Nishi-Kumamoto Station

Nishi-Kumamoto Station 西熊本駅
The station exterior in April 2016
Location	1-1-60 Karikusa, Minami-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 861-4134 Japan
Coordinates	32°45′46.3″N 130°40′59.0″E / 32.762861°N 130.683056°ECoordinates: 32°45′46.3″N 130°40′59.0″E / 32.762861°N 130.683056°E
Operated by	JR Kyushu
Line(s)	■ Kagoshima Main Line
Distance	3.2 km from Kumamoto
Platforms	2 side platforms
Tracks	2
Other information
Status	Unstaffed
Website	www.jrkyushu.co.jp/EkiApp?LISTID=502&EKI=91301215
History
Opened	26 March 2016
Traffic
Passengers	Approx. 1,200 per day (forecast)
Location
Nishi-Kumamoto Station Location within Japan

Nishi-Kumamoto Station (西熊本駅 Nishi-Kumamoto-eki, lit. "West Kumamoto Station") is a railway station on the Kagoshima Main Line in Kumamoto, Japan, operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It opened on 26 March 2016.^[1]

Lines

Nishi-Kumamoto Station is served by the Kagoshima Main Line between Mojiko and Kagoshima, and lies 3.2 km south of Kumamoto Station.^[2]

Station layout

The station is unstaffed, with ticket barriers on the ground floor level, and the platforms on the second floor level. The platforms are approximately 85 m long, able to handle four-car local trains.^[3]

• 
  The platforms in June 2016

Adjacent stations

«		Service	»
Kagoshima Main Line
Rapid: Does not stop at this station
Kumamoto		Local		Kawashiri

History

A public ballot for the new station name was held between February and March, with the name "Nishi-Kumamoto" officially announced by JR Kyushu on 23 July 2015.^[4] Other names suggested in the ballot included Shimo-Kumamoto Station (下熊本駅, lit. "Lower Kumamoto Station"), Chikami Station (近見駅), and Karikusa Station (刈草駅).^[4] The total cost of building the station is approximately 1.25 billion yen, funded by the city of Kumamoto, with 380 million yen funded by a national grant.^[4]

Passenger statistics

According to Kumamoto city forecasts, approximately 1,200 passengers are expected to use the station daily.^[4]

Surrounding area

• Aeon Town Nishi-Kumamoto shopping mall^[2]
• Rikigo Junior High School^[5]
• National Route 3
• National Route 57

See also

• List of railway stations in Japan

References

1. 平成28年春ダイヤ改正 [Spring 2016 timetable revision] (pdf). News release (in Japanese). Japan: Kyushu Railway Company. 18 December 2015. p. 8. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
2. JR九州「西熊本駅」鹿児島本線熊本～川尻間新駅の駅名決定 - 2016年春開業 [JR Kyushu announces name of new station between Kumamoto and Kawashiri on Kagoshima Main Line]. Mynavi News (in Japanese). Japan: Mynavi Corporation. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
3. ＪＲ九州、熊本―川尻間の新駅名は「西熊本」 [New JR station between Kumamoto and Kawashiri to be named Nishi-Kumamoto]. Nikkei Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: Nikkei Inc. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
4. ＪＲ新駅名称は「西熊本駅」　熊本－川尻間 [New JR station to be named Nishi-Kumamoto, between Kumamoto and Kawashiri]. Kumanichi.com (in Japanese). Japan: Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun. 23 July 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
5. "Rikigo Junior High School". Rikigo Junior High School official website (in Japanese). Japan. Retrieved 28 July 2015.

External links

• JR Kyushu station information (Japanese)
• July 2015 news release (Japanese)