Tempoku Line

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Tempoku Line
Tempoku Express train
Overview
Owner	JR Hokkaido
Locale	Hokkaido
Termini	Otoineppu Minami-Wakkanai
Stations	30
History
Opened	1914
Closed	1989
Technical
Line length	148.9 km (92.5 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Not electrified

The Tempoku Line (天北線, Tempoku-sen) was a railway line most recently operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in Hokkaidō, Japan. The 148.9 kilometres line connected from Otoineppu to Minami-Wakkanai via Nakatonbetsu, Hamatonbetsu and Sarufutsu until its closure in 1989. This railway line was named after Teshio Province and Kitami Province.

The first section from Otoineppu to Shō-Tombetsu was opened in 1914. All section was opened in 1922, as the first railway line for Wakkanai. In 1926, Teshio line via Horonobe was opened. From Otoineppu to Wakkanai, the distance of this line was longer than Teshio line. In 1930, Teshio line was integrated into Sōya Main Line, and this line was separated from it and renamed Kitami line.^[1] In 1961, Kitami line was renamed to Tempoku line. In 1987, JNR was privatized, and this line was inherited by JR Hokkaido, but abandoned on 1 May 1989.

Soya Bus (Belong to Tokyu Group until 1999) have altered the Tenpoku Line since 1989. But the altered line was partly discontinued in 2011.

• Sōya Main Line

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