The is a regional railway line in Saga Prefecture, Japan, owned and operated by Kyushu Railway Company (JR Kyushu). It connects in Saga City to in Karatsu City, both in Saga Prefecture, Japan. The line was originally constructed to carry coal from the Karatsu coal fields to the Port of Karatsu for export and had many branch lines to coal mines which have since closed.
Operation All trains running on the Karatsu Line stop at all stations along the line, including through services from both sections of the Chikuhi Line. All trains that run to/from Kubota Station use the Nagasaki Main Line to terminate at Saga Station instead.
Station list Station numbering has not been introduced for the Karatsu Line, but both and use the station numbering from the eastern section of the Chikuhi Line. No. Station Japanese Distance(km) Connecting linesLocation↑ Through services to/from via the Nagasaki Main Line ↑ 久保田0.0 Nagasaki Main Line (through service)SagaSaga Prefecture 小城5.1 Ogi 東多久10.6 Taku 中多久13.6 Taku 多久15.2 厳木20.8 Karatsu 岩屋23.3 相知26.0 本牟田部30.1 ↑ Through services to/from via the Chikuhi Line ↑ 山本32.9 Chikuhi Line (Western section) (through service)KaratsuSaga Prefecture 鬼塚36.6 ↑ Through services to/from via the Chikuhi Line and the Airport Line ↑ 唐津40.3 Chikuhi Line (Eastern section) (through service)KaratsuSaga Prefecture 西唐津42.5
Rolling stock KiHa 40/47 DMUs KiHa 125 DMUs 103 series EMUs 303 series EMUs 305 series EMUs
History The Karatsu Kogyo Railway opened a line from (today to in 1898, on an alignment paralleling the west bank of the Matsuura River, and extended the line to Taku the following year. In 1902, the company merged with the Kyushu Railway Co., which extended the line to Kubota in 1903. The company was nationalised in 1907. From 1898 to 1912, a number of freight only branch lines were also built.
The Chikuhi Line from Higashi-Karatsu was extended to Yamamoto in 1929 on an alignment paralleling the east bank of the Matsuura River.
In 1983, the Chikuhi line was rebuilt so it branched at Karatsu, with the Karatsu - Nishi-Karatsu section being electrified at 1,500 V DC at the same time in conjunction with the electrification of the Chikuhi line, together with CTC signalling from Nishi-Karatsu to Kubota.
The last of the freight only branch lines closed in 1982. Freight services ceased in 1986.
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