The distance between Akita Station and Tsuchizaki Station was 7.1 kilometers (4.4 mi).[2] Local residents hoped to establish a new station because this distance was too long. The city of Akita considered building the station, the case for building the new station was aided due to the fact that it is located in Izumi Hightown where has been developed by Akita Prefecture. The Izumi Hightown development has increased population in the area around the station.[3] The Akita Freight Terminal, which is operated by JR Freight is also located near the station.
Station layout
The station's ticket gate is located within an island platform placed between the inbound and outbound lines. It is accessed by an underpass that links the opposing sides of the station. The underpass is free to pass through to provide a pedestrian pathway across the rail line.[4]
History
The city of Akita initiated discussions about the establishment of what would become Izumi-Sotoasahikawa Station with JR East on 31 July 2018.[5] On 18 September, JR East and Akita agreed to initiated construction of the station. On 18 January 2019, permission was granted by the Bureau of Transportation of Tohoku to establish the station.[6][7][8][9] Construction began on the station on 7 December of the same year. On 20 February 2020 the station's name was decided on, it was officially designated as Izumi-Sotoasahikawa Station.[10]
On 13 March 2021 the station was opened to passengers. Overall, it cost around 2.05 billion yen to build the station and its associated buildings, and these expenses were paid for by the city of Akita.[11] The station is the most recent station to be opened in Akita Prefecture since Iwaki-Minato Station which opened in 2001.[12]
^"泉外旭川駅、工事の無事故祈願 穂積市長らくわ入れ" [Mayor Hozumi wishes for there to be no accident during the construction of Izumi-Sotoasahikawa Station]. Akita Sakigake Shimpō (in Japanese). 8 December 2019. Archived from the original on 17 December 2019. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
^"奥羽本線秋田-土崎間に新駅…秋田市の新たな交通結節点「泉外旭川駅」 2021年3月開業予定" [New station between Akita and Tsuchizaki on the Ōu Line ... Akita's new transportation hub "Izumi-Sotoasahikawa Station" is scheduled to open in March 2021]. Response.jp (in Japanese). 21 January 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
^"「(仮称)泉外旭川駅」の設置に関する認可について" [Approval for the construction of "Izumi-Sotoasahikawa Station (tentative name)"] (PDF). JR East. 18 January 2019. Archived from the original(PDF) on 20 January 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
^"地域住民が泉外旭川駅開業祝う 県内で２０年ぶりの新駅" [Local residents celebrate the opening of Izumi-Sotoasahikawa Station, the first new station in 20 years in the prefecture]. Akita Sakigake Shimpō (in Japanese). 13 March 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2021.
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