Tokushima Line

Last updated
Tokushima Line
JR Shikoku Ko stn 2.jpg
Local trains stopped at Kō Station
Overview
Locale Tokushima Prefecture
Termini Sako
Tsukuda
Stations24
Service
TypeHeavy rail
Operator(s) JR Shikoku
History
Opened1899
Technical
Line length67.5 km (41.9 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification None
Operating speed110 km/h (68 mph)
Route map
Map railroad japan tokushima rough.png

The Tokushima Line (徳島線, Tokushima-sen) is a railway line in Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku). The Tokushima Line connects Sako Station in Tokushima and Tsukuda Station in Miyoshi from west to east in central Tokushima Prefecture. As the line parallels the Yoshino River, it is officially nicknamed the "Yoshino River Blue Line" (よしの川ブルーライン). In addition to linking Tokushima and Kōchi prefectures, the line's eastern half serves the city of Tokushima as a commuter line.

Contents

Services

Although the official start of the line is at Tsukuda, rail services from Sako to Tsukuda are considered outbound, with the reverse being inbound. This is to allow for more efficient connecting service to the Dosan Line at Tsukuda.

The Tsurugisan limited express provides the bulk of express services on the line from Awa-Ikeda (on the Dosan Line) and Anabuki to Tokushima and Kaifu (on the Mugi Line). In the March 2009 timetable revision, a single inbound Muroto limited express was established, providing through service to Kaifu on the Mugi Line.

There are two to three local trains per hour, with most trains serving the Tokushima Awa-Ikeda, Tokushima Anabuki, and Tokushima Awa-Kawashima sections. Some trains continue through to the Mugi Line via Tokushima. Local trains are generally driver-only operated, but some daytime and late-night trains between Tokushima and Anabuki, as well as three trains between Anabuki and Awa-Ikeda, often have a conductor on board. Due to the length of platforms, train lengths are limited to a maximum of four cars.

The Tokushima Line serves as a bypass route between Tokushima and Kōchi; in the past, the Asa and Yoshinogawa express and some Tsurugisan limited express services connected the two cities (now passengers must change at Awa-Ikeda to the Nanpū limited express).

Station list

Station No.StationJapaneseDistance (km)Transfers Location
Between
stations
From
Sako
T00 Tokushima 徳島-1.4 Mugi Line (M00) Tokushima
Through from Tokushima via the Kōtoku Line
B01 Sako 佐古1.40.0 Kōtoku Line (T01) (for Ikenotani and Naruto Line)*Tokushima
B02 Kuramoto 蔵本1.91.9 
B03 Akui 鮎喰1.13.0 
B04 府中2.25.2 
B05 Ishii 石井3.78.9  Ishii, Myōzai District
B06 Shimoura 下浦2.311.2 
B07 Ushinoshima 牛島2.513.7  Yoshinogawa
B08 Oezuka 麻植塚2.015.7 
B09 Kamojima 鴨島1.817.5 
B10 Nishi-Oe 西麻植1.919.4 
B11 Awa-Kawashima 阿波川島1.921.3 
B12 Gaku 3.524.8 
B13 Yamase 山瀬2.827.6 
B14 Awa-Yamakawa 阿波山川2.229.8 
B15 Kawata 川田2.932.7 
B16 Anabuki 穴吹4.537.2  Mima
B17 Oshima 小島5.742.9 
B18 Sadamitsu 貞光5.248.1  Tsurugi, Mima District
B19 Awa-Handa 阿波半田2.250.3 
B20 Eguchi 江口6.056.3  Higashimiyoshi, Miyoshi District
B21 Mikamo 三加茂2.558.8 
B22 Awa-Kamo 阿波加茂2.160.9 
B23 Tsuji 5.166.0  Miyoshi
B24 Tsukuda 1.567.5 Dosan Line (D21) (for Tadotsu)
Through to Awa-Ikeda via the Dosan Line
B25 Awa-Ikeda 阿波池田5.172.6 Dosan Line (D22) (for Kōchi)Miyoshi

*: Although the official start of the Naruto Line is at Ikenotani, most trains travel through on the Kōtoku Line to Tokushima.

History

The first section of the line, between Tokushima and Kawata, was opened in 1899 by the Tokushima Railway (徳島鉄道, Tokushima-tetsudō). In 1907, the Tokushima Railway was nationalised under the Railway Nationalization Act.

The line was extended to Awa-Ikeda in 1914, connecting to the Dosan Line, and further extended to Minawa in 1931, which at the time was classed as an extension of the Tokushima line. In 1935 the section was incorporated into the Dosan Line.

Freight service on the line ceased in 1986.

See also

Related Research Articles

Tokushima Prefecture Prefecture of Japan

Tokushima Prefecture is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Shikoku. Tokushima Prefecture has a population of 728,633 and has a geographic area of 4,146 km². Tokushima Prefecture borders Kagawa Prefecture to the north, Ehime Prefecture to the west, and Kōchi Prefecture to the southwest.

Kōtoku Line

The Kōtoku Line is a railway line in northeastern Shikoku, Japan that connects the prefectural capitals Takamatsu (Kagawa) and Tokushima (Tokushima). Shikoku Railway Company owns and operates the line, whose name comes from the characters in the cities that the line connects: Takamatsu () and Tokushima ().

Dosan Line

Dosan Line is a railway line in Shikoku, Japan, operated by the Shikoku Railway Company. It connects Tadotsu Station in Tadotsu, Kagawa, and Kubokawa Station in Shimanto, Kōchi. The line links the city of Kōchi with northern Shikoku and the island of Honshū via the Seto-Ōhashi Line. The first section of the line between Tadotsu and Kotohira opened in 1889, Kochi was connected to the northern section of the line in 1935, and the western extension of the line was completed in 1951. The name of the line comes from "Tosa" () and "Sanuki" (), the old provincial names of present-day Kōchi Prefecture and Kagawa Prefecture, respectively.

Tsurugisan (train)

The Tsurugisan (剣山) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by Shikoku Railway Company, which runs between Tokushima and Awa-Ikeda via Anabuki. The train is named after Mount Tsurugi, the second-highest mountain in Shikoku.

Tsubojiri Station Railway station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Tsubojiri Station is a railway station on the Dosan Line in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "D19".

Hashikura Station Railway station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Hashikura Station is a railway station on the Dosan Line in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "D20".

Tsukuda Station (Tokushima) Railway station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Tsukuda Station is a railway station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, operated by JR Shikoku.

Ōboke Station Railway station in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Ōboke Station is a railway station on the Dosan Line in Miyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "D27".

Awa-Kawashima Station Railway station in Yoshinogawa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Awa-Kawashima Station is a railway station on the Tokushima Line in Yoshinogawa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "B11".

Awa-Yamakawa Station Railway station in Yoshinogawa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Awa-Yamakawa Station is railway station on the Tokushima Line in Yoshinogawa, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "B14".

Anabuki Station Railway station in Mima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Anabuki Station is a railway station on the Tokushima Line in Mima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "B16".

Awa-Kamo Station Railway station in Higashimiyoshi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Awa-Kamo Station is a railway station on the Tokushima Line in Higashimiyoshi, Miyoshi District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "B22".

Mugi Line

The Mugi Line is a railway line in southeastern Tokushima Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by Shikoku Railway Company. It connects the prefectural capital of Tokushima with the town of Kaiyō in Kaifu District. The line's official nickname is "Awa-Muroto Seaside Line", but this is rarely used by local residents as it does not directly service Muroto, the intended destination of the line.

Awa-Tomida Station Railway station in Tokushima, Japan

Awa-Tomida Station is a railway station on the Mugi Line in Tokushima, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "M01".

Anan Station Railway station in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Anan Station is a railway station in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "M12".

Awa-Tachibana Station Railway station in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Awa-Tachibana Station is a railway station on the Mugi Line in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "M14".

Aratano Station Railway station in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Aratano Station is a railway station on the Mugi Line in Anan, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "M16".

Mugi Station Railway station in Mugi, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan

Mugi Station is a railway station on the Mugi Line in Mugi, Kaifu District, Tokushima Prefecture, Japan. It is operated by JR Shikoku and has the station number "M24".

Muroto (train)

The Muroto (むろと) is a limited express train service in Japan operated by JR Shikoku which runs from Tokushima to Mugi and Kaifu.

References

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