Yoshino Line

Yoshino Line
Overview
OwnerThe logo of the Kintetsu Railway Company. Kintetsu Railway
Line numberF
LocaleNara Prefecture
Termini
Stations16
Color on map     (#008446)
Service
TypeCommuter rail
SystemKintetsu Railway
Operator(s)Kintetsu Railway
Depot(s)Muda (branch depot of Furuichi Inspection Depot)
History
Opened25 October 1912; 112 years ago (1912-10-25)
Last extension25 March 1928; 96 years ago (1928-03-25)
Technical
Line length25.2 km (15.7 mi)
Number of tracksSingle-track
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
Minimum radius160 m (520 ft)[1]
Electrification1,500 V DC (overhead line)
Operating speed100 km/h (60 mph)[1]
SignallingAutomatic closing block
Train protection systemKintetsu ATS

The Yoshino Line (吉野線, Yoshino-sen) is a railway line in Nara Prefecture, Japan, operated by the private railway operator Kintetsu Railway. It connects Kashihara-Jingūmae in Kashihara and Yoshino in Yoshino. All Express and Limited Express trains continue to and from Ōsaka Abenobashi Station on the Minami Osaka Line.

History

Electric freight train at Shimoichiguchi Station ca 1925

The Yoshino Railway (吉野鉄道) Co. opened the Yoshino - Muda section in 1912, and extended the line to Kashiharajingū-mae in 1923, electrifying the entire line at 1500 VDC at that time.[1] Amongst the rolling stock were three Bo'Bo' goodtrain locomotives delivered from Brown, Boveri & Cie in Switzerland.[2]

In 1929 the company merged with the Osaka Electric Railway Co., which merged with Kintetsu in 1944.

Freight services ceased in 1984, and CTC signalling was commissioned in 2001.

Kintetsu Railway introduced the Blue Symphony sight-seeing train on this line in 2018. The special train runs twice a day in both directions.[3]

Stations

  • O: stop,
  • |: pass
  • (Express trains, local trains, and semi-express trains stop at every station.)
No. Station Japanese Distance (km) Limited Express Transfers Location
 F42  Kashiharajingū-mae 橿原神宮前 0.0 O
Kashihara Nara Prefecture
 F43  Okadera 岡寺 1.1 |
 F44  Asuka 飛鳥 2.2 O Asuka, Takaichi District
 F45  Tsubosakayama 壺阪山 3.9 O Takatori, Takaichi District
 F46  Ichio 市尾 6.0 |
 F47  Kuzu 葛 7.9 | Gose
 F48  Yoshinoguchi 吉野口 9.5 O
 F49  Kusurimizu 薬水 11.2 | Ōyodo, Yoshino District
 F50  Fukugami 福神 12.8 O
 F51  Ōada 大阿太 14.6 |
 F52  Shimoichiguchi 下市口 17.0 O
 F53  Koshibe 越部 18.7 |
 F54  Muda 六田 20.7 O
 F55  Yamato-Kamiichi 大和上市 22.9 O Yoshino, Yoshino District
 F56  Yoshino-Jingū 吉野神宮 23.7 O
 F57  Yoshino 吉野 25.2 O Yoshino Ropeway

References

This article incorporates material from the corresponding article in the Japanese Wikipedia

  1. ^ a b c Terada, Hirokazu (July 2002). データブック日本の私鉄 [Databook: Japan's Private Railways]. Japan: Neko Publishing. p. 123. ISBN 4-87366-874-3.
  2. ^ "Direct-current locomotives for the Yoshina Railway, Japan" (PDF). The Brown Boveri Review. Baden: Brown, Boveri & Cie. April 1925. pp. 87–89.
  3. ^ Michael Lambe. "The Blue Symphony Sightseeing Limited Express for Yoshino". Osaka Station.