electrical potential difference or electric tension is the difference in electric potential between two points — or the difference in electric potential energy per unit charge between two points...
used on the Shima Line were different from the majority of Kintetsu lines, including the nearby Yamada Line
Kintetsu Yamada Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ise-Nakagawa Station and Ujiyamada Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to parts of the JR Central Kisei Main Line and Sangū Line.The line connects with the Toba Line at Ujiyamada Station...
which terminated at Ujiyamada. For the time being, Kintetsu offered bus service between Ujiyamada and Toba, but in the late 1960s they decided it was worthwhile to create a rail connection between the two in hopes of attracting customers from the upcoming 1970 World's Fair in Osaka
Expo '70
was a World's Fair held in Suita, Osaka, Japan between March 15 and September 13, 1970. The theme of the Expo was "Progress and Harmony for Mankind." In Japanese Expo '70 is often referred to as Ōsaka Banpaku...
by offering direct rail service to the area. This was the impetus for the construction of the Kintetsu Toba Line
Kintetsu Toba Line
The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line....
, and to make direct service possible between the Shima Line, the under-construction Toba Line, the Yamada Line, and beyond, the Shima Line was closed for four months in late 1969 and early 1970 to change the gauge to 1435 mm
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
and double the voltage to 1500V DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
to match the other Kintetsu lines it would connect with. Other improvements were added such as the ATS
Automatic Train Stop
An automatic train stop is a system on a train that will automatically stop a train if certain situations happened to prevent accidents from happening....
system, a new switching network, and more gradual curves. The renovated Shima Line and the newly-built Toba Line opened together in March 1970, and Kintetsu began running limited express trains from (Osaka) and to Kashikojima just in time for the beginning of the World's Fair. The sharp increase of passengers on the line also motivated Kintetsu to invest money in a variety of tourism business enterprises in the Ise-Shima
Ise-Shima
The region, also called the , refers to the areas of eastern Mie Prefecture in or around Ise-Shima National Park, which include the cities Ise, Toba, Shima, and parts of the town of Minami-Ise. The area thrives on tourism, with many resort hotels and beaches awaiting people who come to visit the...
, especially along the Shima Line.
In 1986, it was decided that a second track on the Shima Line would assist in increasing the speed and number of trains on the line. Construction took several years and now most but not all of the line has dual tracks. The Aomine Tunnel between Shiraki and Gochi was also added to the line during this phase.
Timeline
- July 23, 1929 - Toba ~ Kashikojima ~ Shinjukō section opened by Shima Electric Railway.
- February 11, 1944 - Shima Electric Railway 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 officially renamed Sanco Shima Line. - December 1, 1946 - Ugataguchi Station officially renamed to Shima-Yokoyama Station.
- July 25, 1949 - Shima-Akasaki Station opens.
- February 1, 1964 - Sanco railway division splits off and forms a new company Mie Electric Railway (Sanden). Line officially renamed Sanden Shima Line.
- 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 Shima Line. - July 1, 1969 - Freight service along the line ceases and Shinjukō Station closes. Kashikojima becomes endpoint.
- December 10, 1969 - Shima Line is closed and construction to make various improvements on the line begins.
- March 1, 1970 - Improvements are finished and the Shima Line reopens, now connected to the rest of the Kintetsu rail network. Shima-Isobe Station renamed Kaminogō; Hasama Station renamed Shima-Isobe. Direct service begins from both Osaka and Nagoya to Kashikojima begins.
- March 6, 1988 - Second track opens on Ugata ~ Shima-Shimmei section.
- December 8, 1990 - Second track opens on Shima-Shimmei ~ Kashikojima section.
- November 6, 1992 - Second track opens on Toba ~ Nakanogō section.
- December 22, 1992 - Second track opens on Funatsu ~ Kamo section.
- April 28, 1993 - Second track opens on Gochi ~ Kaminogō section.
- June 1, 1993 - Second track opens on Shima-Isobe ~ Ugata section.
- September 11, 1993 - Second track opens on Kamo ~ Gochi section. Aomine Tunnel completed.
- September 21, 1993 - Tracks re-routed through Aomine Tunnel on Shiraki ~ Gochi section. Total line length reduced by 0.7 km.
- May 30, 2001 - One man (conductor-less) train service begins.
Service
LO Local (普通 futsū)- For
- For
LE Limited Express (特急 tokkyū)
- For and ; via and (KashiharaKashihara, Narais a city located in Nara, Japan. It is the second largest city in the prefecture.As of January 1, 2010, the city has an estimated population of 125,547 and the density of 3,176.79 persons per km². The total area is 39.52 km²....
) - For ; via (NaraNara, Narais the capital city of Nara Prefecture in the Kansai region of Japan. The city occupies the northern part of Nara Prefecture, directly bordering Kyoto Prefecture...
) - For ; via and
- For
NS Non-stop Limited Express (ノンストップ特急 nonsutoppu tokkyū)
- For
- For
- For
Stations
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| ● | Trains stop here |
| | | Trains do not stop here |
| Station | Dist (km) | Connections | LO | LE | NS | Location | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鳥羽 | 0.0 | JR Central Central Japan Railway Company The is the main railway company operating in the Chūbu region of central Japan. It is officially abbreviated in English as JR Central and in Japanese as . Its headquarters are located in the JR Central Towers in Nakamura-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company's operational hub is Nagoya Station... : Sangū Line Sangu Line The is a railway line run by Central Japan Railway Company , connecting Taki Station with Toba Station in Japan.... 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... : Toba Line Kintetsu Toba Line The is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Ujiyamada Station and Toba Station in Japan. The line runs parallel to the JR Central Sangū Line.... |
● | ● | ● | Toba Toba, Mie is a city in Mie, Japan.Toba is the site of the Toba Aquarium, which houses such animals as dugongs, African manatees, porpoises, and a wide-variety of aquatic life.... |
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.... |
|
| 中之郷 | 1.0 | Ise-wan Ferry Ise-wan Ferry The , or Ise Bay Ferry is a ferry that runs between the Port of Toba in Toba, Mie Prefecture and the Port of Irago in Tahara, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The ferry is operated by the Ise-wan Ferry Corporation.... |
● | | | | | |||
| 志摩赤崎 | 2.3 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 船津 | 3.9 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 加茂 | 5.5 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 松尾 | 6.9 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 白木 | 7.9 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 五知 | 11.0 | ● | | | | | Shima Shima, Mie is a city located in Mie Prefecture, on the island of Honshu, Japan.The city was formed on October 1, 2004, by the merger of all five towns from Shima District, which was dissolved by the merger.... |
|||
| 沓掛 | 12.7 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 上之郷 | 14.6 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 志摩磯部 | 16.0 | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| 穴川 | 17.6 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 志摩横山 | 20.4 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 鵜方 | 21.3 | ● | ● | ● | ||||
| 志摩神明 | 23.1 | ● | | | | | ||||
| 賢島 | 24.5 | ● | ● | ● | ||||
External links
- Kintetsu railway network map - Osaka Line • Yamada Line • Toba Line • Shima Line Old Shima Electric Railway, Sanco, and Kintetsu trains used on the Shima Line (Pictures) Abandoned sections of the Shima Line (Pictures)
- Japan Guide - Shima Peninsula Travel - Shima Spain Village
- Japan Guide - Shima Peninsula Travel - Ago Bay