Tōkai Transport Service Jōhoku Line

nihongo|Jōhoku Line|城北線|Jōhoku-sen is a Japanese commuter rail line between Kachigawa Station, Kasugai and Biwajima Station, Kiyosu in Aichi Prefecture. Trains are operated by nihongo|Tōkai Transport Service|東海交通事業|Tōkai Kōtsū Jigyō, or TKJ in short, while its rail facilities belong to Central Japan Railway Company (JR Central). TKJ, a wholly owned subsidiary of JR Central, only operates this line.

Basic data

*Operators, distances:
**Tōkai Transport Service (Category 2)
**Central Japan Railway Company (Category 1)
***JR Central is licensed to but actually do not operate trains on the line.
*Distance: 11.2 km (ca. 7.0 mi.)
*Gauge: 1067 mm (3 ft. 6 in.)
*Stations: 6
*Track: double, excluding sections inside Kachigawa and Biwajima stations.
*Electric supply: None
*Railway signalling: Automatic

History

In 1976, a construction of the planned freight rail line of Japanese National Railways (JNR), called Nihongo|Seto Line|瀬戸線|Seto-sen, began. However, the construction halted later due to the huge deficit of JNR. The line was consisted of two separated sections, one between Setoshi and Kōzōji, another between Kachigawa and Biwajima. The construction of the both sections resumed later, but as passenger rails by different operators. The former section, the current Aichi Loop Line, was succeeded by Aichi Loop Railway, while the latter, the current Jōhoku Line, was succeeded by JR Central and TKJ. The first section of Jōhoku Line, between Kachigawa and Owari-Hoshinomiya, opened in 1991. The section between Owari-Hoshinomiya and Biwajima opened in 1993.

ervices

There is no rapid service. All trains make stop at all stations. The train runs extremely infrequently as a commuter rail line in large Japanese city, once per an hour in daytime, 2 or 3 times per an hour in morning and evening.

tations

All stations are in Aichi Prefecture.

ee also

*List of railway lines in Japan
*Aichi Loop Line

External links

* [http://www.tkj-i.co.jp/ TKJ official website]
* [http://jr-central.co.jp/ JR Central official website]
* [http://jr-central.co.jp/eng.nsf JR Central official website]