The Tempoku Line (天北線, Tempoku-sen) was a railway line most recently operated by Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido) in Hokkaidō, Japan. The 148.9 kilometres line connected from Otoineppu to Minami-Wakkanai via Nakatonbetsu, Hamatonbetsu and Sarufutsu until its closure in 1989. This railway line was named after Teshio Province and Kitami Province.

Tempoku Line
Tempoku Express train
Overview
OwnerJR Hokkaido
LocaleHokkaido
Termini
Stations30
History
Opened1914
Closed1989
Technical
Line length148.9 km (92.5 mi)
Track gauge1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationNot electrified

History

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The first section from Otoineppu to Shō-Tombetsu was opened in 1914. All section was opened in 1922, as the first railway line for Wakkanai. In 1926, Teshio line via Horonobe was opened. From Otoineppu to Wakkanai, the distance of this line was longer than Teshio line. In 1930, Teshio line was integrated into Sōya Main Line, and this line was separated from it and renamed Kitami line.[1] In 1961, Kitami line was renamed to Tempoku line. In 1987, JNR was privatized, and this line was inherited by JR Hokkaido, but abandoned on 1 May 1989.

Stations

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Station Distance (km) Connections Location
Otoineppu 音威子府 0.0 Sōya Main Line Otoineppu
Kami-Otoineppu 上音威子府 5.4
Tenpoku-Zakae 天北栄 11.6 Nakatonbetsu
Shō-Tonbetsu 小頓別 15.6
Kami-Tonbetsu 上頓別 20.6
Megumino 恵野 23.2
Pinneshiri 敏音知 27.1
Shūmaro 周磨 31.2
Matsuneshiri 松音知 34.5
Kamikoma 上駒 37.4
Naka-Tonbetsu 中頓別 42.5
Kotobuki 寿 46.6
Shin-Yayoi 新弥生 48.0
Shimo-Tonbetsu 下頓別 51.6 Hamatonbetsu
Tokiwa 常盤 54.8
Hama-Tonbetsu 浜頓別 61.5 Kohinhoku Line [ja]
Kita-Tonbetsu 北頓別
Yamagaru 山軽 67.7
Yasubetsu 安別 70.4 Sarufutsu
Hikōjō-mae 飛行場前 72.8
Asajino 浅茅野 76.7
Sarufutsu 猿払 82.9
Ashino 芦野 87.4
Onishibetsu 鬼志別 93.7
Koishi 小石 99.0
Magarifuchi 曲淵 116.7 Wakkanai
Numakawa 沼川 121.0
Kabaoka 樺岡 127.2
Keihoku 恵北 136.3
Higashi-Koetoi 東声問
Koetoi 声問 141.8
Uennai 宇遠内 146.8
Minami-Wakkanai 南稚内 148.9 Sōya Main Line

After discontinuing

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Soya Bus (Belong to Tokyu Group until 1999) have altered the Tenpoku Line since 1989. But the altered line was partly discontinued in 2011.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ 田中和夫(監修) 『写真で見る北海道の鉄道』上巻 国鉄・JR線 北海道新聞社(編集)2002年7月15日 ISBN 4-89453-220-4ISBN 978-4-89453-220-5