Sankō Line

The Sankō Line (三江線, Sankō-sen) was a railway line in western Japan operated by the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The 108.1 km (67.2 mi) line connected Gōtsu in Shimane Prefecture to Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture and featured 30 tunnels. Whilst the first section opened in 1930, the line was not completed until 1975. Owing to declining patronage, the entire rail line ceased operation on 31 March 2018, to be replaced by a bus service on 1 April 2018.[1][2]

Sankō Line
A KiHa 120 DMU on the Sanko Line in June 2008
Overview
Native name三江線
StatusClosed
Owner JR West
LocaleShimane and Hiroshima Prefectures
TerminiGōtsu
Miyoshi
Stations35
Service
TypeRegional rail
Operator(s)JR West
Rolling stockKiHa 120 series DMU
Daily ridership50 passengers per km per day (FY2014)
History
Opened1930 (completed in 1975)
Closed31 March 2018
Technical
Line length108.1 km (67.2 mi)
Number of tracksEntire line single tracked
CharacterRural
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNone
Operating speed85 km/h (53 mph)
Route map

Stations

Iwami-Kawamoto Station in September 2008
Uzui Station in July 2008
Name Between (km) Distance (km) Transfers Location
Gōtsu 江津 - 0.0 Sanin Main Line Gōtsu Shimane Prefecture
Gōtsuhommachi 江津本町 1.1 1.1  
Chigane 千金 2.4 3.3  
Kawahira 川平 3.7 7.0  
Kawado 川戸 6.9 13.9  
Tazu 田津 5.4 19.3  
Iwami Kawagoe 石見川越 3.0 22.3  
Shikaga 鹿賀 3.5 25.8  
Inbara 因原 3.1 28.9   Kawamoto
Ōchi District
Iwami Kawamoto 石見川本 3.7 32.6  
Kirohara 木路原 2.0 34.6  
Take 3.0 37.6   Misato
Ōchi District
Onbara 乙原 2.2 39.8  
Iwami Yanaze 石見簗瀬 2.9 42.7  
Akatsuka 明塚 2.3 45.0  
Kasubuchi 粕淵 3.1 48.1  
Hamahara 浜原 2.0 50.1  
Sawadani 沢谷 3.7 53.8  
Ushio 5.8 59.6  
Iwami Matsubara 石見松原 3.2 62.8  
Iwami Tsuga 石見都賀 5.6 68.4  
Uzui 宇都井 6.4 74.8   Ōnan, Ōchi
Ikawashi 伊賀和志 3.4 78.2   Miyoshi, Hiroshima
Kuchiba 口羽 1.5 79.7   Ōnan, Ōchi, Shimane
Gōbira 江平 3.6 83.2  
Sakugiguchi 作木口 1.7 84.9  
Kōyodo 香淀 4.8 89.7   Miyoshi Hiroshima
Shikijiki 式敷 3.6 93.3   Akitakata
Nobuki 信木 1.8 95.1  
Tokorogi 所木 1.9 97.0  
Funasa 船佐 1.4 98.4  
Nagatani 長谷 2.2 100.6   Miyoshi
Awaya 粟屋 2.5 103.1  
Ozekiyama 尾関山 3.0 106.1  
Miyoshi 三次 2.0 108.1

Rolling stock

A JR West KiHa 120 diesel car in September 2008

Services on the line were operated by JR West single-car KiHa 120 diesel multiple units.

History

The Gotsu to Kawado section opened in 1930, and the line was extended progressively east, reaching Hamahara in 1937. The Miyoshi to Shikijiki section opened in 1955 as a passenger-only line, and was extended to Kuchiba in 1963, and Hamahara in 1975, completing the line.

Closure

On 16 October 2015, JR West announced that it was considering closing the line owing to poor patronage, and was in discussion with the two prefectures served by the line, Shimane and Hiroshima, as well as other municipalities served, concerning future plans.[3] In fiscal 2014, the line carried an average of 50 passengers per km per day, compared to 458 per km per day in 1987.[4] On 29 September 2016, JR West announced that the entire line would close on 31 March 2018.[1] The line then closed on March 31, 2018, with an event hosted by JR West.[5]

See also

References

  1. 三江線18年3月末で廃線 [Sanko Line to close at end of March 2018]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 29 September 2016. Archived from the original on 1 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  2. JR三江線廃止 代替バス運行開始 Retrieved 2 April 2018 (in Japanese)
  3. JR西:三江線、廃止も検討…人口減、利用低迷で [JR West considering closure of Sanko Line - declining population and poor patronage]. Mainichi Shimbun (in Japanese). Japan: The Mainichi Newspapers. 16 October 2015. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  4. 区間別平均通過人員および旅客運輸収入(平成26年度) [Average passenger figures and revenue by line (Fiscal 2014)] (PDF) (in Japanese). Japan: West Japan Railway Company. 2015. p. 58. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. "Railway fans bid JR Sanko Line in western Japan farewell as red ink forces closure". Mainichi Daily News. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
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