Etsumi-Hoku Line

Etsumi-Hoku Line (Kuzuryū Line)
A JR West KiHa 120 DMU at Ichijōdani Station
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Fukui Prefecture
Termini	Echizen-Hanandō Kuzuryūko
Stations	22
Operation
Opened	1960
Owner	JR West
Technical
Line length	52.5 km
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	None
Route map

The Etsumi-Hoku Line (越美北線, Etsumi-hoku-sen) is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The line extends 52.5 km from Echizen-Hanandō Station in Fukui to Kuzuryūko Station in Ōno with a total of 22 stations. It is also referred to as the Kuzuryū Line (九頭竜線, Kuzuryū-sen).

The line was originally planned to connect to what is now the Nagaragawa Railway, but the last 24 km section that would have involved extensive tunneling was never commenced. A bus service provided a connection between the two lines until it ceased in 2002.

Route data

• Operating Company:
  • West Japan Railway Company (Services and tracks)
• Distance:
  • Echizen-Hanandō — Kuzuryūko: 52.5 km / 32.6 mi.
• Gauge: 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
• Stations: 22
• Double-tracking: None
• Electrification: Not electrified
• Railway signalling:
  • Echizen-Hanandō — Echizen-Ōno: Simplified automatic
  • Echizen-Ōno — Kuzuryūko Station: Staff token

Stations

• All trains stop at all stations.
• Between Echizen-Hanandō and Fukui trains run on the Hokuriku Main Line.
• All stations located in Fukui Prefecture.

Legend

• ◇ - stations with passing loops
• ∥ - double-tracked section
• ｜- single-tracked section
• Y - junction station

History

A KiHa 120 DMU at Fukui Station

• December 15, 1960: Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Hanandō — Kadohara section (43.1 km) opens. Freight operations begin between Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Ōno.
  • Echizen-Hanandō, Rokujō, Echizen-Tōgō, Ichijōdani, Ichinami, Kowashōzu, Miyama, Echizen-Yakushi, Echizen-Ōmiya, Hakariishi, Ushigahara, Echizen-Ōno, Echizen-Tomida, Shimo-Yuino, Kakigashima, Kadohara stations open.
• May 20, 1964: Asuwa, Echizen-Takada, Echizen-Tano stations open.
• October 15, 1965: Freight operations begin between Echizen-Ōno — Kadohara.
• March 25, 1968: Kita-Ōno Station opens.
• October 1, 1968: Freight operations end at Kadohara Station.
• December 15, 1972: Extension from Kadohara to Kuzuryūko (10.2 km) opens, including the 5251m Arashima tunnel.
• April 1, 1973: Freight operations end between Echizen-Ōno — Echizen-Tomida
• October 1980: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" begins operation.
• November 15, 1982: Freight operations end between Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Ōno, ending freight service on the entire line.
• April 1, 1987: With the breakup and privatization of Japan National Railways, line becomes part of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Beginning of line moved 800 meters to Echizen-Hanandō Station.
• June 1, 1990: Driver-only operation begins.
• September 1, 1992: Regular rapid service begins.
• September 12, 1995: "Kuzuryū Line" name goes into use.
• September 1, 1997: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" ceases operation.
• March 3, 2001: Regular rapid service ends.
• July 18, 2004: Due to heavy rains, five railway bridges are washed away, forcing operations to stop.
• July 20, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Ōno — Kuzuryūko.
• September 11, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Hanandō — Ichijōdani, Miyama — Echizen-Ōno.
• June 30, 2007: Service restored between Ichijōdani — Miyama, allowing full service on the line to resume.

See also

• List of railway lines in Japan

References

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