The is a 53.0 km Japanese railway line in Ibaraki Prefecture, which connects Mito Station in Mito with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station in Kashima. It is owned and run by the third-sector railway operating company Kashima Rinkai Railway (KRT).
Stations LineStationJapaneseBetween (km)Distance (km)TransfersLocationŌarai Kashima水戸-0.0 Jōban Line
Suigun LineMito東水戸3.83.8 常澄4.58.3 大洗3.311.6 Ōarai涸沼6.418.0 Hokota鹿島旭4.822.8 徳宿3.926.7 新鉾田4.331.0 北浦湖畔3.934.9 大洋4.139.0 鹿島灘4.143.1 Kashima鹿島大野3.046.1 長者ヶ浜潮騒はまなす公園前2.348.4 荒野台1.750.1 鹿島サッカースタジアム2.953.0 Kashima Line
Kashima Rinkō LineKashima Line鹿島神宮3.2- Kashima Line
Rolling stock , passenger services on the line were operated by a fleet of 15 6000 series diesel railcars and three 8000 series diesel railcars. The railway also operates three diesel locomotives: Class KRD locomotive number KRD 5 and two Class KRD64 locomotives, KRD64-1 and KRD64-2.
The first 8000 series diesel car, 8001, entered revenue service on 26 March 2016.
6000 series fleet details The individual car histories of the 6000 series fleet are as follows. Car No. Manufacturer Date delivered Date withdrawn 6001 Nippon Sharyo 14 January 1985 6002 14 January 1985 7 January 2017 6003 14 January 1985 6004 14 January 1985 6005 14 January 1985 6006 14 January 1985 6007 28 February 1987 6008 28 February 1987 28 March 2016 6009 25 August 1989 6010 25 August 1989 6011 25 August 1989 6012 25 August 1989 28 March 2016 6013 1 September 1990 6014 1 September 1990 6015 1 September 1990 6016 13 July 1992 6017 13 July 1992 6018 30 March 1994 6019 30 March 1994 7 January 2017
8000 series fleet details The individual car histories of the 8000 series fleet are as follows.
Car No. Manufacturer Date delivered Date withdrawn 8001 Niigata Transys 16 February 2016 8002 7 January 2017 8003 7 January 2017
Former rolling stock The following types also previously operated on the line. 2000 series DMU cars 2001 to 2004 (former JNR KiHa 20 series cars, operated from December 1985 until December 1991) 7000 series two-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) train owned by Ibaraki Prefecture and reserved for special event services. (Operated from 1992 until October 2015)
2000 series fleet details The individual car histories of the 2000 series fleet were as follows.
Car No. Manufacturer Built Former number Date introduced Date withdrawn 2001 Nippon Sharyo January 1961 KiHa 20 429 18 December 1985 29 December 1991 2002 Teikoku Sharyo May 1961 KiHa 20 421 18 December 1985 23 December 1989 2003 Tokyu Car February 1960 KiHa 20 274 25 December 1985 12 October 1990 2004 Tokyu Car April 1959 KiHa 20 273 25 December 1985 29 December 1991
7000 series fleet details The individual car histories of the two-car 7000 series set were as follows.
Car No. Manufacturer Date delivered Date withdrawn 7001 Nippon Sharyo 13 July 1992 24 October 2015 7002
History The line opened on 14 March 1985 between Mito and Kita-Kashima (now Kashima Soccer Stadium) stations.
Freight operations over the line commenced from 1 November 1989, but were discontinued from 16 March 1996.
Wanman driver-only operation began on the line from 1 April 2001.
In popular culture The railway is seen in a couple of episodes in the popular anime "Girls und Panzer," most notably in episode 7, "Up Next is Anzio", after the Anglerfish team visits the grandmother of teammate Mako Reizei. The next time we see the railway is in Episode 11 when the two car train is seen pulling several flatcars with the teams tanks enroute to the finals match with Kuromuromine.
Taking advantage of the animes popularity and Ōarai becoming an "anime pilgrimage" site, the railway operates a "Girls und Panzer" themed train, with various cars featuring the characters of the show.
References