Kashima Line

Kashima Line
Kashima Line 113 series EMU
Overview
Type	Heavy rail
Locale	Chiba Prefecture, Ibaraki Prefecture
Termini	Katori Kashima Soccer Stadium
Stations	6
Operation
Opened	1970
Owner	JR East
Operator(s)	JR East, JR Freight
Technical
Line length	17.4 km (10.8 mi)
Track gauge	1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification	1,500 V DC overhead catenary

The Kashima Line (鹿島線 Kashima-sen) is a railway line operated by East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Katori Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station, by crossing and then following the Tone River, the border between Chiba Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefecture.

Operation

Katori Station is in Narita Line, and all trains of Kashima Line run through from/to the neighbor station, Sawara Station, or beyond it, but all trains terminate at Kashima-Jingū Station. Only Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line trains run from here to Kashima Soccer Stadium and Mito Station. Kashima Soccer Stadium Station is only operated temporarily when football matches are held at Kashima Soccer Stadium, the home stadium of Kashima Antlers in J.League (Japan Professional Football League).

From Sawara to Kashima Jingu, JR East local electric trains run approximately once per 1–2 hours. Some trains run beyond Sawara, to Narita Station or Chiba Station. The Limited Express Ayame service runs between Tokyo Station and Kashima Jingu once in a day, from Kashima Jingu in every morning, from Tokyo in every night. It operates as an all-stations "Local" train over the Kashima Line. From Kashima-Jingū and Mito, Oarai Kashima Line local or rapid diesel trains run approximately once an hour. Normally, no passenger train stops at Kashima Soccer Stadium, except when football matches are played in the stadium.

JR Freight operates trains on the line, from Tokyo area to Kashima Rinko Line. The trains change its directions at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

Stations

Station	Japanese	Distance (km) (from Katori)	Transfers	Location
Sawara	佐原	3.6	Some through trains to/from Narita via Narita Line	Katori	Chiba Prefecture
Katori	香取	0.0	Narita Line (for Matsugishi and Chōshi)
Jūnikyō	十二橋	3.0
Itako	潮来	5.2		Itako	Ibaraki Prefecture
Nobukata	延方	10.4
Kashima-Jingū	鹿島神宮	14.2		Kashima
Kashima Soccer Stadium	鹿島サッカースタジアム	17.4	Kashima Rinkai Railway Ōarai Kashima Line Kashima Rinkai Railway Kashima Rinkō Line (freight line)

History

This line was planned as the main mass transportation method within the Kashima Industrial Zone along the southern coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, to connect with the Tokyo Metropolis.

• 20 August 1970 - Newly operated between Katori and Kashima-Jingū (14.2 km), as JNR Kashima Line.
• 12 November 1970 - Newly operated between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima (3.2 km), as the freight line.
• 24 October 1974 - The line was electrified.
• March 1978 - Jet airplane fuel transport service was started from Kashima Rinkai Kashima Rinko Line (owned by Kashima Rinkai Railway), via Kita-Kashima Station, to Tsuchiya Freight Terminal Station, near Narita Station, to supply New Tokyo International Airport.
• 25 July 1978, Passenger service was begun between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima, as the beginning of passenger service in Kashima Rinko Line.
• 8 August 1983 - Jet fuel freight line ended (pipelines came on service).
• 1 December 1983 - The passenger service between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima was abolished, which was started in 1978.
• 14 March 1985 - The passenger service was re-opened in the section between Kashima- Jingu and Kita-Kashima, as the opening of Kashima Rinkai Oarai Kashima Line.
• 1 April 1987 - JR East succeeded this line from JNR.
• 12 March 1994 - Kita-Kashima Station was renamed to Kashima-Soccer-Stadium Station, and it served as a temporary station for football spectators in Kashima Stadium.
• 2 June 2002 - 2002 FIFA World Cup game, Argentina - Nigeria was played in Kashima Stadium. JR East operated special trains between Chiba Station to Kashima-Soccer-Stadium Station, as special rapid trains.

See also

Media related to Kashima Line at Wikimedia Commons