Kintetsu Utsube Line

Infobox rail line
box_width = 32em
name = Kintetsu Utsube Line

---

image_width = 300px
caption = Type 260 train at Hinaga Station
type = Commuter rail
system =
status =
locale = Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture
start = ja-stalink|Kintetsu-Yokkaichi
end = ja-stalink|Utsube
stations = 8
routes =
ridership =
open = October 6, 1912
close =
operator = Kintetsu
character =
stock =
linelength = km to mi|5.7|abbr=yes|precision=1
tracklength =
notrack = 1
gauge = RailGauge|762
el = Overhead, 750V DC
speed =
elevation =

Kintetsu Utsube Line diagram
map_show = show|

The Nihongo|Kintetsu Utsube Line|近鉄内部線|Kintetsu Utsube-sen is a railway line of the Japanese private railway company Kintetsu, connecting Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station and Utsube Station, both in the city of Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, Japan.

The line connects (indirectly) with the Kintetsu Nagoya Line and Kintetsu Yunoyama Line at Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station; these other lines use an elevated platform whereas the Utsube Line uses a ground-level platform. At Hinaga Station, the line connects with the Kintetsu Hachiōji Line, a one-station branch line. Because all trains on the Hachiōji Line offer direct service to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi via the Utsube Line, the two lines are collectively called the Utsube-Hachiōji Line (内部・八王子線 "Utsube-Hachiōji-sen").

Unlike major Kintetsu lines, the line does not accept PiTaPa or ICOCA which are smart card ticketing systems.

Narrow gauge railway

The line was originally built as a tram and so the gauge was especially narrow. Later on the line was legally upgraded from a tram to a light rail, however the gauge was not widened as it was on the vast majority of Japan's train lines. Today, there are only four RailGauge|762 gauge train lines in operation in Japan. This special classification makes the Utsube Line (as well as the other 762 mm lines) popular with Japanese railfans.

;762 mm railways of Japan:
* Kintetsu: Utsube Line (this line)
* Kintetsu: Hachiōji Line (neighboring branch line)
* Sangi Railway: Hokusei Line (also in northern Mie Prefecture, formerly operated by Kintetsu)
* Kurobe Gorge Railway: Main Line (Kurobe, Toyama Prefecture)

History

The Utsube Line was originally conceived and built by Mie Tramway (三重軌道 "Mie Kidō"), later renamed Mie Railway ("Santetsu"). The original portion of the line was completed in 1912 making it one of Kintetsu's oldest train lines. In 1916 an extension from the line's origin, ja-stalink|Kintetsu-Yokkaichi (at that time called Suwa Station and located slightly to the east), to what is now JR ja-stalink|Yokkaichi was added. However, this extension had a relatively short life as it was sold off in 1927 to Ise Electric Railway ("Iseden") for use in their main line. This made Suwa Station, a hub between three different private railways and the biggest station in Yokkaichi, the origin again. Steam locomotives ran on the line for many years until 1928 when gasoline-powered trains were introduced, which ran until the line was electrified in 1943.

The line originally included the Hachiōji Line and ended at Ise-Hachiōji Station. However an extension to Suzuka was planned to originate from Hinaga Station and construction began in 1922, ten years after the original opening. However, this new portion of the line was only completed as far as ja-stalink|Utsube in Yokkaichi because legal permission to continue construction of the train line was revoked. The original portion of the line, starting at Suwa, down to the end of never-to-be-finished Suzuka branch became the "Utsube Line", and the portion of track which included the old endpoint at Ise-Hachiōji became a branch line called the "Hachiōji Line".

Ownership of the line has shifted a few times during its existence. Mie Tramway built the line in 1912 but control was given to Santetsu shortly after in 1916. Then in 1944, Santetsu, along with six other companies, merged to form Mie Transport ("Sanco"). During the later part of the Santetsu era and the entire Sanco era, there was direct service offered between the now-separate Utsube Line and Yunoyama Line, which at that time was also a 762 mm gauge railway; the combination of these two train lines was called the Mie Line. In 1964, the railway department of Sanco split off to become a separate company called Mie Electric Railway ("Sanden"), however this organization was short-lived as it was bought up by railway giant Kinki Nippon Railway ("Kintetsu") the following year, and thus in 1965 the line came under its current name and ownership.

In 1954 the initial portion of the route was re-routed by Sanco, the owner at that time, who planned the re-routing because of Kintetsu's plan to re-route its Nagoya Line, which suffered from many sharp curves on its way through Yokkaichi to Suwa Station. Kintetsu developed a plan to straighten the Nagoya Line as well as enlarge Suwa Station, which would be moved about a kilometer to the west; construction began in 1952 and took a few years to complete. In accordance with this plan, Sanco altered its own Yokkaichi-area railways in 1956 to utilize the new location of Suwa Station, which was renamed to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station. From Akahori Station, the track that ran to the old Suwa Station was closed and a new track was built to Kintetsu-Yokkaichi. At first, the direct connection with the Yunoyama Line was maintained however in 1964, the Yunoyama Line was altered and renovated to connect directly with the Nagoya Line and thus the connection with the Utsube Line was closed and direct service ended.

Timeline

* October 6, 1912 - Minami-Hamada (now closed) ~ Hinaga section opens (Mie Tramway).
* May 16, 1913 - Suwa ~ Minami-Hamada section opens.
* July 19, 1916 - Control of line is transferred to Mie Railway ("Santetsu").
* March 30, 1916 - Yokkaichi (Kokutetsu) ~ Suwa section opens. Yokkaichi becomes origin of the line.
* December 1, 1916 - Based on train-related laws, the line's classification is officially changed from a tram to a light railway.
* January 10, 1922 - Hinanga ~ Ogoso section opens (Suzuka extension).
* June 21, 1922 - Ogoso ~ Utsube section opens. Utsube becomes terminus of the line.
* November 29, 1927 - Yokkaichi ~ Suwa section closes. Suwa becomes the origin of the line.
* March 1, 1928 - Gasoline-powered trains introduced.
* March 1, 1931 - Santetsu acquires Yokkaichi Railway and what is now the Kintetsu Yunoyama Line. Direct connection with the Yunoyama Line opens.
* December 25, 1943 - Entire line electrified.
* February 11, 1944 - Santetsu and six other companies merge to form Mie Transport ("Sanco"). Line officially renamed Sanco Mie Line.
* July 1, 1944 - Ogoso Station closes.
* November 1, 1944 - Minami-Hamada Station closes.
* September 23, 1956 - Suwa Station closed, moved, and re-opened as Kintetsu-Yokkaichi Station. Suwa ~ Akahori section closes. Kintetsu-Yokkaichi ~ Akahori section opens.
* December 23, 1956 - Voltage increased from 600V DC to 750V DC.
* May 1, 1959 - Ogoso Station re-opens.
* August 24, 1959 - Electronic signal station added between Kintetsu-Yokkaichi and Akahori.
* February 1, 1964 - Sanco railway division splits off and forms a new company Mie Electric Railway ("Sanden").
* March 23, 1964 - Connection with the Yunoyama Line is severed and direct service ends.
* April 1, 1965 - Sanden, and all of its lines, are acquired by Kinki Nippon Railway ("Kintetsu"). Line officially renamed Kintetsu Utsube Line.
* March 17, 1989 - Electronic signalling added to entire line. ATS System activated.
* June 1, 1989 - "One man" (conductor-less) train service begins.

ervices

LO Local (普通 "futsū"): For ja-stalink|Kintetsu Yokkaichi|Yokkaichi: For ja-stalink|Utsube:Locals stop at every station.:All trains offer conductor-less ("One man") service.:Trains run four times per hour. In the downward direction, each hour there are two bound for Utsube and two for ja-stalink|Nishihino (via the Hachiōji Line)

tations

References

* [http://www.kintetsu.jp/kouhou/Rireki/A40018.html Kintetsu Line Archives - Utsube Line]
* Wikipedia - Kintetsu Utsube Line

External links

* [http://www.kintetsu.co.jp/foreign/english/useful/route_map/railway2.html#2 Kintetsu railway network map - Utsube Line]
* [http://hisaai.hp.infoseek.co.jp/Kintetsu/na/Ub_s_eg.html#u Hisakyu - Kintetsu Utsube Line]
* [http://express5.hp.infoseek.co.jp/kinutube.htm Main Terminal - Kintetsu Utsube Line]
* [http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~rre/prvrm/knr9/knr91.htm Old trains of the Utsube Line (pictures)]
* [http://www.g-gauge.jp/prototype/kin_tetsu/kin_tetsu.html Modern trains of the Utsube Line (pictures)]