Iwaizumi Line
| Iwaizumi Line | |
|---|---|
 A diesel train on the Iwaizumi Line, March 2007 | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Heavy rail |
| Status | Operation suspended |
| Locale | Iwate Prefecture |
| Termini |
Moichi Iwaizumi |
| Stations | 9 |
| Operation | |
| Opening | 1942 |
| Closed | 2013 |
| Owner | JR East |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 38.4 km (23.9 mi) |
| No. of tracks | Single |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Electrification | Not electrified |
The Iwaizumi Line (岩泉線 Iwaizumi-sen) was a railway line in Japan, operated by the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) between Moichi Station in Miyako, Iwate and Iwaizumi Station in Iwaizumi, Iwate.
Operations on the line have been suspended since July 31, 2010, when a train derailed due to a landslide, which occurred between Oshikado Station and Iwate-Ōkawa Station. Trains are substituted by bus services.[1]
Service outline
Prior to 2010, there were four local services a day to Iwaizumi Station (one of which terminated at Iwate-Wainai Station), and four to Moichi Station or Miyako Station (one of which started from Iwate-Wainai Station); relatively infrequent by Japanese standards.
Stations
| Station | Japanese | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moichi | 茂市 | 0.0 | Yamada Line | Miyako | Iwate |
| Iwate-Kariya | 岩手刈屋 | 4.3 | |||
| Nakasato | 中里 | 7.2 | |||
| Iwate-Wainai | 岩手和井内 | 10.0 | |||
| Oshikado | 押角 | 15.8 | |||
| Iwate-Ōkawa | 岩手大川 | 25.8 | Iwaizumi | ||
| Asanai | 浅内 | 31.0 | |||
| Nishōishi | 二升石 | 33.8 | |||
| Iwaizumi | 岩泉 | 38.4 | |||
History
The line first opened in 1942, and was completed by 1972.[2]
Suspension and closure
Operations on the line were suspended since July 31, 2010, when a train derailed due to a landslide, which occurred between Oshikado Station and Iwate-Ōkawa Station. Trains were substituted by bus services.[1]
After investigating the accident and the condition of the line, JR East announced on March 30, 2012, that it was giving up on the idea of restoring the line. The company claimed that the cost expected to secure the safety of the line would be about 13 billion yen and that it could not afford to spend such an amount considering its very small public demand. According to the company, annual revenue of the line was 8.4 million yen in 2009. Local governments, including Iwate Prefecture, raised objection to the decision.[3]
In November 2013, JR East announced that agreement had been reached with local governments to formally close the line.[2]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iwaizumi Line. |
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 East Japan Railway Company, Morioka Branch (August 17, 2010). "お知らせ" (pdf) (in Japanese). Retrieved September 11, 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "岩泉線の廃止決まる、JR東が届出" [Iwaizumi Line closure finalized]. Tetsudo.com (in Japanese). Japan: Asahi Interactive Inc. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2013.
- ↑ The Kahoku Shimpo (March 31, 2012). "岩泉線、復旧断念 ＪＲ東「代替手段は確保」" (in Japanese). Retrieved March 31, 2012.
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