Yodo Line

The Yodo line is a quiet, rural single track line with passing places at some stations. The line, which is also known as Shimanto Green Line, is one of the most scenic in Japan initially following the Picturesque Shimanto River inland until Ekawasaki. It then winds its way across Ehime Prefecture to Uwajima.[2][3]

Yodo Line and the Shimanto River

Kubokawa Station on the Dosan Line serves as the departure point for nearly all trains heading west. The first part of the line, to Kawaoku Junction just after Wakai, is not owned by JR but by the Tosa Kuroshio Railway Nakamura Line and therefore attracts an additional fare. Passengers, especially those using the Seishun 18 Kippu, are reminded of this by conductor announcements.[4]

After Wakai, the Nakamura Line turns off and the Yodo Line proper begins. The Yodo line ends at a junction with the Yosan Line just before Kita-Uwajima and trains continue on the Yosan Line into Uwajima.[1]

The Yodo Line has only one sort of service, local trains that stop at every station.

In April 2020 there were five trips in each direction between Kubokawa and Uwajima and an additional three trips each way between Uwajima and Ekawasaki & Chikanaga.[5]

Most services are wanman (driver-only) operated.

• All trains run through to Kubokawa on the Dosan Line and Uwajima on the Yosan Line.
• All trains on the Yodo Line are local trains and stop at all stations.
• None of the intermediate stations along the line have a staffed ticket office.[1]
• Trains can pass one another at stations marked "◇" and "^" and cannot pass at those marked "｜".

In 1914, the Uji Light Railway Co. opened a 762 mm (2 ft 6 in) gauge line 18 km between Uwajima and Chikanaga.[6] In 1923, the line was extended 7 km from Chikanaga to Yoshino.[7] In 1931 the Uwajima Railway began operating a single gasoline-powered locomotive.

The Uwajima Railway was nationalised by Japanese Government Railways in 1933, becoming the Uwajima Line; Miyanoshita Station was renamed Iyo-Miyanoshita Station, Nakano became Futana, and Yoshino was renamed Yoshinobu.[8]

Yodo Line between Tōkawa and Hage Stations

In 1941, the line was re-gauged to 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in), the section between Uwajima and Muden replaced by a new route, Kita-Uwajima became the line's starting point and Takagushi and Mitsuma stations on the old section were closed.[9]

The 10 km Yoshinobu - Ekawasaki section opened in 1953, and the 43 km Ekawasaki - Wakai section opened in 1974, linking to the Dosan Line with the line renamed as the Yodo Line. In the same year, CTC signalling was commissioned, and freight operations ceased.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yodo Line.

• JR Shikoku official website (in Japanese)