Kikuchi Line (railway)

Kikuchi Line (菊池線, Kikuchi-sen) is a 10.8 km railway line owned by the Kumamoto Electric Railway, serving Kumamoto City and Kōshi, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. The line runs northward from Kami-Kumamoto Station on the Kagoshima Main Line, operated by JR Kyushu, terminating at Miyoshi Station.

Kikuchi Line
Type 03 running on the Kikuchi Line.
Type 03 running on the Kikuchi Line.
Overview
Native name菊池線
OwnerKumamoto Electric Railway
LocaleKumamoto Prefecture
Termini
Stations16
Websitewww.kumamotodentetsu.co.jp
Service
TypeHeavy rail
History
Opened15 March 1913 (1913-03-15)
Technical
Line length10.8 km (6.7 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationOverhead line, DC 600 V

Previously, the line ran as far as Kikuchi, Kumamoto, an onsen resort town. However, ticket sales were replaced with road traffic on Japan National Route 387, and the section between Miyoshi and Kikuchi ceased operations on February 16, 1986.

Operations

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The line is electrified with overhead lines and is single-tracked for the entire line. Passing loops are located at Horikawa Station and Kuroishi Station. Kita-Kumamoto Station has a passing loop for trains continuing on the Fujisaki Line

Two types of passenger services run on the line. The first runs between Kami-Kumamoto Station and Kita-Kumamoto Station, while the second runs between Fujisakigū-mae Station on the Fujisaki Line to Miyoshi Station, running through Kita-Kumamoto. Both types of services stop at every station.[1][2] Busses operated by the Kumamoto Electric Railway connect Miyoshi with Kikuchi along the abolished track.[3]

Stations

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Current stations

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No. Name Distance (km) Connections Location
KD01 Kami-Kumamoto 上熊本 0.0 JR Kyushu: Kagoshima Main Line
Kumamoto City Tram: Kami-Kumamoto Line
Kumamoto Kumamoto
KD02 Kankanzaka 韓々坂 0.7  
KD03 Ikeda 池田 1.4  
KD04 Uchigoshi 打越 2.1  
KD05 Tsuboigawa-kōen 坪井川公園 2.6  
KD08 Kita-Kumamoto 北熊本 3.4 Kumaden: Fujisaki Line
KD10 Kamei 亀井 4.6  
KD11 Hakenomiya 八景水谷 5.0  
KD12 Horikawa 堀川 5.9  
KD13 Shin-Suya 新須屋 6.9   Kōshi
KD14 Suya 須屋 7.4  
KD15 Mitsuishi 三ツ石 8.2  
KD16 Kuroishi 黒石 9.0  
KD17 Kumamotokōsen-mae 熊本高専前 9.9  
KD18 Saishun Iryō Center Mae 再春医療センター前 10.3  
KD19 Miyoshi 御代志 10.8  

Terminated stations

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Name Distance (km) Location
Ōike 大池 12.0 Kumamoto Kōshi
Tsujikubo 辻久保 13.3
Takae 高江駅 15.4
Shisui 泗水 15.9 Kikuchi
Tominohara 富の原 18.1
Hirose 広瀬 21.1
Fukagawa 深川 19.7
Kikuchi 菊池 24.3

References

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  1. ^ "上熊本駅 熊本電気鉄道菊池線 時刻表". Navitime. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  2. ^ "[熊本電鉄]藤崎線 御代志方面(下り) 平日". Ekikara. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  3. ^ "路線図・系統マップ". Kumamoto Electric Railway. Retrieved 3 March 2019.