Akita Nairiku Line

Akita Nairiku Line
Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Moriyoshi Express train, October 2005
Overview
Native name秋田内陸線
StatusOperational
OwnerAkita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company
LocaleAkita Prefecture
Termini
Stations29
Websitewww.akita-nairiku.com
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s)Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company
Rolling stockAN8800 series DMU, AN8900 series DMU, AN2000 series DMU
History
Opened1930
Technical
Line length94.2 km (58.5 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
AN-8800 series

The Akita Nairiku Line (秋田内陸線, Akita Nairiku-sen), nicknamed Smile Rail (スマイルレール), is a Japanese railway line located in Akita Prefecture in northern Japan. It operates between Takanosu in the city of Kitaakita and Kakunodate in the city of Semboku. The Akita Nariku Line is the only railway line operated by the Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway (秋田内陸縦貫鉄道, Akita Nairiku Jūkan Tetsudō, "Akita Inland Longitudinal Railway").

Service outlines

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Trains on the line are operated as "Local" (all-stations), "Rapid", "Special Rapid", and the Moriyoshi Express service.

Station list

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All stations are in Akita Prefecture.

Transfers are available only at Takanosu (JR Ou Main Line) and Kakunodate (JR Tazawako Line and Akita Shinkansen).

  • Local trains stop all stations.
    • Rapid = You can ride on only fare.
    • Express Moriyoshi ＝ Express fare costs 160 yen when you ride on this train by 50 km, 320 yen when you ride on this train at 51 km and over.
    • ●：All trains stop
    • ◆・▲・▼：Partly trains stop（▲：Only inbound、▼：Only outbound）
    • ｜：Pass
Stations km Rapid Express Moriyoshi Connects Locale
Distance Amount distance
Aniai Line Takanosu 鷹巣 - 0.0 ● ● JR East：■Ou Main Line（Takanosu Station） Kita-Akita
Nishi-Takanosu 西鷹巣 1.3 1.3 ● ｜
Jōmon-Ogata 縄文小ヶ田 2.4 3.7 ● ●
Ōnodai 大野台 2.4 6.1 ● ｜
Aikawa 合川 3.6 9.7 ● ●
Kamisugi 上杉 2.4 12.1 ● ｜
Yonaizawa 米内沢 2.9 15.0 ● ●
Katsurase 桂瀬 5.5 20.5 ● ｜
Ani-Maeda Onsen 阿仁前田温泉 4.7 25.2 ● ●
Maeda-Minami 前田南 1.9 27.1 ● ｜
Kobuchi 小渕 2.0 29.1 ● ｜
Aniai 阿仁合 3.9 33.0 ● ●
Arase 荒瀬 2.4 35.4 ◆ ｜
Kayakusa 萱草 2.7 38.1 ◆ ｜
Okashinai 笑内 2.8 40.9 ◆ ｜
Iwanome 岩野目 2.4 43.3 ◆ ｜
Hitachinai 比立内 2.7 46.0 ● ●
New Line Okuani 奥阿仁 3.7 49.7 ▲ ｜
Ani-Matagi 阿仁マタギ 2.6 52.3 ● ●
Tozawa 戸沢 8.9 61.2 ▼ ｜ Semboku
Kami-Hinokinai 上桧木内 4.7 65.9 ● ●
Sadori 左通 1.8 67.7 ▼ ｜
Ugo-Nakazato 羽後中里 4.0 71.7 ▼ ｜
Kakunodate Line Matsuba 松葉 3.3 75.0 ● ●
Ugo-Nagatoro 羽後長戸呂 2.9 77.9 ▼ ｜
Yatsu 八津 5.0 82.9 ▼ ｜
Saimyoji 西明寺 4.0 86.9 ● ●
Ugo-Ota 羽後太田 3.0 89.9 ▼ ｜
Kakunodate 角館 4.3 94.2 ● ● JR East：■Akita Shinkansen・■Tazawako Line

History

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Aniai Line

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On December 10, 1934, the Japanese Government Railways (JGR) opened the Aniai Line (阿仁合線) connecting Takanosu with Yonaizawa over a length of 15.1 kilometers.[1] Following World War II, the JGR became the Japanese National Railways (JNR), and the line was further extended to Hitachinai by October 15, 1963.[1]

Kakunodate Line

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On November 1, 1971, the JNR Kakunodate Line began operations from Kakunodate to Matsuba,[1] with construction continuing north towards Hitachinai to provide a connection to the Aniai Line. However construction was suspended in 1980 due to JNR funding constraints.

Closure

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The Kakunodate Line was closed by JNR on 11 September 1981, and the Aniai Line on 22 June 1984.

Reopening

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The third-sector Akita Nairiku Jūkan Railway Company reopened both the Aniai Line (as the Akita Nairiku Kita Line) and the Kakunodate Line (as the Akita Nairiku Minami Line) on November 1, 1986.[1] It also recommenced construction of the suspended link (known as the New Line) which opened on April 1, 1989 creating the current through-route.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Terada, Hirokazu (19 January 2013). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-4-7770-1336-4.
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