The , also called the , is a railway line operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West) in Fukui Prefecture, Japan. The line extends 52.5 km (32.6 mi) from Echizen-Hanandō Station in Fukui to Kuzuryūko Station in Ōno with a total of 22 stations.
The line was originally planned to connect to what is now Nagaragawa Railway's Etsumi-Nan Line, but the last 24.0 km (14.9 mi) section that would have involved extensive tunneling was never commenced. A bus service provided a connection between the two lines until it ceased in 2002.
Route data Operating Company: West Japan Railway Company (Services and tracks) Distance: Echizen-Hanandō — Kuzuryūko: 52.5 km / 32.6 mi. Gauge: Stations: 22 Double-tracking: None Electrification: Not electrified Railway signalling: Echizen-Hanandō — Echizen-Ōno: Simplified automatic Echizen-Ōno — Kuzuryūko Station: Staff token
Stations All trains stop at all stations. Between and trains run on the Hapi-Line Fukui Line (formerly Hokuriku Main Line). All stations located in Fukui Prefecture.
StationJapaneseDistance (km)TransfersTracksLocationBetweenstationsFrom Echizen-HanandōHapi-Line Fukui Line福井駅 -2.6∥FukuiEtsumi-Hoku Line越前花堂駅2.60.0 Hapi-Line Fukui Line (for )YFukui六条駅2.32.3 ｜足羽駅1.43.7 ｜越前東郷駅2.05.7 ｜一乗谷駅2.68.3 ｜越前高田駅3.111.4 ｜市波駅1.212.6 ｜小和清水駅2.014.6 ｜美山駅2.917.5 ◇越前薬師駅2.019.5 ｜越前大宮駅2.722.2 ｜計石駅2.224.4 ｜牛ヶ原駅3.227.6 ｜Ōno北大野駅1.829.4 ｜越前大野駅2.031.4 ◇越前田野駅2.934.3 ｜越前富田駅1.435.7 ｜下唯野駅3.138.8 ｜柿ヶ島駅1.039.8 ｜勝原駅2.542.3 ｜越前下山駅6.548.8 ｜九頭竜湖駅3.752.5 ｜ Legend ◇ - stations with passing loops ∥ - double-tracked section ｜- single-tracked section Y - junction station
History
December 15, 1960: Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Hanandō — Kadohara section (43.1 km) opens. Freight operations begin between Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Ōno. Echizen-Hanandō, Rokujō, Echizen-Tōgō, Ichijōdani, Ichinami, Kowashōzu, Miyama, Echizen-Yakushi, Echizen-Ōmiya, Hakariishi, Ushigahara, Echizen-Ōno, Echizen-Tomida, Shimo-Yuino, Kakigashima, and Kadohara stations open. May 20, 1964: Asuwa, Echizen-Takada, Echizen-Tano stations open. October 15, 1965: Freight operations begin between Echizen-Ōno — Kadohara. March 25, 1968: Kita-Ōno Station opens. October 1, 1968: Freight operations end at Kadohara Station. December 15, 1972: Extension from Kadohara to Kuzuryūko (10.2 km) opens, including the 5251m Arashima tunnel. April 1, 1973: Freight operations end between Echizen-Ōno — Echizen-Tomida. October 1980: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" begins operation. November 15, 1982: Freight operations end between Minami-Fukui — Echizen-Ōno, ending freight service on the entire line. April 1, 1987: With the breakup and privatization of Japan National Railways, line becomes part of West Japan Railway Company (JR West). Beginning of line moved 800 meters to Echizen-Hanandō Station. June 1, 1990: Driver-only operation begins. September 1, 1992: Regular rapid service begins. September 12, 1995: "Kuzuryū Line" name goes into use. September 1, 1997: Seasonal rapid train "Okuetsu-gō" ceases operation. March 3, 2001: Regular rapid service ends. July 18, 2004: Due to heavy rains, five railway bridges are washed away, forcing operations to stop. July 20, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Ōno — Kuzuryūko. September 11, 2004: Service restored between Echizen-Hanandō — Ichijōdani, Miyama — Echizen-Ōno. June 30, 2007: Service restored between Ichijōdani — Miyama, allowing full service on the line to resume.
See also List of railway lines in Japan
References