Sankō Line

Sankō Line
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A KiHa 120 DMU on the Sanko Line in June 2008
Overview
Native name 三江線
Type Regional rail
Status Operational
Locale Shimane and Hiroshima Prefectures
Termini Gōtsu
Miyoshi
Stations 35
Daily ridership 50 passengers per km per day (FY2014)
Operation
Opened 1930
Owner JR West
Technical
Line length 108.1 km (67.2 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Operating speed 85 km/h (55 mph)
Route map

The Sankō Line (三江線 Sankō-sen) is a railway line in western Japan operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The 108.1 km line connects Gōtsu in Shimane Prefecture with Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture. Whilst the first section opened in 1930, the line was not completed until 1975, and features 30 tunnels. Due to declining patronage, the entire line is scheduled to close on 31 March 2018.[1]

Stations

Iwami-Kawamoto Station in September 2008
Uzui Station in July 2008
Name Between (km) Distance (km) Transfers Location
Gōtsu 江津 - 0.0 Sanin Main Line Gōtsu Shimane Prefecture
Gōtsu Honmachi 江津本町 1.1 1.1  
Chigane 千金 2.4 3.3  
Kawahira 川平 3.7 7.0  
Kawado 川戸 6.9 13.9  
Tazu 田津 5.4 19.3  
Iwami Kawagoe 石見川越 3.0 22.3  
Shikaga 鹿賀 3.5 25.8  
Inbara 因原 3.1 28.9   Kawamoto
Ōchi District
Iwami Kawamoto 石見川本 3.7 32.6  
Kirohara 木路原 2.0 34.6  
Take 竹 3.0 37.6   Misato
Ōchi District
Onbara 乙原 2.2 39.8  
Iwami Yanaze 石見簗瀬 2.9 42.7  
Akatsuka 明塚 2.3 45.0  
Kasubuchi 粕淵 3.1 48.1  
Hamahara 浜原 2.0 50.1  
Sawadani 沢谷 3.7 53.8  
Ushio 潮 5.8 59.6  
Iwami Matsubara 石見松原 3.2 62.8  
Iwami Tsuga 石見都賀 5.6 68.4  
Uzui 宇都井 6.4 74.8   Ōnan, Ōchi
Ikawashi 伊賀和志 3.4 78.2   Miyoshi, Hiroshima
Kuchiba 口羽 1.5 79.7   Ōnan, Ōchi, Shimane
Gōbira 江平 3.6 83.2  
Sakugiguchi 作木口 1.7 84.9  
Kōyodo 香淀 4.8 89.7   Miyoshi Hiroshima
Shikijiki 式敷 3.6 93.3   Akitakata
Nobuki 信木 1.8 95.1  
Tokorogi 所木 1.9 97.0  
Funasa 船佐 1.4 98.4  
Nagatani 長谷 2.2 100.6   Miyoshi
Awaya 粟屋 2.5 103.1  
Ozekiyama 尾関山 3.0 106.1  
Miyoshi 三次 2.0 108.1

Rolling stock

A JR West KiHa 120 diesel car in September 2008

Services on the line are operated by JR West single-car KiHa 120 diesel multiple units.

History

The Gotsu to Kawato section opened in 1930, and the line was extended progressively east, reaching Hamahara in 1937. The Miyoshi to Shikijiki section opened in 1955 as a passenger-only line, and was extended to Kuchiba in 1963, and Hamahara in 1975, completing the line.

Closure plans

On 16 October 2015, JR West announced that it was considering closing the line due to poor patronage, and was in discussion with the two prefectures served by the line, Shimane and Hiroshima, as well as other municipalities served, concerning future plans.[2] In fiscal 2014, the line carried an average of 50 passengers per km per day, compared to 458 per km per day in 1987.[3] On 29 September 2016, JR West announced that the entire line will close on 31 March 2018.[1]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 三江線１８年３月末で廃線 [Sanko Line to close at end of March 2018]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. ↑ ＪＲ西：三江線、廃止も検討…人口減、利用低迷で [JR West considering closure of Sanko Line - declining population and poor patronage]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 16 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  3. ↑ 区間別平均通過人員および旅客運輸収入（平成26年度） [Average passenger figures and revenue by line (Fiscal 2014)] (pdf) (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 2015. p. 58. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
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