Tokushima Line

Tokushima Line

Local trains stopped at Kō Station
Overview
Type Heavy rail
Locale Tokushima Prefecture
Termini Sako
Tsukuda
Stations 24
Operation
Opened 1899
Operator(s) JR Shikoku
Technical
Line length 67.5 km (41.9 mi)
Track gauge 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Electrification None
Operating speed 110 km/h (70 mph)
Route map

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.

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. Station Japanese Distance (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 1.4 0.0 Kōtoku Line (T01) (for Ikenotani and Naruto Line)* ◇ Tokushima
B02 Kuramoto 蔵本 1.9 1.9   ◇
B03 Akui 鮎喰 1.1 3.0   ｜
B04 Kō 府中 2.2 5.2   ◇
B05 Ishii 石井 3.7 8.9   ◇ Ishii, Myōzai District
B06 Shimoura 下浦 2.3 11.2   ｜
B07 Ushinoshima 牛島 2.5 13.7   ◇ Yoshinogawa
B08 Oezuka 麻植塚 2.0 15.7   ｜
B09 Kamojima 鴨島 1.8 17.5   ◇
B10 Nishi-Oe 西麻植 1.9 19.4   ｜
B11 Awa-Kawashima 阿波川島 1.9 21.3   ◇
B12 Gaku 学 3.5 24.8   ◇
B13 Yamase 山瀬 2.8 27.6   ◇
B14 Awa-Yamakawa 阿波山川 2.2 29.8   ｜
B15 Kawata 川田 2.9 32.7   ◇
B16 Anabuki 穴吹 4.5 37.2   ◇ Mima
B17 Oshima 小島 5.7 42.9   ◇
B18 Sadamitsu 貞光 5.2 48.1   ◇ Tsurugi, Mima District
B19 Awa-Handa 阿波半田 2.2 50.3   ｜
B20 Eguchi 江口 6.0 56.3   ◇ Higashimiyoshi, Miyoshi District
B21 Mikamo 三加茂 2.5 58.8   ｜
B22 Awa-Kamo 阿波加茂 2.1 60.9   ◇
B23 Tsuji 辻 5.1 66.0   ◇ Miyoshi
B24 Tsukuda 佃 1.5 67.5 Dosan Line (D21) (for Tadotsu) ◇
Through to Awa-Ikeda via the Dosan Line
B25 Awa-Ikeda 阿波池田 5.1 72.6 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

References

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

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