Kashima Line

The Nihongo|Kashima Line|鹿島線|Kashima-sen is a railway line of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East). It links Katori Station with Kashima Soccer Stadium Station, by crossing and then following the Tone River, the border between Chiba Prefecture and Ibaraki Prefectures.

Operation

Kashima Line has unique train operation system. Katori Station is in Narita Line, and all trains of Kashima Line run through from/to the neighbor station, Sawara Station, or beyond it. But, all trains terminate at Kashima-Jingū Station. Only Kashima Rinkai Oarai Kashima Line trains run from here to Kashima Soccer Stadium and Mito Station. Kashima Soccer Stadium Station is only operated temporarily when football matches are held at Kashima Stadium, the home stadium of Kashima Antlers in J.League (Japan Professional Football League).

From Sawara to Kashima Jingu, JR-East local electric trains run about one time per 1-2 hours. Some trains run beyond Sawara, to Narita Station or Chiba Station. Limited Express Ayame runs between Tokyo Station and Kashima Jingu once in a day, from Kashima Jingu in every morning, from Tokyo in every night. But it's turned to be local train in Kashima Line sections. From Kashima-Jingū and Mito, Oarai Kashima Line local or rapid DC trains run about one times per an hour. Normally, no passenger train stops at Kashima Soccer Stadium, except when football game is played in the stadium.

JR Freight operates trains on the line, from Tokyo area to Kashima Rinko Line. The trains change its directions at Kashima Soccer Stadium.

Line information

* Operated by: East Japan Railway Company (Type 1) and Japan Freight Railway Company (Type 2)
* Length: 17.4 km
* Gauge: narrow (1,067 mm)
* Number of Stations: 6
* Double Track Section: None
* Electrified Section: Electrified. But, between Kashima Jingu and Kashima Soccer Stadium, the passenger trains are only diesel cars.

History

This line was planned as the main mass transportation method with Kashima Industrial Zone in southern coast of Ibaraki Prefecture, connect with Tokyo Metroporis.

* 20 August, 1970 - Newly operated between Katori and Kashima-Jingū (14.2 km), as JNR Kashima Line.
* 12 November, 1970 - Newly operated between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima (3.2 km), as the fraight line.
* 24 October, 1974 - It was electrified.
* March 1978 - Jet airplane fuel transport service was started from Kashima Rinkai Kashima Rinko Line (owned by Kashima Rinkai Railway), via Kita-Kashima Station, to Tsuchiya Freight Terminal Station, near Narita Station, to supply it for New Tokyo International Airport (now, Narita Airport).
* 25 July 1978, As the reward condition, passenger service was begun between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima, as the beginning of passenger service in Kashima Rinko Line.
* 8 August, 1983 - Jet fuel train was quited (pipelines became on service).
* 1 December, 1983 - The passenger service between Kashima-Jingū and Kita-Kashima was abolished, which was started in 1978.
* 14 March, 1985 - The passenger service was re-opened in the section between Kashima- Jingu and Kita-Kashima, as the opneing of Kashima Rinkai Oarai Kashima Line.
* 1 April, 1987 - JR East succeeded this line from JNR.
* 12 March, 1994 - Kita-Kashima Station was renamed to Kashima-Soccer-Stadium Station, and it served as a temporary station for football spactators in Kashima Stadium.
* 2 June, 2002 - 2002 FIFA World Cup game, Argantina - Nigeria was played in Kashima Stadium. JR operated spacial trains between Chiba Station to Kashima-Soccer-Stadium Station, as special rapid trains.

Stations

See also