Kashima Railway Line
| Kashima Railway Line | |
|---|---|
|
Railcars of Kashima Railway at Ishioka Station, January 2007 | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Closed |
| Locale | Ibaraki Prefecture |
| Termini |
Ishioka Hokota |
| Stations | 17 |
| Operation | |
| Opened | 8 June 1924 |
| Closed | 31 March 2007 |
| Owner | Kashima Railway Company |
| Depot(s) | Ishioka |
| Technical | |
| Line length | 27.2 km (16.9 mi) |
| Number of tracks | Single |
| Track gauge | 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) |
| Minimum radius | 300 m |
| Electrification | None |
| Operating speed | 70 km/h (45 mph)[1] |
The Kashima Railway Line (鹿島鉄道線 Kashima Tetsudōsen) was the sole line operated by the Kashima Railway Company in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It operated between Ishioka Station and Hokota Station.[2] It closed on 31 March 2007.
Stations
The line had 17 stations as shown below. As of 2002, only two stations, Ishioka and Hitachi-Ogawa, were staffed.[1]
| Station name | Japanese | Date opened | Distance (km) | Transfers | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ishioka | 石岡 | 8 June 1924 | 0.0 | Jōban Line | Ishioka, Ibaraki |
| Ishioka-Minamidai | 石岡南台 | 16 June 1987 | 1.5 | ||
| Higashi-Tanaka | 東田中 | 18 November 1964 | 2.5 | ||
| Tamari | 玉里 | 1 November 1951 | 3.6 | Omitama, Ibaraki | |
| Shin-Takahama | 新高浜 | 8 June 1924 | 4.2 | ||
| Shikamura | 四箇村 | 1 October 1951 | 5.1 | ||
| Hitachi-Ogawa | 常陸小川 | 8 June 1924 | 7.1 | ||
| Ogawakōkō-shita | 小川高校下 | 1 April 1988 | 7.8 | ||
| Momoura | 桃浦 | 15 August 1926 | 10.7 | Namegata, Ibaraki | |
| Yakimaki | 八木蒔 | 1 October 1951 | 12.8 | ||
| Hama | 浜 | 15 August 1926 | 14.4 | ||
| Tamatsukurimachi | 玉造町 | 1 February 1928 | 15.8 | ||
| Enokimoto | 榎本 | 6 May 1929 | 19.5 | ||
| Kariyado-mae | 借宿前 | 1 October 1951 | 21.4 | Hokota, Ibaraki | |
| Tomoegawa | 巴川 | 16 April 1929 | 23.7 | ||
| Sakado | 坂戸 | 19 November 1956 | 25.0 | ||
| Hokota | 鉾田 | 6 May 1929 | 27.1 |
History
The line first opened on 8 June 1924 as the steam-operated Kashima Sangu Railway (鹿島参宮鉄道), using steam operation between Ishioka and Hitachi-Ogawa.[1] The full line to Hokota was opened on 16 May 1929.[1]
Diesel operation commenced on 6 September 1930.[1]
From 1 June 1965, the railway became the Kantō Railway Hokota Line, and from 1 April 1979, it became the separate Kashima Railway.[1]
Freight operations ceased in 2002.
In 2006, the company announced the planned closure of the line, and the line finally closed on 31 March 2007.