The is the principal railway line on the island of Shikoku in Japan, connecting the major cities of Shikoku, and via the Honshi-Bisan Line, with Honshu. It is operated by the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku), and is aligned approximately parallel with the Inland Sea coast, connecting the prefectural capitals of Takamatsu (Kagawa Prefecture) and Matsuyama (Ehime Prefecture) and continuing on to Uwajima. The name of the line comes from and , the old names of Ehime and Kagawa, respectively.
The line splits into two alignments between Mukaibara and Iyo-Ōzu. The original main line follows the coast via Iyo-Nagahama, while the direct line, opened in 1986 as a bypass of the lengthy coastal route, goes through the mountains via Uchiko, part of which is known as the Uchiko Line (as it was originally part of the Uchiko branch), and all Uwakai limited express trains now use this route.
Until 1988 the Yosan Line, along with the Dosan Line, connected with the Rail Ferry (from Uno) at Takamatsu Station. Direct services from Okayama now operate with the completion of the Great Seto Bridge system, over which the Honshi-Bisan Line travels.
Basic data Operators, distances: Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) (Services and tracks) Takamatsu — Uwajima: Mukaibara — Uchiko: Niiya — Iyo-Ōzu: Japan Freight Railway Company (JR Freight) (Services) Takamatsu – Iyo-Yokota: Double-tracked section: Takamatsu – Tadotsu Railway signalling: Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) Maximum speed: Takamatsu – Matsuyama: Matsuyama – Uchiko, Iyo-Iwaki – Unomachi: Other sections:
Services As the most important trunk line of Shikoku, the line has many limited express services. These include: Ishizuchi Midnight Express Takamatsu Shiokaze Uwakai Shimanto Nanpū Uzushio Sunrise Seto Midnight Express Matsuyama
There are two rapid services. The Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service connects Takamatsu and Iyo-Saijō. The Marine Liner rapid service connects Takamatsu with Okayama via the Seto-Ōhashi Line.
Local service typically serves one of four sections of the Yosan Line, generally divided at Kan'onji, Iyo-Saijō, and Matsuyama.
History The first segment of the line, from Tadotsu to Marugame, was constructed by the Sanuki Railway Co. and commenced operation in 1889. The Marugame - Takamatsu section opened in 1897, and in the company was nationalised in 1906.
The line was extended west from Tadotsu in sections commencing in 1913, reaching Matsuyama in 1927. Further west, a private gauge line was opened from Iyo Nagahama - Iyo Ozu, with the line being nationalised in 1933. The line from Matsuyama was extended in sections to Iyo Nagahama between 1927 and 1935, with the former private line being regauged to gauge in 1935. Further western extensions opened 1936–45, when Uwajima (and the Yodo Line) was connected to the Yosan line.
On August 1, 1933, the entire line was renamed the Yosan Main Line. In 1987, with the privatization of the Japanese National Railways, the line became simply the Yosan Line.
The Takamatsu - Tadotsu section was duplicated 1965–70, and CTC signalling commissioned in 1985 between Takamatsu - Matsuyama. The 'direct line' between Mukaibara - Iyo Ozu (including the 6,012m Inuyose tunnel) opened in 1986, incorporating part of the former Uchicko branch and shortening the route by 6.3 km.
The Takamatsu - Tadotsu section was electrified in 1987, enabling direct Takamatsu - Okayama services when the Seto Ohashi Bridge system opened the following year.
The Iyo Hojo - Matsuyama - Iyoshi section was electrified in 1990, with the Tadotsu - Imabari section being energised in 1992, and the Imabari - Iyo Hojo section in 1993, enabling direct Matsuyama - Okayama electric services to be introduced.
Following the Tohoku major earthquake in 2011, JR Shikoku, JR East, and JR Freight announced that JR Shikoku's popular Ampanman Torokko Train would tour areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami.
Former connecting lines Sakaide station - The Kotohira Express Railway Co. operated a 16 km line to Kotohira on the Dosan Line 1930–44, with the line formally closing in 1954. The Kotohira Sangu Railway Co. operated a 27 km line to Tadotsu 1922/28 - 63, with a 7 km branch to Kotohira operated 1923–63.
Niihama Station - The Sumitomo Copper Co. operated a 15 km 762 mm gauge line to Hinokiogawa (known as the 'bottom line') opened in 1893 which included a 3 km duplicated section. It carried passengers 1929–55, and was electrified at 600 V DC in 1950. The mine closed in 1973 and the railway 4 years later. An isolated 5.5 km 762 mm line, situated at 80 0m elevation (known as the 'top line') and connected to the bottom line by a cableway operated 1893–1911.
Station list Local trains stop at every station. For information on the Shiokaze, Ishizuchi, Uwakai and other limited express services, please see their respective articles.
Legend Station: "●": all trains stop; "▲": some trains stop; "｜": all trains pass Track: "∥": double-track section; "◇": single-track section (passing allowed); "｜": single-track section (no passing); "v" & "^": transition to/from double-track section
Takamatsu – Iyo-Saijō Sunport: Includes Sunport Nanpū Relay-Gō rapid service; non-rapid Nanpū Relay-Gō trains stop at every station.
StationnumberStationJapaneseDistance (km)RapidTransfers LocationBetweenstationsTotalSunportMarine Liner高松 -0.0●●■ Kōtoku Line (T28)Kotoden Kotohira Line ()∥TakamatsuKagawa香西3.43.4｜｜ ∥ Takamatsu Freight Terminal高松貨物ターミナル1.34.7｜｜ ∥鬼無1.46.1▲▲ ∥端岡3.49.5●▲ ∥国分2.411.9▲▲ ∥讃岐府中2.314.2｜｜ ∥Sakaide鴨川2.416.6▲▲ ∥八十場2.018.6｜｜ ∥坂出2.721.3●●Honshi-Bisan Line (Seto-Ōhashi Line: Marine Liner through serviceTrains traveling through onto the Honshi-Bisan Line from Takamatsu do not serve Utazu but pass through it; this is reflected in fare calculations.)∥宇多津4.625.9●Honshi- Bisan Line through serviceHonshi-Bisan Line (Seto-Ōhashi Line: some trains through to Tadotsu and Takamatsu)∥Utazu, Ayauta District丸亀2.628.5● ∥Marugame讃岐塩屋1.530.0● ∥多度津2.732.7●■ Dosan Line (D12) (some trains through towards Utazu)∨Tadotsu, Nakatado District海岸寺3.836.5● ◇ Tsushimanomiya Station opens only during the August 4 and 5 summer festival at the nearby Tsushima Shrine. Among seasonal stations the station has the shortest number of operating days per year in Japan.津島ノ宮3.339.8● ｜Mitoyo詫間2.242.0● ◇みの2.544.5● ｜高瀬2.547.0● ◇比地大3.050.0● ｜本山2.452.4● ◇観音寺4.156.5● ◇Kan'onji豊浜5.562.0● ◇箕浦4.466.4● ◇川之江5.872.2● ◇ShikokuchūōEhime伊予三島5.477.6● ◇伊予寒川4.181.7● ◇赤星4.285.9● ｜伊予土居2.788.6● ◇関川3.692.2● ◇多喜浜7.299.4● ◇Niihama新居浜3.7103.1● ◇中萩4.8107.9● ◇伊予西条6.4114.3● ◇Saijō(continues below)
Iyo-Saijō – Iyo-Nagahama – Uwajima All stations located in Ehime Prefecture.
StationnumberStationJapaneseDistance (km)Transfers LocationBetweenstationsFromTakamatsu(continued from above)伊予西条 -114.3 ◇Saijō石鎚山3.5117.8 ◇伊予氷見2.5120.3 ｜伊予小松1.3121.6 ◇玉之江2.9124.5 ｜壬生川2.3126.8 ◇伊予三芳3.4130.2 ◇伊予桜井7.6137.8 ◇Imabari伊予富田3.8141.6 ◇今治3.3144.9 ◇波止浜4.7149.6 ◇波方2.7152.3 ◇大西4.1156.4 ◇伊予亀岡5.5161.9 ◇菊間4.0165.9 ◇浅海4.7170.6 ◇Matsuyama大浦3.2173.8 ◇伊予北条3.1176.9 ◇柳原2.2179.1 ｜粟井1.2180.3 ◇光洋台2.0182.3 ｜堀江2.6184.9 ◇伊予和気2.1187.0 ◇三津浜3.7190.7 ◇松山3.7194.4Iyotetsu Ōtemachi Line ()◇市坪3.5197.9 ◇北伊予2.4200.3 ◇Masaki, Iyo District南伊予1.6201.9 ｜Iyo伊予横田1.1203.0 ｜Masaki, Iyo District鳥ノ木1.8204.8 ｜Iyo伊予市1.2206.0■ Iyotetsu Gunchū Line ()◇向井原2.5208.5■ Yosan Line (for Uchiko)｜Iyo高野川5.4213.9 ｜伊予上灘3.2217.1 ◇下灘5.3222.4 ｜串2.6225.0 ｜喜多灘3.2228.2 ｜Ōzu伊予長浜4.9233.1 ◇伊予出石2.8235.9 ｜伊予白滝3.4239.3 ◇八多喜2.4241.7 ｜春賀1.7243.4 ｜五郎2.3245.7 ｜ Iyo-Wakamiya Junction伊予若宮信号場-(247.1)Official junction of Uchiko branch◇伊予大洲3.8249.5■ Yosan Line (for Niiya)◇西大洲2.1251.6 ｜Ōzu伊予平野1.9253.5 ◇千丈7.1260.6 ◇Yawatahama八幡浜2.2262.8 ◇双岩4.7267.5 ◇伊予石城4.9272.4 ◇Seiyo上宇和3.0275.4 ｜卯之町2.0277.4 ◇下宇和2.6280.0 ◇立間6.6286.6 ◇Uwajima伊予吉田2.7289.3 ◇高光4.6293.9 ｜北宇和島2.2296.1■ Yodo Line (G46)Although the official start of the Yodo Line is at Kita-Uwajima, all trains run through to/from Uwajima◇宇和島1.5297.6■ Yodo Line (G47)∧
Mukaibara – Uchiko – Iyo-Ōzu Station list includes the Uchiko Line section between Uchiko and Niiya. All stations located in Ehime Prefecture.
LineStationnumberStationJapaneseDistance (km)Transfers LocationBetweenstationsTotalYosanLine向井原 -From Mukaibara0.0From Takamatsu208.5■ Yosan Line (for Matsuyama (U06), Iyo-Nagahama (S06))All trains through to Iyoshi and/or Matsuyama｜Iyo伊予大平2.82.8211.3 ｜伊予中山7.410.2218.7 ◇伊予立川6.716.9225.4 ◇Uchiko, Kita District内子6.623.5232.0 ◇UchikoLineFrom Niiya5.3五十崎1.63.7233.6 ｜喜多山2.51.2236.1 ｜Ōzu新谷1.20.0237.3 ◇YosanLine Iyo-Wakamiya Junction伊予若宮信号場 -(3.5)(240.8)Official junction of Iyo-Nagahama branch◇伊予大洲5.95.9243.2■ Yosan Line (for Uwajima (U14), Iyo-Nagahama (S18))Some trains through to Uwajima◇
See also List of railway lines in Japan
References This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia
External links