The Renkyō Line (連京線; in Chinese Lianjing Line, Liánjīng Xiàn) was the primary trunk line of the South Manchuria Railway from 1907 to 1945. The line ran between Dalian (Dairen) and Changchun (Xinjing).
The rights to manage this railway line was one of the main concessions that Japan acquired from Russia after the Russo-Japanese War. It played an important role in Japan's control of Manchuria, as a key connection in traffic between east Asia and Europe and as a means of conveying resources mined inland to the coast. The line's importance to freight traffic decreased somewhat after the opening of the shorter North Chosen Line via the Korean port of Rajin. It remained important to passenger traffic, however, as the "Asia Express" Dalian–Harbin limited express train, inaugurated in 1943, operated on this line between Dalian and Xinjing.Ichihara, Yoshizumi, 写真集南満洲鉄道 (South Manchuria Railway Photo Collection) pp. 119-120, 135, 1998 Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co. Ltd. (in Japanese) In August 1945, after Japan's defeat in the Pacific War, control of this and all other Mantetsu lines was passed to the Sino-Soviet China Changchun Railway.
History The Renkyō Line began as the "South Manchuria Line" of the Russian-owned Chinese Eastern Railway running from Harbin to Port Arthur. Russia obtained the rights to build this line from Qing China; work began on 27 March 1898, and the broad gauge line was opened to traffic in July 1903. Following Russia's defeat in the Russo-Japanese War, Japan gained the rights to operate the Harbin–Lüshun (Ryojun) section of the CER; the line was then converted from Russian broad gauge to the Cape gauge used in Japan, to allow the use of rolling stock from Japan. The line was operated by the Imperial Japanese Army until it was taken over by the South Manchuria Railway Company (Mantetsu), established on 26 November 1906.Young, Japan's Total Empire, pp 25 Mantetsu immediately set to regauging the line again, this time from Cape gauge to standard gauge.Luis Jackson, Industrial Commissioner of the Erie Railroad. "Rambles in Japan and China". In Railway and Locomotive Engineering, vol. 26 (March 1913), pp. 91-92
Mantetsu created the Renkyō Line - then called the Manchu Main Line (満洲本線, Manshū Honsen, Mǎnzhōu Běnxiàn) - between Dairen and Mengjiatun (Mōkaton) on 1 April 1907, and extending it to Changchun (Chōshun) on 1 September 1907. Regauging of the entire line was completed in 1908, and on 27 May of that year through service between Dairen and Chōshun began on the all-standard gauge line. The Anpō Line, which connected to the Renkyō Line at Fengtian (Hōten) and was initially built as a narrow-gauge line, was converted to standard gauge in November 1911, and from 15 June 1912 direct operation between Busan and Changchun began, via the Chosen Government Railway's Gyeongbu and Gyeongui Lines, the Anpō Line, and the Renkyō Line from Fengtian to Changchun. Double-tracking of the line from Sujiatun (Sokaton) to Dairen was completed on 27 October 1908, but it wasn't until 30 November 1918 that the section from Sujiatun to Fengtian was doubled. Between 1919 and 1926 the entire line was relaid with 100-lb/yd (50 kg/m) rail. The first colour light signals for automatic block signalling were installed on the Dalian–Jinzhou (Kinshū) and Fengtian–Sujiatun sections on 12 February 1924, and the entire section from Dalian to Fengtian received automatic blocking by 5 November 1933. On 15 July 1927, the line's name was changed from Manchu Main Line to Renchō Line (連長線; "Lianchang Line", Liáncháng Xiàn, in Chinese).
Using the Mukden Incident as a pretext to invade Manchuria, Japan created the puppet state of Manchukuo in March 1932;Encyclopædia Britannica article on Manchukuo Changchun was designated the capital city, and was renamed Xinjing (Shinkyō), and the line was renamed once again, becoming the Renkyō Line at that time. The "Asia Express", a world-class limited express train, was introduced on 26 September 1934 between Dalian and Xinjing. The Manchukuo National Railway, which had taken over the remainder of the Chinese Eastern Railway, finished the conversion of the Jingbin Line from Xinjing to Harbin from broad gauge to standard gauge on 31 August 1935, and from 1 September the Asia Express service was extended to Harbin.
Japan's deteriorating situation in the Pacific War affected the line significantly. The Asia Express was suspended at the end of February 1943. The loss of air and sea superiority led to a drastic reduction in freight traffic to the port at Dalian, being instead redirected to Korean ports, via the North Chosen Line to the ports of Rajin and Unggi, and via the Anpō Line and the Chosen Government Railway to Busan. Between 1 August and 3 November 1944, the second track of the section between Sanshilibao (Sanjūrihō) and Dashiqiao (Daisekikyō) was removed, with the railways being used to upgrade Mantetsu's Anpō Line and the Manchukuo National Railway's Fengshan Line from Fengtian to Shanhaiguan.『満鉄四十年史』 "40 Years of Mantetsu", pp. 199–202"
On 9 August 1945, the Soviet Union invaded Manchukuo, and on the 14th, the USSR and the Republic of China signed a treaty of friendship; the signing of the treaty was announced on the 27th. Under the terms of this treaty, a Sino-Soviet joint enterprise was formed, called the China Changchun Railway, to operate the Renkyō Line (known as the Changda Line after Xinjing reverted to its original name, Changchun) and a number of lines formerly owned by the Manchukuo National Railway, including the Xinjing–Harbin Jingbin Line and the Harbin–Manzhouli Binzhou Line. Mantetsu was formally dissolved on 30 September 1945.『満鉄四十年史』 "40 Years of Mantetsu", pp. 215–220" The China Changchun Railway was transferred to China Railway in 1955, after which the Changda Line was split up, with the Dalian–Shenyang section becoming the Shenda Railway, and the Shenyang–Changchun section becoming part of the Beijing–Harbin Jingha Railway.
Services In addition to many freight trains and local passenger trains, a number of domestic and international express and limited express trains operated on this line. Most important of these was the flagship "Asia Express", running between Dalian and Harbin from 1934 to 1943, which was comparable to the most prestigious European and American express trains of the day, which featured several world firsts, such as fully enclosed, air-conditioned carriages. The "Hato" express operated from 1932 to 1945, running between Dalian and Xinjing. There were two international express services serving Korea and Manchukuo: the "Hikari" between Busan and Harbin, which operated from 1934 to 1945, and the "Nozomi", which ran between Busan and Xinjing.
Route In the "Stops" columns, ● indicates a stop made by all trains of that category, ▲ indicates a stop made only by some trains of that category, ○ indicates a stop made by all trains of that category after October 1939, and | indicates that trains of that category did not stop at that station. Ordinary passenger trains stopped at all stations except signal stops.
Distance Station name Stops Total; km S2S; km Japanese Chinese Post-1945 Exp. Ltd. Opened Connections 0.0 0.0 Dairen大連 Dalian Dalian ● ● 1903 Gusai Line 4.0 4.0 Shakakō沙河口 Shahekou Shahekou ▲ ｜ 1909 Futō Line, Nyūzen Line 8.9 4.9 Shūsuishi周水子 Zhoushuizi Zhoushuizi ▲ ｜ 1907 Ryojun Line 15.5 6.6 Nankanrei南関嶺 Nanguanling Nanguanling ｜ ｜ 23.2 7.7 Entō塩島 Yandao Yandao ｜ ｜ 1911 27.7 4.5 Daibōshin大房身 Dafangshen Dafangshen ｜ ｜ 1903 32.5 4.8 Kinshū金州 Jinzhou Jinzhou ● ｜ 1903 Kinjō Line (zh) 46.4 13.9 Nijūridai二十里台 Ershirlitai Ershirlitai ｜ ｜ 55.8 9.4 Sanjūrihō三十里堡 Sanshilibao Sanshilibao ｜ ｜ 66.1 10.3 Sekika石河 Shihe Shihe ｜ ｜ 77.2 11.1 Furanten普蘭店 Pulandian Pulandian ● ｜ 1903 94.1 6.9 Tenka田家 Tianjia Tianjia ｜ ｜ 105.0 10.9 Gabōten瓦房店 Wafangdian Wafangdian ● ｜ 1903 112.7 7.7 Ōka王家 Wangjia Wangjia ｜ ｜ 124.1 11.4 Tokuriji得利寺 Delisi Delisi ｜ ｜ 130.7 6.6 Shōshu松樹 Songshu Songshu ｜ ｜ 146.3 15.6 Bankarei万家嶺 Wanjialing Wanjialing ｜ ｜ 160.5 14.2 Kyokaton許家屯 Xujiatun Xujiatun ｜ ｜ 1938 168.0 7 Kyūsai九寨 Jiuzhai Jiuzhai ｜ ｜ 173.9 5.9 Rizan梨山 Lishan - ｜ ｜ Closed 1 April 1944 178.2 4.3 Ugakujō熊岳城 Xiongyuecheng Xiongyuecheng ● ｜ 1903 188.2 10.0 Rokaton芦家屯 Lujiatun Lujiatun ｜ ｜ 199.0 10.8 Sakō沙崗 Shagang Shagang ｜ ｜ 209.6 11 Kaihei蓋平 Gaiping Gaizhou ▲ ｜ 1903 218.3 8.7 Hakuki白旗 Baiqi - ｜ ｜ Closed 1 April 1944 228.3 10.0 Taiheizan太平山 Taipingshan Taipingshan ｜ ｜ 239.5 11.2 Daisekikyō大石橋 Dashiqiao Dashiqiao ● ● 1900 Eikō Line 247.1 7.6 Funsui分水 Fenshui Fenshui ｜ ｜ 255.1 8.0 Tazan他山 Tashan Tashan ｜ ｜ 263 Tōōzan唐王山 Tangwangshan Tangwangshan ｜ ｜ 1935 271.6 ~8 Kaijō海城 Haicheng Haicheng ● ｜ 1903 280.7 9.1 Nantai南台 Nantai Nantai ｜ ｜ 1907 285.5 4.8 Kansenfu甘泉鋪 Ganquanpu - ｜ ｜ Closed 1 September 1944 292.8 7.3 Tōkōshi湯崗子 Tanggangzi Tanggangzi ● ｜ 1907 302.2 9.4 Senzan千山 Qianshan Jiupu ｜ ｜ 1905 307.3 5.1 Anzan鞍山 Anshan Anshan ● ○ 1918 312.6 5.3 Rissan立山 Lishan Lishan ｜ ｜ Dairakuton-shingōsho大樂屯信号所 Daletun signal stop ｜ ｜ 317.6 5.0 Reizan霊山 Lingshan Lingshan ｜ ｜ 1907 321.7 4.1 Shuzan首山 Shoushan Shoushan ｜ ｜ 1907 332.3 10.6 Ryōyō遼陽 Liaoyang Liaoyang ● ｜ 1899 Liaogong Line (zh) 339.0 6.7 Taishika太子河 Taizihe - ｜ ｜ 1931 Closed 1 September 1944 345.2 6.2 Chōdaishi張台子 Zhangtaizi Zhangtaizi ｜ ｜ 1907 354.6 9.4 Endai煙台 Yantai Dengta ｜ ｜ 1903 Endai Colliery Line 362.9 8.3 Jūrika十里河 Shilihe Shilihe ｜ ｜ 1919 371.7 8.8 Shaka沙河 Shahe Linshengpu ｜ ｜ 1911 381.0 9.3 Sokaton蘇家屯 Sujiatun Sujiatun ● ｜ 1903 Anpō Line, Bushun Line (zh) 388.0 7.0 Konga渾河 Hunhe Hunhe ｜ ｜ 1902 Anpō Line, Kon'yu Connecting Line, MNR Fengshan Line 392.1 4.1 Minami-Hōten南奉天 South Fengtian Shenyang South ｜ ｜ 396.6 4.5 Hōten奉天 Fengtian Shenyang ● ● 1899 Anpō Line, MNR Fengshan Line, MNR Fengji Line (zh) 398 ~3 Kita-Hōten北奉天 North Fengtian Shenyang North ｜ ｜ 1911 MNR Huanggutun Connecting Line 409.7 ~11 Bunkanton文官屯 Wenguantun Wenguantun ｜ ｜ 1907 417.2 7.5 Kosekidai虎石台 Hushitai Hushitai ｜ ｜ 1901 422.1 4.9 Tōsanka唐三家 Tangsanjia - ｜ ｜ Closed 1 September 1944 429.3 7.2 Shinseiji新城子 Xinchengzi Xinchengzi ｜ ｜ 1908 441.3 12.0 Shindaiji新台子 Xintaizi Xintaizi ｜ ｜ 1899 448.8 7.5 Ransekizan乱石山 Luanshishan Luanshishan ｜ ｜ 1907 458.5 9.7 Tokushōdai得勝台 Deshengtai Deshengtai ｜ ｜ 1907 468.0 9.5 Tetsurei鐵嶺 Tieling Tieling ● ｜ 1900 478.7 10.7 Heichōho平頂堡 Pingdingbao Pingdingbao ｜ ｜ 1907 482.6 3.9 Santōhō山頭堡 Shantoubao - ｜ ｜ Closed 1 September 1944 489.5 6.9 Chūko中固 Zhonggu Zhonggu ｜ ｜ 1907 501.5 12.0 Kaigen開原 Kaiyuan Kaiyuan ● ｜ 1901 Kaifeng Railway (ja) Kaifeng Line 512.3 10.8 Kinkōji金溝子 Jingouzi Jingouzi ｜ ｜ 1909 522.4 10.1 Bachūka馬仲河 Mazhonghe Mazhonghe ｜ ｜ 1909 532.6 10.2 Shōto昌圖 Changtu Changtu ▲ ｜ 1901 540.0 7.4 Mansei満井 Manjing Manjing ｜ ｜ 1907 547.0 7.0 Sentō泉頭 Quantou Quantou ｜ ｜ 1911 557.6 10.6 Sōbyōji雙廟子 Shuangmiaozi Shuangmiaozi ｜ ｜ 1901 566.7 9.1 Enkōji垣勾子 Maojiadian Maojiadian ｜ ｜ 1911 573.2 6.5 Bōgyūshō虻牛哨 Mengniushao Mengniushao ｜ ｜ 1911 585.9 12.7 Shihei 四平 Siping Siping ● ● 1902 MNR Shibai Line (zh), MNR Heisei Line (zh) 592.4 6.5 Yōmokurin楊木林 Yangmulin Yangmulin ｜ ｜ 1919 601.5 9.1 Jūkahō十家堡 Shijiabao Shijiabao ｜ ｜ 1909 612.3 10.8 Kakukaten郭家店 Guojiadian Guojiadian ｜ ｜ 1901 623.0 10.7 Saika蔡家 Caijia Caijia ｜ ｜ 1911 631.5 8.5 Daiyuju大楡樹 Dayushu Dayushu ｜ ｜ 1908 639.4 7.9 Kōshurei公主嶺 Gongzhuling Gongzhuling ● ｜ 1901 650.2 10.8 Rubōshi劉房子 Liufangzi Liufangzi ｜ ｜ 1908 661.0 10.8 Tōkaton陶家屯 Taojiatun Taojiatun ｜ ｜ 1916 671.2 10.2 Hankaton范家屯 Fanjiatun Fanjiatun ｜ ｜ 1901 681.6 10.4 Daiton大屯 Datun Datun ｜ ｜ 1907 692.7 11.1 Mōkaton孟家屯 Mengjiatun Mengjiatun ｜ ｜ 696.4 3.7 Minami-Shinkyō南新京 South Xinjing Changchun South ▲ ｜ 1906 Sensō-shingōba千早信号場 Qianzao signal stop ｜ ｜ 701.4 5.0 Shinkyō新京 Xinjing Changchun ● ● 1907 MNR Jingbai Line (zh), MNR Jingbin Line, MNR Jingtu Line (zh),
References